Decision details

To support the following:

·         The delivery of a £3m programme of enhancements at Whittlesea railway station supported by CPCA Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) funding available between April 2024 and March 2027.

·         Authorise the S151 Officer to enter into a grant funding agreement (GFA) with CPCA for FDC to deliver the enhancement programme for Whittlesea Station.

·         Support the June 2019 decision of FDC Cabinet relating to the governance of the Whittlesea Station project. Enabling the existing governance arrangements and a Project Board to oversee the development and delivery of the £3m programme.

·         To give delegated authorisation to the Cabinet member for Transport, Heritage, and Culture to approve associated procurement in accordance with FDC procurement procedures, the terms of the GFA with CPCA and decisions by the Project Board.

Members considered the Whittlesea Station enhancement programme presented by Councillor Seaton.

Members made comments as follows:

·         Councillor Miscandlon stated that this is a good way forward for Whittlesea station as it has suffered for many years from underinvestment and bringing it forward as a main station due to the fact that Whittlesey is growing will give it a better transport system out of the area for work and leisure.

·         Councillor Boden stated that it is a matter of ‘chicken and egg’ situation in that the poor facilities together with the short and disjointed platforms at the station discourage people from using it, therefore, additional trains are not put on because the service is infrequent so people do not tend to use the station so it is important that the cycle is broken and one of the ways to do this is through initiatives such as this to enable specific improvements to take place at the station to encourage more people to be able to use the station which may be able to be used to encourage the train operators to stop more frequently at the station. He added that it is not that trains are not passing through the station but too many passenger trains pass through and do not stop and it will be a big battle ahead that the Council has been fighting for some time but these proposals will assist in ensuring the battle is eventually won.

·         Councillor Mrs French stated this is a great idea, March was fortunate to obtain investment and wishes Whittlesey well.

·         Councillor Seaton made the point that one note of caution is Ely Junction, which is still the ‘elephant in the room’ and it is still awaited for these monies to come through from the Government to start that process as it is still a big block in what is trying to be achieved.

Proposed by Councillor Seaton, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to:

·         Approve the delivery of a £3m programme of enhancements at Whittlesea railway station supported by CPCA Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) funding available between April 2004 and March 2027;

·         Authorise the S151 Officer to enter into a grant agreement with CPCA for FDC to deliver the enhancement programme for Whittlesea Station;

·         Reconfirm the June 2019 decision of FDC Cabinet relating to the Governance of the Whittlesea Station project. Enabling the existing governance arrangements and a Project Board to oversee the development and delivery of the £3m programme; and

·         Delegate authority to the Cabinet member for Transport, Heritage, and Culture to approve associated procurement in accordance with FDC procurement procedures, the terms of the GFA with CPCA and decisions by the Project Board.