|
MINUTES of the
Annual General Meeting held on 26 April 2003 at the
Guildhall, York, commencing at 2.00pm
Present:
Pam Ashton (chair), Colin and Fleur Speakman, Graham Collett, Ray &
Jackie Wilkes, Paul Chattwood, Alan Sutcliffe, Susan Dye, Tony Ross,
Brian Whitty, Anthony Rae, Peter Davies, Simon Geller.
Apologies.
None Minutes,
which had been circulated were taken as read and accepted. Chairman's
Report.
Pam
Ashton Whilst we all believe that we could do so much more campaigning for sustainable transport if we had more time/more activists/more resources we all agreed that the group of people who make up the roundtable have done well this year. We have grown in strength in that we have a solid group of active people who take up issues within and without the TAR. We have a lead officer for each of the main areas of interest of TAR members and these “leads” pursue matters avidly. A representative has attended all the meetings in London of the National and Regional TAR and we have been able to benefit from discussions with the other regional TARs on how they dealt with issues or intelligence they have gathered. As Chair I have completed quarterly reports to the Countryside Agency on our activities and have liaised with T2000 over these. The formula for these reports ensures consistency between TARs. We have met with our local Countryside Agency contacts twice and enjoyed fruitful discussions with them. Their support is much appreciated and we hope that when their financial support finishes T2000 will come up with some alternative modest source of financial support. This year has seen the appointment of Susan Dye at T2000 to support the TARs and this relationship is proving to be of great benefit in terms of support and also information. We have responded to strategies including, as an emergency on vulnerable road user crossings of trunk roads and motorways. Countryside Agency colleagues and TAR officers worked out a way of co-operating on this that benefited both. Members
of the TAR have attended other important meetings in region such as WY
LTP Review meeting, Rail Freight Partnership in NE Lincs, spoken at
important conferences on walking, made submissions on public transport,
begun to develop a regional cycling strategy and much more. One
triumph this year has been the fact that we have secured a place on
Regional Transport Forum and we have followed this success up by
demanding a place on Highways Agency bodies.
Our arrangements for administration are now well bedded down and
working well. This means
that Focus continues to be an excellent newsletter.
Certain members have pursued SWYMMS and HUMMS (Multi-modal
studies) avidly and tried hard to turn back the relentless tide of
pointless and environmentally damaging airport expansion at Finningley. We
all deserve a pat on the back and I think we have the makings of a true
round table. Colin
Speakman proposed the adoption of the Chair’s report and
congratulated Pam for the way she kept together and developed the TAR.
Seconded by the Treasurer Graham Collett. Vice Chair Colin Speakman reported the sad death of Philip Ralph who was on his way to a meeting when he had had a heart attack. He
praised the excellent TAR “Focus” edited by Paul Chattwood. The
purpose of Section Leads was to develop a common policy to apply
throughout the region. He suggested we set out a Vision Statement for
each lead. Colin will refine his in the next few weeks. Colin
and Ray had attended a conference in Leeds "Walking: the Way
Ahead" (Transport 2000). Government about to produce a walking
strategy. However, now they are delaying publication. Speller was
cynical about the report. Ramblers Association were concerned about
this will publish the report themselves to embarrass him. Pam
mentioned the upgrading of walking and cycling facilities and bus
routes. She also commented on the fact that the Living Streets Conference
cost £250 plus VAT and this excluded voluntary organisations. Treasurers Report. Graham reported that the finances were healthy. The Arriva sponsorship of the newsletter continued for another year. We would need new sponsors. Payments, fees and expenses were higher but this was due to more activity. We need to keep the newsletter circulation under control and we could ask people if they wished to receive it by e-mail link. The
cost of the database set-up was non-recurring. Graham thanked Denise
and the team that Transport 2000 headquarters. Clearer information was
now coming through Anthony Ray would not be going on any more trips to
London about the airports which would also help contain cost. Pam
thanked Graham. Brian Whitty proposed acceptance of the accounts. Simon
Geller and Anthony Rae seconded. Financial
report at end. Co-ordinators
Report
Ray Wilkes explained where we were at with the database and thank Peter
Latarche for doing all the groundwork. This had been extremely useful
even though Ray wanted to use Microsoft Works rather than Microsoft
Access. Ray explained his reasons for this preference. It would be
discussed at a later meeting whether we should buy Microsoft Office
Professional. TAR
Focus
Circulation. Ray reported on the progress of the database. Ray
had not been clear at first as to who should receive the TAR Focus. Now
it will go to all MPs, MEPs, councillors with a transport portfolio,
officers with a transport portfolio. Ray had added about 100 new names.
We were now quite strong on PTE's, bus companies and rail companies
whereas before we were weak in those areas. We still need names for
Hull, East Yorkshire and the North Lincolnshire districts. Ray also
asked for a list of sympathetic press members. Campaign Reports: Buses.
Ray said he had a problem in that people naturally wanted to bash the
bus companies. However, Ray felt that it was often the local
authorities which were not providing bus priority and safer roads and
this was holding back the development of bus services. Ray was on a
number of Bus User Group's, particularly Harrogate Bus User Group and
Keighley Bus User Group of which he was Chair. He was lobbying Arriva
and First on quality and marketing issues as the opportunities arose.
He was also lobbying Metro, who were not yet completely pro-bus,
although they had moved from their original position that only trams
and trains could provide an alternative to the car. He felt that the
Traffic Commissioners, in their efforts to force bus companies to be
more reliable were in fact pursuing policies that were to the detriment
of bus passengers. Ray
Wilkes has been campaigning on behalf of Bus Users, pointing up areas
of Best Practice. He had attended the Department
for Transport Centre of Excellence Conference in Oxford
on Buses: “From Last-Resort to a Natural Choice” on behalf of
YHTAR. A report would appear in ‘Focus’. Ray reported that the
Oxford experience demonstrated that our transport aspirations were
practical, achievable and desirable. Cycling.
Simon Geller has been pursuing the quest for a Regional Cycling
Strategy via The National Cycling Strategy board’s A-Team. The next
CTC/CCN conference is on May 10 in London. The following conference
will be in this region, possibly on the 18th October at the Earth
Centre. Regional cyclist’s networks are holding up well Rail.
Peter Davies volunteered to replace Philip on the rail portfolio. He
reported on a Branch Line Futures conference organised by TR&IN. It
was agreed that where cycle routes were converted back to railways, the
cycling route must be preserved. Water
Transport.
Fred Andrews keeping a watching brief. No progress on finding someone
to help him. It was decided to ask Fred to do an article for the TAR
Focus and a ‘job advert’ with it. Progress on Driffield canal
reported. Anthony
Rae identified
that, when attending meetings on behalf of the TAR (national TAR
meetings or regional assembly meetings), his principal purpose was to
advocate the YHTAR or environmental transport position, which otherwise
might not be raised. As an example, he had pointed out to the RA the
post-their-endorsement escalation in the cost of dualling the A66; the
Assembly had agreed to thereafter subsequently check with the Highways
Agency against the possibility of cost escalation before they
considered scheme endorsement. On
SWYMMS, he reported the complicated saga whereby, after the study had
formally ended, the consultants included in their final report a
quantification of congestion savings that indicated that journey time
saved per trip was absolutely marginal. However, this had not been
noticed by the Regional Assembly who, despite AR pointing this out,
proceeded to endorse motorway improvements. This issue was still being
raised via T2000. On
the recent acceptance of the Finningley airport planning application,
he noted that the Secretary of State had approved these not on airport
capacity grounds but local economic grounds - this was extremely
worrying. He
was concerned about the quality of the Regional Assembly transport
assessments, which he believed were not sufficiently thorough or
independent enough to direct us towards a truly sustainable regional
transport policy. Finally,
he suggested a possible topic for future work: cooperation with NW and
NE TARs on the proliferation of schemes to expand the capacity of
trans-Pennine road routes. Election
of officers.
Chair:
Pam Ashton, proposed by Ray Wilkes, seconded Brian Whitty. Section
Lead Officers. Aviation: Anthony Rae, Rail: Peter Davies, Roads: Anthony Rae, Buses:
Ray Wilkes Walking: Colin Speakman, Waterways:
Vacant. Anthony
Rae congratulated all concerned on the changes. Subscriptions
2003/4. Graham's recommendation: subscription are not a key issue for
funding but we could invite donations.
There was some discussion and how we can proceed once the
Countryside Agency funding ended. Susan Dye explained that alternative
funding was being sought. Anthony Rae said that if nothing came from
central funding, we should seek funding from Yorkshire and Humberside
and we need to develop good relationship with top councillors. Regional
funding by Countryside Agency
for TARS Susan Dye reported that this is due to end, although a
relatively trivial amount needed. Ray suggested approaching nationally
the major bus and rail companies. They benefit from our lobbying. Susan
pointed out that Transport 2000 nationally was heavily dependent on
them. Ray suggested opening negotiations with road transport groups.
They were held up by traffic congestion. They could benefit from our
policies. Pam
Ashton pointed out that the Millennium Commission still had money for
funding projects. Anthony
Rae suggested that we reviewed expenditure over the year in order to
try to be solvent for the following year. Graham would report back. Next
AGM
24th April was agreed in the same place. The seminar subject would be
Trans Pennine. Ray said he would guidance on speakers. We would try to
ensure that there were drinks & sweets with a buffet, that we were
clear on OHP and signage. Any
other business.
|