Decision - Covid-19 City Recovery Programme Update

1)     That the localised response to a phased recovery and the progress updates on the city’s recovery programme be noted;

2)     That the council’s approach to a phased recovery from Covid-19 ensures delivery of the council’s goalof lowering toxic emissions to achieve ‘carbon neutrality’ by 2030; and

3)     That further to the council’s planned work on Transport Network Management and Recovery, that the committee recognises:

-         Government guidance (‘Safer Public Places – Urban Centres and Green Spaces’), which focuses on practical interventions to adapt public places, particularly in areas of high footfall, to support health and safety as urban spaces become busier;

-         latest Government guidance indicating that non-essential retail will reopen on 15^th June, requiring more immediate changes to our transport network to allow for safe ‘social distancing,’ than can be realised by the next meeting of Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee;

-         the strength of feeling in the city for transport network changes, to facilitate road safety, walking and cycling, reduce toxic emissions, as well as support the safe use of public transport;

-         plans agreed by Urgency Policy and Resources Committee to bring forward urgent transport changes, and the current LCWIP consultation;

-         news that the council has recently been allocated ‘emergency active travel’ funding from Government, some of which could be withdrawn if the initial tranche is not spent quickly;

and therefore agrees:

-         to identify and implement urgently needed changes to both public places and the transport network, to enable outdoor exercise, active travel and maximise safe public transport use, (including measures referenced in the Government guidance, such as timed road closures) that can take place prior to 15^th June;

-         and to fast-track engagement with local communities and stakeholders, to help identify and prioritise such measures, prior to 15^th June;

that further to guidance on reopening of schools, to swiftly progress safe ‘school streets’ initiatives across the city.