Cabinet Member for Environment
Decision:
It was RESOLVED: -
1.1 That the joint Councils’ draft LCWIP and Sustainable Transport vision be endorsed.
1.2 That the completion of the final documentation be delegated to the Assistant Director for Economic Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment.
REASON FOR DECISION
Endorsement is recommended so that the LCWIP can be supported and utilised as recommended by National Government guidance. The Sustainable Travel Vision will be used to inform the public about our key values, aims, ambitions and narrative around Sustainable Travel. The LCWIP will also be made public, but the key functions of this document are to inform SCC Highways and our own planning directorate of our active travel infrastructure ambitions, in order to capture opportunity for delivery.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
Option 1 – To endorse these strategical documents
Option 2 – To decide not to endorse these strategical documents
Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes:
116.1 The Chair, Councillor Morley, invited the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Fleming to introduce the report.
116.2 Councillor Fleming outlined the background for the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and summarised the main points in the report.
116.3 Councillor Fleming proposed the recommendations, as detailed in the report which was seconded by Councillor Richardson.
116.4 Councillor Brewster supported the LCWIP in principle but had concerns regarding specific proposals in the report such as Ipswich Street in Stowmarket.
116.5 The Sustainable Travel Officer advised that the list of schemes in the LCWIP was based on desires of the public identified during the public consultation. Suffolk Highways would consider the proposed schemes and decide what kind of infrastructure would be possible.
116.6 In response to Councillor Gould’s questions regarding adding new schemes to the LCWIP and the possibility of distribution of resources back to the County for the LCWIP scheme, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Fleming stated that the decision for local schemes would be part of the negotiations for the County deal for the funding from Central Government.
116.7 The Cabinet Member responded to further questions from Councillors and stated that the Council had to be broadly consistent with other authorities and follow the established matrix for the schemes, though there was room for some flexibility.
116.8 The Sustainable Travel Officer responded to further questions from Councillors and advised that the LCWIP was not compulsory, but that Government would look favourably on authorities, who had one in existence. Further that it was no longer an option for members of the public to add schemes to the list. However, the website remained live with news, project updates and contact details to enable an open conversation for the LCWIP. She added that the consultation had received over 800 responses.
116.9 In response to Councillor Burn’s question regarding monitoring of progress for the Scheme, officers responded that the Council was working closely with Suffolk County Council (SCC) and Suffolk Highways to oversee how progression could be made on the listed schemes.
116.10 The Sustainable Travel Officer responded to questions from other Members attending the meeting on issues including community transport, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding and how the LCWIP would be used by planning officers.
116.11 During the debate Councillor Richardson thanked the Sustainable Travel officer and the Cabinet Member for Environment for the work undertaken for LCWIP. It was a valuable piece of work for the District, and he appreciated the input from the public consultation. The document was a live document, and that it was important to promote active travel and to support the Joint Wellbeing Strategy agreed last September.
It was RESOLVED: -
1.1 That the joint Councils’ draft LCWIP and Sustainable Transport vision be endorsed.
1.2 That the completion of the final documentation be delegated to the Assistant Director for Economic Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment.
REASON FOR DECISION
Endorsement is recommended so that the LCWIP can be supported and utilised as recommended by National Government guidance. The Sustainable Travel Vision will be used to inform the public about our key values, aims, ambitions and narrative around Sustainable Travel. The LCWIP will also be made public, but the key functions of this document are to inform SCC Highways and our own planning directorate of our active travel infrastructure ambitions, in order to capture opportunity for delivery.
Supporting documents: