Agenda item - Urgent Response Transport Action Plan - update

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That the Committee:

1)             Note the update on temporary measures that have been implemented as part of the Urgent Response Transport Action Plan contained in Appendix A, and agree these remain in place while the threat from Covid-19 is again escalating, and officers continue to monitor the schemes and report findings back to a future Committee.

2)             Delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to review and make amendments to the Old Shoreham Road cycle lane in respect of specific traffic movements, including the right hand turn into Olive Road and the Carlton Terrace junction to ease congestion, and a general review of road markings and signage to optimise safety.

3)             Give approval for the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to commence detail design and the Traffic Regulation Order process to re-open Madeira Drive one-way eastbound, improve blue badge capacity and relocate cycle facilities as detailed in paragraph 3.17 of this report and the plan contained in Appendix B, and for this process to remain under constant review with alternative options weighed up and reported back to Committee to assess.

4)             Agree to a pause in implementing Tranche 2 changes, in order to ensure local residents and stakeholder groups are consulted and are able to offer input into the process. Request that officers agree a window with the Department for Transport that allows for meaningful consultation to take place, without placing the Tranche 2 funding at risk, and our expectation is that this window be no less than 6 weeks. 

5)             Agree that subject to the Council securing funding for Tranche 2 of the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, a report is brought to a Special meeting of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee to agree the measures being taken forward and the associated consultation plan.

22.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that updated on the transport network measures taken by the Council in the short term to respond to the Covid-19 emergency. The report also set out recommendations in relation to specific measures that were implemented as part of the package of emergency measures approved at the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 23 June 2020. 

22.2      Councillor Wilkinson moved a motion on behalf of the Labour Group to amend the recommendations as show in bold italics and strikethrough below:

2.2   Delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to review and make amendments to the Old Shoreham Road cycle lane in respect of specific traffic movements, including the right hand turn into Olive Road and the Carlton Terrace junction to ease congestion, and a general review of road markings and signage to optimise safety.

2.3   Give approval for the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to commence detail design and the Traffic Regulation Order process to re-open Madeira Drive one-way eastbound, improve blue badge capacity and relocate cycle facilities as detailed in paragraph 3.17 of this report and the plan contained in Appendix B, and for this process to remain under constant review with alternative options weighed up and reported back to Committee to assess.

2.4   Agree to a pause in implementing Tranche 2 changes, in order to ensure local residents and stakeholder groups are consulted and are able to offer input into the process. Request that officers agree a window with the Department for Transport that allows for meaningful consultation to take place, without placing the Tranche 2 funding at risk, and our expectation is that this window be no less than 6 weeks; and  

2.5   Agree that subject to the Council securing funding for Tranche 2 of the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, a report is brought to a Special or Urgency Committee meeting of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee to agree the measures being taken forward and the associated consultation plan.

22.3      Councillor Williams formally seconded the motion.

22.4      Councillor Wares moved a motion on behalf of the Conservative Group to amend the recommendations as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:

The Committee is recommended to:

2.1   Note the update to temporary measures that have been implemented as part of the Urgent Response Transport Action Plan contained in Appendix A, and that except where altered by the following recommendations, the committee agrees they remain in place while the threat from Covid-19 is again escalating, and that officers continue to monitor those schemes and report findings back to the November a future Committee.

2.2   Request Delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to remove the temporary cycle lane on review and make amendments to the Old Shoreham Road.  cycle lane in respect of specific traffic movements, including the right hand turn into Olive Road to ease congestion.

2.3   Request Give approval for the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to urgently to commence detail design and the Traffic Regulation Order process to re-open Madeira Drive one-way eastbound, restore and improve blue badge capacity and unfettered access for everybody to Changing Places public toilets and relocate cycle facilities as detailed in paragraph 3.19 6 of this report and the plan contained in Appendix C.

2.4   Request the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to urgently alter the Traffic Regulation Orders in respect to New Road to allow Blue Badge holders to access and park in New Road the same as all other road users and to provide Blue Badge parking in proximity to New Road for Blue Badge use during the closed period. In respect to the city centre to allow Blue Badge holders long-term parking as opposed to the current 3-hour limit.

2.5   Request the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to urgently install the eight fit for purpose disabled bays in Bartholomew Square and via consultation with stakeholders representing Blue Badge holders, relocate the two now inaccessible disabled bays in London Road.

2.6   Request the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to urgently commission an independent road safety audit on the “floating” disabled parking bays on the A259 with emphasis on them being fit for purpose for use by Blue Badge holders.

2.47  Postpone Tranche 1 proposals not already implemented (save for those changes detailed in points 2.2 – 2.6 inclusive and Agree that subject to the Council securing funding for Tranche 2 proposals until of the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, a report is brought to a Special or Urgency Committee to agree the measures being taken forward and the associated public and stakeholder consultation plan. The report to include assessments relating to, inter alia, economic, financial, social, equalities, pollution & air quality, traffic movement & displacement and journey time impacts such that future decisions can be based on considered opinions, evidence and assessments capable of future monitoring comparisons.

22.5      Councillor Brown formally seconded the motion.

22.6      The Chair stated that the Green Group would be supporting the Labour Group motion but not the Conservative Group motion as to agree would place the Tranche 2 funding at risk and many of the issues identified were already being addressed.

22.7      Councillor Fowler stated that the temporary measures had realised benefits and it was right to learn and consult to improve the measures going forward.

22.8      Councillor Lloyd stated that traffic was the sole cause of traffic and every effort needed to be made to reduce levels to the benefit of people and the environment.

22.9      Councillor Davis noted that the Council had supported a Carbon Neutral city by 2030 and these types of measures were fundamental to that.

22.10   Councillor Wares stated that the dissent relating to the proposals was because the plans were rushed and had not been sufficiently thought through and the council were not listening to all road users.

22.11   Councillor Wilkinson stated that central government expected changes and the urgency relating to funding meant that it had not been possible to do so in the way it normally would be. Councillor Wilkinson stated that it was important that consultation with all stakeholders and communities was thorough going forward and that bold changes were needed to respond to the pandemic and create a better, cleaner environment for the city and its residents.

22.12   Councillor Wares asked for clarification that the cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road was not subject to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and would remain permanent until the committee decided otherwise.

22.13   The Head of Transport Projects & Engineering confirmed that to be the case and added that any decision on the permanent status of all the schemes brought in would be for the committee.

22.14   The Chair then put the Labour Group motion to the vote that passed.

22.15   The Chair then put the Conservative Group motion to the vote that failed.

22.16   The Chair then put the recommendations as amended to the vote that were agreed.

22.17   RESOLVED- That the Committee:

1)             Note the update on temporary measures that have been implemented as part of the Urgent Response Transport Action Plan contained in Appendix A, and agree these remain in place while the threat from Covid-19 is again escalating, and officers continue to monitor the schemes and report findings back to a future Committee.

2)             Delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to review and make amendments to the Old Shoreham Road cycle lane in respect of specific traffic movements, including the right hand turn into Olive Road and the Carlton Terrace junction to ease congestion, and a general review of road markings and signage to optimise safety.

3)             Give approval for the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to commence detail design and the Traffic Regulation Order process to re-open Madeira Drive one-way eastbound, improve blue badge capacity and relocate cycle facilities as detailed in paragraph 3.17 of this report and the plan contained in Appendix B, and for this process to remain under constant review with alternative options weighed up and reported back to Committee to assess.

4)             Agree to a pause in implementing Tranche 2 changes, in order to ensure local residents and stakeholder groups are consulted and are able to offer input into the process. Request that officers agree a window with the Department for Transport that allows for meaningful consultation to take place, without placing the Tranche 2 funding at risk, and our expectation is that this window be no less than 6 weeks. 

5)             Agree that subject to the Council securing funding for Tranche 2 of the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, a report is brought to a Special meeting of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee to agree the measures being taken forward and the associated consultation plan.