Agenda item - Member Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by Members:

 

(a)          Petitions: To receive any petitions;

 

(b)          Written Questions: To consider any written questions;

 

(c)          Letters: To consider any letters;

 

(d)          Notices of Motion: to consider any Notices of Motion referred from Full Council or submitted directly to the Committee.

 

 

(B)      Written Questions

 

(1)           Pollution

 

63.1      Councillor Davis put the following question:

 

“In Labour’s local election manifesto, you committed to “bring an end to noisy and polluting vehicles”. Can you tell me when this will happen?”

 

63.2      The Chair provided the following reply:

 

“Our manifesto highlighted cutting vehicle pollution as one the main ways that can help people to find ‘Better ways to get around the city’ and improve the health of the city.  The focus of this commitment includes installing more electric charging vehicle points; collaborating with taxi drivers to develop an ultra-low emission fleet; and assisting car club co-operatives.

You will know from your own experience that these types of initiatives can require significant officer time and investment and progress depends on the available funding, as well as the capacity of the power network.  However, Independent research shows that the city is one of the best-prepared areas for electric vehicle uptake in the UK based on the number of chargers per resident.

Our progress on electric vehicle infrastructure is summarised in the excellent Annual Parking Report which is on the agenda for this meeting.  The council has a good delivery record and we very much hope that our recent bid for a further £3 million pounds of Government funds will enable us to install a further minimum of 1,600 chargers.  If successful, this will provide the basis for a step-change in the uptake of electric vehicles in the city.

We need to continue to work with the taxi trade and its drivers to enable them to make their fleet cleaner.  They need accessible infrastructure and there are now three rapid charging hubs in the city, and we are planning a further two sites.  These provide dedicated bays for electric taxis, as well as bays for general public use, and further sites for rapid chargers are being investigated.  We also want to explore ways that will incentivise the increased uptake of these vehicles.  

Replacing diesel buses with zero emission alternatives will support our vision for an accessible, clean, and sustainable city.  Our work therefore continues with bus companies through the Enhanced Bus Partnership.  If successful, our recent funding bid to the Government’s Zero Emission Bus fund (which this committee supported) will enable a £multi-million pound investment in 16 electric buses and charging infrastructure.

We will also continue to work with local car club operators to ensure that fleets are ultra-low or zero emission.  We understand that the plans of local co-operative ‘Electric Brighton Car Share’ have unfortunately been delayed while they are looking for a partner organisation, and officers are also researching different models and approaches to managing car clubs in the city and promoting their electrification.

 

These measures are therefore part of an ongoing programme that we will deliver during the coming years by working in partnership to contribute to tackling and improving air quality in the city”.

 

63.3      Councillor Davis asked the following supplementary question:

 

“What about the taxi trade how predominately use diesel vehicles?”

 

63.4      The Chair provided the following reply:

 

We have approached the taxi trade. I don’t have much further to add other than what was in my response however, I do appreciate there are barriers and thought will be given about incentives to move to cleaner vehicles”.

 

(2)           Elm Grove

 

63.5      Councillor Davis read the following question:

 

“Can I have an update in the number of fines collected from pavement parking in Elm Grove”.

 

63.6      The Chair provided the following reply:

 

“125 Penalty Charge Notices have been issued in Elm Grove for pavement parking since June 2023.

In January, only 2 Penalty Charge Notices were issued which indicates the restriction is an effective deterrent.”

 

63.7      Councillor Davis asked the following supplementary question:

 

“Which areas of the city does the Administration would most benefit for the next stage of the roll-out?”

 

63.8      The Chair provided the following reply:

 

“I would like pavement parking to be banned across the city but by Government legislation. In 2019 there was a comprehensive options assessment. Three options were considered viable- a Traffic Regulation Order approach street by street which is a cumbersome and slow way to approach this and two other options. I have and will call again for the Secretary of State to make a decision on this as those two other options would enable us to effectively implement a pavement parking ban”.

 

(3)           20mph Limits

 

63.9      Councillor Davis read the following question:

 

“The 20mph speed limit has been an emotive subject but nobody can deny that slower moving vehicles lead to less serious injuries and a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists and less emissions. TFL have introduced a blanket 20mph speed limit to their central streets alongside and an enforcement team to further enhance city centres and so my question is, would this administration consider following suit and rolling out a city wide 20mph speed limit?”

 

63.10   The Chair provided the following reply:

 

“The 20mph speed limit has indeed been a successful scheme that the administration fully supports, however, the needs of public transport have to be considered.  A blanket city-wide scheme needs to take into account the effects it may have so this is why certain roads are not included.  These are used by public transport and such a reduction would impact directly on bus journey times so currently I believe we have the best balance of speed limits in the city.  It is possible that the situation has changed with some roads so I will ask officers to continue to assess speed limits where changes to road layouts are made and to ensure we have the best scheme for the city. We are therefore no plans to change to a citywide speed limit and continue with the arrangement that was in place during the previous administration on this matter. Further, it is very important that all drivers adhere to speed limits for all our roads. There is a concern that some drivers do not adhere to the 20mph limit where in place and I wish to work with residents and council officers to find effective ways to develop the behaviour change that is needed to fully adhere to traffic laws”.

 

(4)           LCWIP

 

63.11   Councillor Davis read the following question:

 

“Can the chair inform the committee of the progress of the LCWIP?”

 

63.12   The Chair provided the following reply:

 

“As a Labour administration, we are fully committed to active travel and delivering schemes better than before. The LCWIP aligns well with our more strategic approach to walking and cycling moving away from the disconnected and ad hoc approach that seemed to be prevalent before we took office. Work is progressing to develop various priority routes within the LCWIP including Western Road, A23, Valley Gardens and A259. A more detailed update on the LCWIP will be coming to this committee later this year. The LCWIP is also used to show to government the level of ambition the city has for active travel, including in funding bids and self-assessment processes for Active Travel England; however, it does not in itself attract funding”.  

 

63.13   Councillor Davis asked the following supplementary question:

 

“Given the modal shift officer position is proposed to be removed during the budget cuts, how do you see this impacting the LCWIP plan?”

 

63.14   The Chair provided the following reply:

 

“It should not effect the delivery; the workload will be taken on by other officers”.

 

(5)           Park & Ride

 

63.15   Councillor Davis read the following question:

 

“Can the chair inform me on the progress and location of the park and ride promised in their manifesto”.

 

63.16   The Chair provided the following reply:

 

“A review of potential options for a formal Park and Ride facility is being undertaken which is based on an updated assessment of previously identified, possible sites across the city.

I welcomed Cllr Fishleigh’s member question at Full Council last week. In my response, I summarised 20 years of repeated park and ride assessments with no action. It is noted that the Green Party saw no value in Park and Ride no doubt on the misplaced anti-car agenda that by not having a park and ride, drivers will not come to our city. How wrong is that? This inaction of successive administrations needs now to stop and I am determined that this administration delivers. 

A report will come to committee in due course which will consider the outcomes of this work and make decisions on next steps and budgetary requirements”.