Transport for Wales Board Meeting Minutes - 21 September 2023

21 September 2023

09:30 - 16:00

Venue - Llys Cadwyn

 

Scott Waddington (Chair), Heather Clash, Nicola Kemmery, Vernon Everitt, Alison Noon-Jones, Sarah Howells, Alun Bowen and James Price.

In attendance: Peter McDonald (Welsh Government), Andrew Morgan (WLGA), Alan McCarthy (Unite) (items 1-4) and Jeremy Morgan.

 

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. The Chair welcomed Alan McCarthy to the meeting as the new trade unions observer and Cllr Andrew Morgan (RCT CBC and WLGA) as the local government observer.

 

1a. Apologies for Absence

None.

 

1b. Notice of Quorum

A quorum being present, the Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and declared the meeting open.

 

1c. Declarations of Interest

None.

 

1d. Minutes and Actions of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the TfW Board meeting 20 July 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record. The actions log was noted.

 

1e. Safety Moment

The Board discussed the importance of setting the right safety tone at the commencement of projects, and the need to ensure a vigilant approach even when all the correct paperwork is in place.

 

1f. Customer moment

The Board were informed of a recent experience of using the bus replacement service on the Marches line where a good service was received. The Board discussed the importance of consistency of drivers and vehicles for the service.

 

2. Safety performance

Leyton Powell joined the meeting.

The Board were updated on the following health, safety and well-being matters:

• Level Crossing Working Group meetings with AIW took place in both August and September with the aim of defining the possibility of a Welsh Level Crossing Risk Assessment methodology.
• An unannounced visit to Taffs Well Depot by the TfW Health & Safety team to discuss an assurance review of the Craidd SHELT service avoidance standard.
• The combined reported fatality weighted index score for Rail Period 05 (0.33) was above the predicted figure (0.17). The moving annual average (0.20) is also higher than the predicted level. There were 22 workforce harm events (one with seven plus days lost time), four shock events, 20 reported physical assaults (five resulting in physical harm), 34 customer accidents, 11 of which customers required direct conveyance to hospital.
• TfW has been included in the Welsh Government's cross Government Suicide Prevention group to share strategy, activities and best practice. The Board were informed of an upward trend on suicides in general which impacts drivers and resulting in being out of action for a significant time. It was agreed to discuss at the next Health, Safety and Well-being sub-committee [Action Nicola Kemmery/Leyton Powell]. It was also agreed that any learning should be applied to bus.
• Lessons are being learnt from recent incidents in Nawabshah, Pakistan and in Sweden. The Board noted the possible link to the effects of climate change from the Swedish incident.

The Board discussed monitoring risks on the Valley Lines in the context of climate change. It was agreed to confirm the use of all our sources of weather information when making operational infrastructure management decisions [Action Leyton Powell].

 

3. Risk register

The Board noted the strategic risk register. The Board noted that Following a recent review by the Infrastructure Directorate, from 1 September, AIW is no longer providing risk management services on CVL . Rather, risk management will be managed internally within the project using the TfW risk team as a support function to assist with the identification, management and reporting of CVL risks.

Leyton Powell left the meeting.

 

4. Strategic update

4a. CEO report

The Board were updated on the effects of the late delivery of CAF rolling stock, legacy rolling stock issues, and capacity constraints at Chester depot. There has been better MKIV service along with improved Wrexham-Bidston line services. The Board stated it was uncomfortable regarding TfW’s position in the TOC ‘league tables’ but can see the efforts and focus on rectifying the situation.

The Board approved the addition of Julian Edwards as Associate non-executive director to the TfW Rail Board.

Acceptance of Cl. 197 units has improved to almost one per seven days. REDACTED.

The Board discussed the content of a paper on working together to reform bus services in Wales. The agreement focusses on the roles of TfW, the Welsh Government, local government, the bus industry and the trade unions. The Board welcomed the draft agreement and that local government expertise regarding the bus network should at the front of decision making. The Welsh Government asked the TfW Board to hold the TfW Executive to account on the spirit of the document.

REDACTED

 

4b. Finance and governance 

The Board noted the TfW management accounts for August 2023 and the TfW Rail Ltd periodic financial reviews for rail periods 4 and 5.

The Board were updated on:

• A series of deep dives with the Welsh Government regarding component parts of the 2024/25 budget.
• The development of a refreshed five-year forecast for discussion with the Welsh Government.
• Delivery of the Rail Affordability Programme.
• Current MAs in progress including include OMR CP7 funding for the CVL; fibre commercialisation; and bus network reform.
• The first meeting of the joint TfW /Welsh Government Performance Board.
• The commencement of the business planning process for 2024/25.
• Progress with development of the Welsh Government/TfW framework document.

 

5. CVL fibre

Owain Taylor-Shaw joined the meeting. The Board were updated on the progress made on CVL fibre assets commercialisation project which is awaiting final Welsh Government approval. REDACTED.

Owain Taylor-Shaw left the meeting.

 

6. Project Cyfuno

The Board were updated on the development of a memorandum between TfW and Network Rail setting out a series of ways to work better together and individually at strategic and operational level. The Board welcomed the memorandum.

 

7. CVL update

Dan Tipper joined the meeting. The Board was informed that TfW has formally taken over direct control of the commercial aspects of the programme from AIW. This has resulted in several commercial risks being identified such as inflation, programming, scope gaps and under-performing contractors. Mitigating actions are being progressed.

The Board also noted that:

• Treherbert line reopening is generally on programme.
• A solution to the Cl. 398 pantograph issue is well progressed.
• Delays resulting from a recent cable theft have been recovered.
• Progress with entry into service where the main issues are around resource availability.

Dan Tipper left the meeting.

 

12. Sub-committees

The Board was updated on the recent meeting of the Customer and Communications sub-committee. The meeting focussed on on-going data and analytics work on customer journeys and the development of data twins and what initiatives change. The meeting also considered progress with project zero to handle the backlog of customer complaints.

The recent meeting of the Major Projects sub-committee considered bus, Wrexham Gateway, CVL , Cardiff Central, Crossrail, interchanges and active travel grants.

 

13 Subsidiary Boards

The Board were updated on the recent meeting of the TfW Rail Ltd board meeting.

 

14. Steering Board

The Board were updated on discussions held at July's meeting of the TfW Steering Board.

 

The Chair brought the meeting to an end and thanked everyone for their input.