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Bee Network Committee - Thursday, 25 June 2026 - 2.00 pm
June 25, 2026 at 2:00 pm Bee Network Committee View on council websiteSummary
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The Bee Network Committee met on Thursday 25 June 2026 to approve significant funding for transport infrastructure projects across Greater Manchester and to note various appointments and procedural matters. Key decisions included the allocation of over £100 million for a range of schemes, from bus strategy improvements and Metrolink programmes to active travel initiatives and highways maintenance.
Transport Infrastructure Pipeline
The committee approved substantial funding drawdowns for a wide array of transport infrastructure projects across Greater Manchester, totalling over £100 million. This funding will support the continued development and delivery of the Bee Network, aiming to enhance public transport and active travel.
Key approvals included:
- City Centre Bus Strategy Phase 2: £1.585 million for traffic signal improvements, journey time information systems, and bus stop upgrades in Manchester city centre.
- City Centre Radials Programme: A total of £11.65 million allocated for various interventions, including £0.427m for Wellington Road North Phase One, £2.043m for Wellington Road North Phase Two, £4.5m for detailed design on Oldham Road, £1.28m for early interventions across the programme, and £3.4m for further development of Manchester City Council corridors.
- Improving Journeys Programme: £4.2 million for schemes including junction upgrades and pedestrian crossing improvements in Rochdale, Wigan, Bolton, Leigh, Stockport, and Salford, as well as bus stop upgrades and junction improvements on the Salford Crescent to MediaCityUK route.
- Bus Depot Engineering Asset Renewals: £1.0625 million to ensure the ongoing safe and reliable operation of depot engineering assets across multiple depots.
- Bury Interchange: £25.1 million to facilitate the contract award for Phase 1 delivery and progression of Phase 2 design development, including residential development on an 'affordable rental' tenure.
- North-West GM Metrolink Programme: £1.512 million to explore rapid transit expansion in the north-west of Greater Manchester, including potential Metrolink extensions and tram-train technology.
- Golborne Station: Delegated authority was granted to the Group Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Vice-Chair, to approve funding allocation and drawdown for the main construction works, following confirmation from the Department for Transport that network integration conditions have been met.
- Trafford: Partington Sustainable Travel Scheme: £7.37 million approved for a scheme to improve facilities for walking, cycling, and wheeling in Partington.
- Salford: Ordsall Neighbourhood Scheme: £0.1 million for business case development for phases two and three, with a reallocation of £0.25 million from the Peel Green Active Travel scheme.
- Salford: Chapel Street / Trinity Way Scheme: £1.95 million to deliver Phase 1 of the scheme, which aims to improve bus journey time reliability and enhance walking, wheeling, and cycling facilities.
- Tameside: Ashton and Stalybridge Packages: £5 million to deliver town centre regeneration and public space improvements in Ashton and Stalybridge.
- Bury: Prestwich Travel Hub / Park and Ride: £12 million to support the delivery of a new Travel Hub, cycle storage, and electric vehicle facilities.
- Manchester: Wythenshawe Active Travel Programme Phase 1: £1.6 million to deliver improvements to pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity.
- Stockport: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: £0.626 million for the provision of EV charging at social housing locations, policy revisions, and at the new Marple Community Hub.
The committee also approved the drawdown and allocation of £49.7 million for Core Highways Maintenance and Local Safety & Minor Works, and £15.6 million for Local Highways Maintenance for 2026/27. Authority was delegated to the Group Chief Executive, in consultation with the Vice-Chair, to approve any further funding drawdowns required before the next meeting.
Appointments to Outside Bodies
Councillor Mike McCusker's appointment to the GM Green City Region Partnership was confirmed, and he was also appointed to the Vision Zero Advisory & Scrutiny Board. Councillor Tracey Rawlins and Councillor Jacqueline Owen were asked to reprise their appointments to the Greater Manchester Accessible Transport Board. The committee also agreed to seek three further appointments to this board and the appointment of a GM Bee Network Disability Advocate outside of the meeting.
Procedural Matters
The committee noted the local authority Bee Network Committee appointments for the 2026/27 municipal year. It was also noted that Mayoral Appointments for the same period would be made at the next meeting. The GMCA Members Code of Conduct and the Committee's Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure were noted. Apologies were received from Councillor Eamonn O'Brien, City Mayor Paul Dennett, Councillor Stephen Homer, Vernon Everitt, and Caroline Simpson. Councillor Grace Baynham declared an interest as her husband is an employee of Network Rail. The committee also noted the passing of former GMCA and TfGM Chief Executive Eamonn Boylan. The minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2026 were approved. The date of the next meeting was set for Thursday 24 September 2026.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Appointment of Chair
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee decided that the appointment of the Chair for the 2026/2027 municipal year would be made at the next meeting of the Committee. This was approved on 25/06/2026.
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Appointment of Vice-Chair
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee decided that the appointment of the Vice-Chair for the 2026/2027 municipal year would be made at the next meeting of the Committee. This decision was made on 25/06/2026.
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Chairs Announcements & Urgent Business
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee noted the sad passing of former GMCA and TfGM Chief Executive Eamonn Boylan on 25/06/2026.
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Minutes of the Meeting Held on 26 March 2026
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2026. The committee also noted updates on the Good Growth Fund and thanked Councillor Howard Sykes for his contributions.
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Date of Next Meeting
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee decided that the next meeting of the Committee will be held on Thursday 24th September 2026.
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Members Code of Conduct
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee decided to approve recommendations regarding the GMCA Members Code of Conduct on 25/06/2026. The GMCA Members Code of Conduct was noted.
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Terms of Reference & Rules of Procedure
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee approved the Committee's Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure on 25/06/2026. The Bee Network Committee is a joint committee of ten Greater Manchester district councils, the GMCA, and the Mayor, responsible for overseeing the delivery of Greater Manchester's Local Transport Plan.
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Declarations of Interest
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee approved Councillor Grace Baynham's declaration that her husband is an employee of Network Rail on 25/06/2026.
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Transport Infrastructure Pipeline
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee approved the drawdown of Integrated Settlement funding for various transport infrastructure projects. This included £1.585m for City Centre Bus Strategy Phase 2, £11.65m for the City Centre Radials Programme, £4.2m for the Improving Journeys Programme, £1.0625m for Bus Depot Engineering Asset Renewals, £25.1m for Bury Interchange, £1.512m for the North-West GM Metrolink Programme, £7.37m for Trafford's Partington Sustainable Travel Scheme, £0.1m for Salford's Ordsall Neighbourhood, £1.95m for Salford's Chapel Street / Trinity Way, £5m for Tameside's Ashton and Stalybridge Packages, £12m for Bury's Prestwich Travel Hub / Park and Ride, £1.6m for Manchester's Wythenshawe Active Travel Programme Phase 1, and £0.626m for Stockport's Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. The committee also approved the drawdown of Active Travel Funding for several schemes, including £1.44m for Salford's Islington Neighbourhood, £0.07m for Stockport's Ladybrook Valley Phase 2, £0.6m for Manchester's School Streets, £4m for Bury's Radcliffe Metrolink Access Ramp and Parkhills Road – Heywood Street Junctions, £0.09m for Trafford's Flixton Community Streets, and £0.5m for Trafford's Aimson Road East / Shaftesbury Avenue Junction Scheme. Additionally, £49.7m Core Highways Maintenance and Local Safety & Minor Works funding and £15.6m Local Highways Maintenance funding for 2026/27 were approved for drawdown and allocation. Authority was delegated to the Group Chief Executive, in consultation with the Vice-Chair of the Bee Network Committee, to approve any further funding drawdowns before the next committee meeting.
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Membership for the 2026/27 Municipal Year
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee of Greater Manchester Combined Authority Council noted the local authority Bee Network Committee appointments for the municipal year 2026/27 on 25/06/2026. It was also noted that Mayoral Appointments for the same period would be made at the next Committee meeting.
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Appointments to Outside Bodies
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee approved recommendations on 25/06/2026. Councillor Tracey Rawlins and Councillor Jaqueline Owen were asked to reprise their appointments to the Greater Manchester Accessible Transport Board, Councillor Mike McCusker was confirmed for the GM Green City Region Partnership and appointed to the Vision Zero Advisory & Scrutiny Board. Further appointments to the Greater Manchester Accessible Transport Board and the GM Bee Network Disability Advocate role will be sought outside the meeting.
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Apologies
Recommendations ApprovedThe Bee Network Committee of Greater Manchester Combined Authority Council noted apologies from several individuals on 25/06/2026. The committee approved the recommendations.
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