Agenda item - Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) - approval of scoping report

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)            That the Committee agree the draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Scoping Report attached as Appendix 2 to this report, with the proposed approach, governance and timescales duly updated to include the addition of an urgently constituted cross-party Member and Stakeholder Task & Finish Group which will offer members and key stakeholders earlier and stronger engagement in, and oversight of, the development of the LCWIP document. The task and finish group to be reviewed with stakeholders at regular intervals in terms of its purpose to ensure it remains effective.

2)            Request officers to bring a report to the next Committee meeting to agree the Terms of Reference for the task and finish member working group

17.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out and sought approval of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) Scoping Report in order to progress to the next stage of the Plan.

17.2      On behalf of the Green Group, Councillor West moved a motion to amend recommendation 2.1 and add recommendation 2.2 as shown in bold italics below:

2.1  That the Committee agree the draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Scoping Report attached as Appendix 2 to this report, with the proposed approach, governance and timescales duly updated to include the addition of an urgently constituted cross-party Member and Stakeholder Task & Finish Group which will offer members and key stakeholders earlier and stronger engagement in, and oversight of, the development of the LCWIP document. The task and finish group to be reviewed with stakeholders at regular intervals in terms of its purpose to ensure it remains effective.

2.2  Request officers to bring a report to the next Committee meeting to agree the Terms of Reference for the task and finish member working group

17.3      Introducing the motion, Councillor West stated that investment in cycling and walking was long overdue. Referring to the timetable listed on page 344 of the agenda, Councillor West expressed his concern that stakeholders would be engaged after the Scoping Report had been completed which was too late in the process.

17.4      Councillor Davis formally seconded the motion.

17.5      Councillor Heley observed that the report suggested that the Plan would take ten years to fully implement and given the urgency of the matter and the ambition for a carbon neutral city by 2030, asked whether some elements could be instigated more quickly.

17.6      The Head of Transport Policy & Strategy that the LCWIP would be reviewed in the context of the priority given by the declaration of a climate emergency and commitment to carbon neutrality by the council earlier in the year. The Head of Transport Policy & Strategy explained that the proposals that come forward would be determined by the level of funding available to deliver them and that would be determined through the budget setting process.

17.7      Councillor Moonan noted the wide-ranging health and wellbeing benefits of the LCWIP. Councillor Moonan stated that she hoped the Plan would focus on the most deprived areas of the city as that was where the highest need for such measures was required. Councillor Moonan highlighted that there were occasional conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians in shared public realm spaces and encouraged that the consultation and engagement be as extensive and wide-ranging as possible to deliver projects that were welcomed by all.

17.8      Councillor Wares welcomed the proposal as an overdue method to provide a joined up public infrastructure. Councillor Wares stated that whilst he would be supporting the Green Group motion, there was already a stakeholder group based in the city in the Transport Partnership and it was entirely possible for them to be the stakeholder group proposed. Councillor Wares noted that there was no reference to how the consultation on the Plan would be undertaken within the report adding that the proposed timetable was of poor quality, undeliverable and already behind schedule and required urgent revision.

17.9      The Head of Transport Policy & Strategy answered that the report did reference the role of the Transport Partnership and there was the opportunity to draw upon the expertise of a sub-group of the Partnership. With reference to the point raised on consultation, the Head of Transport Policy & Strategy explained that there were very good precedents such as the consultation on the Draft City Plan and Open Spaces Strategy to learn from and officers would ensure wide-ranging engagement took place, particularly with those residents that were hard to reach.

17.10   Councillor Wares urged that all interest groups be consulted with not just those with a direct interest in the Plan.

17.11   Councillor West stated that he hoped all the observations relating to the sense of urgency and the timetable had been taken on and therefore, there would be no need to propose an amendment to recommendation 2.1 to correct that.

17.12   The Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture replied that the Green Group motion proposed a revised timescale and therefore, officers would address that request should the motion be passed.

17.13   The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

17.14   The Chair then put the recommendations, as amended to the vote that passed.

17.15   RESOLVED-

1)            That the Committee agree the draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Scoping Report attached as Appendix 2 to this report, with the proposed approach, governance and timescales duly updated to include the addition of an urgently constituted cross-party Member and Stakeholder Task & Finish Group which will offer members and key stakeholders earlier and stronger engagement in, and oversight of, the development of the LCWIP document. The task and finish group to be reviewed with stakeholders at regular intervals in terms of its purpose to ensure it remains effective.

2)            Request officers to bring a report to the next Committee meeting to agree the Terms of Reference for the task and finish member working group