1. Who’s Who in Yorkshire and the Humber
Northern Engagement Team
Who’s Who in Yorkshire and the Humber
14 March 2013
Margaret Jackson
DfT Northern Engagement Team

2. Who we are?
DfT has three teams who lead the Department’s work with local transport authorities, LEPs and other local bodies:
Northern (5 Staff based in Leeds & covering YH, NE and NW)
Midlands and South West Hub (4 Staff based in Birmingham & covering WM, EM and SW)
South East and East Hub (3 Staff based in London & covering SE and East)

3. What we are and what we can do
We are part of DfT ‘central’ team and sit within Local Transport Directorate.
We are local authorities’ first point of contact with the Department, and aim to:
Translate and explain Departmental and Government policy
Maintain a good understanding of the transport issues in our regions and feed this into Departmental policies and programmes
Help partners navigate through the structures and processes within DfT (including its funding mechanisms)
Help facilitate solutions to problems.

4. What are our priorities?
Work with local authorities and LEPs to facilitate growth through investment in transport infrastructure, such as Sheffield Bus Rapid Transit, tackling congestion through Pinchpoint schemes and supporting initiatives like Enterprise Zones, City Deals, RGF and Growing Places Fund.
Devolving funding and responsibilities to the local level, through the devolution of major scheme funding, rail franchise devolution.
Supporting the delivery of High Speed Rail
Working with local authorities and PTEs to develop more sustainable transport, eg Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Better Bus Areas, cycling investment.

5. Recent Transport Investment
In 2011, the Government announced £155m funding for 10 local major transport schemes in Y&H – more schemes than in any other region…
… as well as the electrification of the north-Transpennine route between Manchester and York via Leeds.
In 2012, Ministers awarded funding of over £50m LST funding to a range of large and small projects across Yorkshire and the Humber to develop sustainable transport solutions.
The 2012 Budget included £130m for ‘Northern Hub’ schemes to increase capacity and line speed on the Sheffield–Manchester line and increase line speed on the Manchester–Bradford via Halifax line.

6. Recent Transport Investment
Humber Bridge Review – The write-down of the debt by £150m by the Government allowed the tolls for cars to be halved (from £3.00 to £1.50) from 1 April 2012
On 5 July 2012, Ministers announced £173.5m for the Leeds New Generation Transport Scheme (NGT), the first modern trolleybus scheme in the UK.
Autumn Statement 2012 included £314m for the A1 Leeming to Barton scheme, £170m for local ‘pinchpoint’ schemes, and an extra £100m for schemes on the strategic road network
At the end of 2012, we also saw significant investment of £62m announced for cycling infrastructure improvements.

7. Contacts in the Northern Team
Margaret Jackson – Head of Team, ,
Richard Perry – Deputy Head, North West
Mark Duggleby – West and North Yorkshire, Hull and East Riding ,
Helen Gorner – South Yorkshire, N Lincs and NE Lincs ,
Christine Staley – Team Admin ,