Agenda item

Cabinet received a report which was submitted following the Sustainable Growth and Environment Capital Scrutiny Committee, held on 6 January 2016, and as part of the democratic process leading to the proposed adoption of the fourth Local Transport Plan (2016-2021), including the review of the Long Term Transport Strategy (2011-2026) at Full Council in January 2016.

The purpose of the report was for Cabinet to consider the fourth Local Transport Plan (2016-2021), including the review of the Long Term Transport Strategy (2011-2026), and to make any recommendations for changes where appropriate and to consider recommendations arising from the Sustainable Growth and Environment Capital Scrutiny Committee, these being:

i.      Air quality is monitored in the fourth Local Transport Plan in a manner that is easy to understand and would allow Peterborough to be compared to other cities; and

ii.    The long term aspiration to support the addition of further stations along the Stamford and Spalding train lines be included within the Fourth Local Transport Plan and the Council will pursue these aspirations with the relevant rail authorities.

The report further requested that Cabinet recommend that Full Council consider and adopt the Local Transport Plan 2016 to 2021 (LTP4) including the Long Term Transport Strategy 2011 to 2026 (LTTS).

The Cabinet Member for Growth, Planning, Housing and Economic Development introduced the report highlighting the main points contained within. The Plan was produced every five years and set out how existing and future transport issues would be tackled. The Plan would continue to support the city’s growth agenda, it was deliverable, and it set out what the Council could realistically achieve given its finances. The Plan would also help to bring in more grant funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership and the Government in future.

Following additional comments from the Council’s Head of Peterborough Highway Services, the Principal Transport Planning Officer and the Principal Passenger Transport Contracts and Planning Officer, Cabinet debated the report and in summary, key points raised and responses to questions included:

·         Throughout the Plan there were many policies and information which supported walking and cycling, both via infrastructure improvements and ‘Smarter Choices’ which actively encouraged people to walk and cycle;

·         Work was undertaken with all schools across the city in relation to road safety, with a range of safety measures being offered to each school. Work was also undertaken with parents and pupils to encourage safe walking and cycling. Capital money was spent on a yearly basis to make school journeys safer;

·         Motorcyclists were key and vulnerable road users and there was a dedicated policy contained within the Plan which focused on this group;

·         Armadillos, a form of speed hump, had been put in place elsewhere in the country, but the Council was still under deliberation as to whether they would be suitable for the city of Peterborough. The Council was aware of the concerns raised by motorcycle groups and the issue was under consideration;

·         Motorcycles being permitted to utilise bus lanes would be taken on board as a future consideration. Peterborough did not have a large number of bus lanes, and each lane would need to be looked at on a case by case basis;

·         The Plan would encourage growth over forthcoming years owing to it feeding into a number of council wide documents including the emerging Local P

·         Rural area transport was taken into account, there was a dedicated Rural Strategy and a dedicated section for rural residents within each policy;

·         The recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee had been taken on board, however it was suggested that the recommendation relating to the addition of further stations along the Stamford and Spalding train lines should have a caveat that this goal should not come at the cost of existing aspirations;

·         The Plan contributed to people’s health by ensuring fast journey times, as a key factor in air pollution was stationary traffic. Work would be undertaken to improve traffic movement further, and electric and ultra-low emission vehicles would be promoted along with the promotion of walking and cycling; and

·         The Council did support some bus services, but it did not operate any itself. Bus operation was a commercial business and bus operators were encouraged to consider servicing rural areas, along with infill urban areas.

Cabinet considered the report and NOTED:

1.  The fourth Local Transport Plan (2016-2021), including the review of the Long Term Transport Strategy (2011-2026) together with the minor amendments to the Plan as outlined in the report; 

2.  The recommendations from the Sustainable Growth and Environment   Capital Scrutiny Committee, these being that:

 i.      Air quality was monitored in the fourth Local Transport Plan in a manner that was easy to understand and would allow Peterborough to be compared to other cities; and

ii.    The long term aspiration to support the addition of further stations along the Stamford and Spalding train lines should be included within the Fourth Local Transport Plan and the Council should pursue these aspirations with the relevant rail authorities.

And RESOLVED:

3.   To endorse recommendation (i) and (ii) of the Sustainable Growth and Environment Capital Scrutiny Committee for inclusion within the Plan, but in relation to recommendation (ii) these (a) being supported by Cabinet and (b) only where they did not take priority over existing proposals for the rail network.

And RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:

4.   To consider and adopt the Local Transport Plan 2016 to 2021 (LTP4) including the Long Term Transport Strategy 2011 to 2026 (LTTS) as set out in the report, subject to the following additions: 

             i. Air quality be monitored in the fourth Local Transport Plan in a manner that was easy to understand and would allow Peterborough to be compared to other cities; and

ii. The long term aspiration to support the addition of further stations along the Stamford and Spalding train lines should be included within the Fourth Local Transport Plan and the Council should pursue these aspirations with the relevant rail authorities subject to these (a) being supported by Cabinet and (b) only where they did not take priority over existing proposals for the rail network.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

It was a statutory requirement that all local transport authorities outside of London produced a five year Local Transport Plan under the Transport Act 2000, as amended by the Local Transport Act 2008. It was also a major policy framework document under Part 3 Section 1 of the Council’s Constitution and as such it was required to be submitted to Full Council for adoption. Cabinet was asked to support the submission of the document to Full Council for consideration and adoption in January 2016.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

The only other option considered was that the Council would not write and publish the fourth Local Transport Plan. This was rejected as the Plan was a statutory document and therefore the Council was required to prepare and publish the Plan. The Plan was also essential to securing external funding for transport.