Report of the Director for Place and Deputy Chief Executive
Minutes:
The Council considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Place concerning a proposal to petition against the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill through the Parliamentary stages in order to attempt to secure improvements to the scheme and to safeguard the interest of Staffordshire’s residents and businesses.
During the debate on the report, Members raised a wide range of issues in relation to the HS2 proposals including the detrimental impact the scheme would have on the Staffordshire landscape and the need to secure appropriate mitigation measures; the need to secure adequate compensation for those directly affected by the scheme; traffic congestion issues during the construction period; alternative solutions for increasing rail capacity including improvements to existing infrastructure such as the West Coast Main Line; affordability and spiralling construction costs; and the lack of public support for the scheme.
Mr Davis indicated that one of the positive impacts of HS2 would be the creation of employment opportunities during the scheme’s construction phase. He also indicated that he was opposed to the proposal for the County Council to provide financial resources of up to £200,000 to petition against the Bill. Several other Members also expressed concern at the cost of opposing the Bill as they were of the view that the Government would proceed with HS2 irrespective of the opposition to the scheme. Mr Taylor also enquired as to whether the proposed allocation of £200,000 to petition against the Bill was only for Phase 1 and would an additional sum of money be required to oppose Phase 2. In response, Mr Atkins indicated that the County Council did not have the power to stop HS2, that decision rested with Central Government, but it was essential that the County Council petitions against the Bill in an attempt to secure the mitigation measures that were required to reduce the scheme’s impact on local communities and on the County’s environment. Petitioning against Phase 1 would also help to set out the County Council’s position when Phase 2 of the scheme came under consideration. He concluded by indicating that it was imperative that the views of Staffordshire residents were heard by Central Government and that petitioning against the Bill was the best means of achieving this.
Following a vote, in which 36 members voted in support of the recommendations set out in the report, 0 voted against and 24 members abstained, the Chairman declared the recommendations carried.
RESOLVED – (a) That the County Council reaffirms its position in opposing High Speed 2 as there are no clear or confirmed economic benefits for Staffordshire and it will have significant impacts on our environment and countryside.
(b) That, in the judgement of the Council, it is expedient for the Council to oppose the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill deposited in the 2013-14 session of Parliament.
(c) That the Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure along with the Director for Place and Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to develop the scope of the County Council’s petition to Parliament and take all necessary steps to carry the foregoing Resolution into effect.
(d) That a budget provision of £200,000 be allocated to provide the financial resources needed to petition against the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill.
Supporting documents: