Agenda item - Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That the committee:

1)             Agree the findings of the Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (included as Appendix 1 to this report) as an independent analysis of options which provides a strategic overview for delivering further walking and cycling measures during the Covid-19 recovery period;

2)             Agree that the recommendations at paragraphs 8.1 to 8.26 of Appendix 2 be amended and that further paragraphs 8.27- 8.29 be added to this list as follows:

8.2.  To monitor the impact of the temporary cycle lanes on Old Shoreham Road and gather evidence for a future decision on keeping or removing the cycle lanes. Commit to extend the temporary cycle lane to the West Sussex boundary in anticipation of West Sussex bringing forward proposals to link up.The future decision on keeping or removing these cycle lanes will be brought to the September ETS Committee.

8.18. Commit to implementing a programme for School Streets in the city, to support safe reopening of all primary and nursery schools, subject to feasibility in highway terms.

8.26. To note the proposals for increased cycle parking and BikeShare hubs.To support increased cycling, especially commuting, urgently make available temporary cycle parking by deploying and securing railings and gates (as often provided by event organisers).

8.27  To develop a pilot Local Traffic Neighbourhood as requested in the Hanover Action Deputation.

8.28.  To implement an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to allow full or partial closure of Trafalgar Street following engagement with local businesses.

8.29.  Establish an informal cross-party member liaison group to give oversight of the emergency funding bids and implementation of temporary highway and transport measures. This will also aid wider partner engagement.

3)        Agree the recommendations contained in Section 8 (8.1 –8.29) of the updated Urgent Response Transport Action Plan (included as Appendix 2 to this report); as the delivery plan for measures identified in the Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan; and to give delegated authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment and Culture to take all steps necessary to deliver these recommendations.

4)        Note that the schemes included in the recommendations contained in Section  (8.1 – 8.29) of the updated Urgent Response Transport Action Plan (included as Appendix 2 to this report) are all subject to securing appropriate levels of external funding to support delivery, principally the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.

5)        Agree that officers will bring a report which reviews the progress of the Urgent Response Transport Action Plan to the September meeting of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee.

6)       Agree that the proposed approach to significantly increasing provision of cycle parking within the city will be included as part of the main Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan process, as set out in paragraph 3.8 of this report.

12.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that responded to the decision at the 14 May 2020 Policy & Resources Urgency Sub-Committee that an Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) [Interim LCWIP] be produced for review by the committee. The report was in addition to ongoing development of a wider LCWIP document. The report also responded to the statutory guidance issued by government on 9 May 2020 in which local authorities are urged to consider how towns and cities can do what is necessary to ensure transport networks support recovery from the Covid-19 emergency and provide a lasting legacy of sustainable, safer transport; as well as the announcement from government on 28 May 2020 for the provision of the Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF).

12.2      On behalf of the Green Group, Councillor West moved a motion to amend the report recommendations as shown in bold italics below:

2.2      Agree that the recommendations at paragraphs 8.1 to 8.26 of Appendix 2 be amended and that further paragraphs 8.27- 8.29 be added to this list as follows:

8.2.   To monitor the impact of the temporary cycle lanes on Old Shoreham Road and gather evidence for a future decision on keeping or removing the cycle lanes. Commit to extend the temporary cycle lane to the West Sussex boundary in anticipation of West Sussex bringing forward proposals to link up.Continue to monitor what West Sussex County Council proposes for the Old Shoreham Road. The future decision on keeping or removing these cycle lanes will be brought to the September ETS Committee.

8.18. Commit to implementing To continue to work on a programme for School Streets in the city, to support safe reopening of all primary and nursery schools, subject to feasibility in highway terms.  adequate budget and staff resource availability from the council, and support/agreement from the schools to be involved.

8.26.  To note the proposals for increased cycle parking and BikeShare hubs.To support increased cycling, especially commuting, urgently make available temporary cycle parking by deploying and securing railings and gates (as often provided by event organisers).

8.27  To develop a pilot Local Traffic Neighbourhood as requested in the Hanover Action Deputation.

8.28.  To implement an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to allow full or partialclosure of Trafalgar Street following engagement with local businesses.

8.29.  Establish an informal cross-party member liaison group to give oversight of the emergency funding bids and implementation of temporary highway and transport measures. This will also aid wider partner engagement.

2.3      Agree the recommendations contained in Section 8 (8.1 – 8.26 8.29) of the updated Urgent Response Transport Action Plan (included as Appendix 2 to this report); as the delivery plan for measures identified in the Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan; and to give delegated authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment and Culture to take all steps necessary to deliver these recommendations.

2.4       Note that the schemes included in the recommendations contained in Section
(8.1 – 8.26 8.29) of the updated Urgent Response Transport Action Plan (included as Appendix 2 to this report) are all subject to securing appropriate levels of external funding to support delivery, principally the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.

2.5      Agree that officers will bring a report which reviews the progress of the Urgent
Response Transport Action Plan to the September meeting of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee.

2.6      Agree that the proposed approach to significantly increasing provision of cycle parking within the city will be included as part of the main Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan process, as set out in paragraph 3.8 of this report.

12.3      Introducing the motion, Councillor West stated that is was intended as a measure to make long-term the urgent measures undertaken to prioritise pedestrian and cyclist movement across the city. Councillor West stated that it was essential to encourage active travel on the commuter links in the city and that included the A259 and Old Shoreham Road. The motion also proposed essential work that could be taken in residential areas specifically, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods that was a matter brought to the committee by residents earlier in the meeting.

12.4      Councillor Lloyd formally seconded the motion and stated that residents across the city were asking for traffic calming measures in their areas and the motion was an opportunity to deliver that.

12.5      Councillor Wares asked why the traders and residents had not been listened to regarding the re-opening of Madeira Drive. Further, Councillor West noted that there had been an objection to the removal of the taxi rank on St James’s Street by the taxi trade and local traders and asked what response had been provided to that. Councillor Wares explained that the council had received many complaints from Blue Badge holders stating that their concerns and issues were not being considered. Councillor Wares noted that the committee had received correspondence from a North Portslade and South Portslade ward councillor relating to their residents objections to the Old Shoreham Road cycle lane and asked whether that view was shared by the remaining councillors for that area of which the Chair was one.

12.6      The Chair stated that she was concerned about the implication of the cycle lane for North Portslade residents.

12.7      The Head of Traffic Management explained that the taxi rank needed to be removed quickly to meet government guidance. Conversations with the taxi trade about the potential siting of a rank would begin in the coming days. The interim plan had been discussed with traders and the plans amended as a result of that feedback and that dialogue would continue. In relation to disabled bays, there were initial problems relating to their closure however, many had been put back, most as they originally were.

12.8      Councillor Wares stated that he would not be supporting the recommendations or Green Group motion that he deemed to be a trojan horse approach to enforcing permanent transport measures upon the residents of the city that they did not support. Councillor Wares stated that unpopular, untested measures were being brought in and were being hijacked into permanent measures. Councillor Wares noted that there were projects and groups already in existence looking at all of the measures proposed, and these should be allowed to finish, and any permanency agreed through a proper democratic process that would involve consulting with residents first. Councillor Wares stated that the committee should listen to residents and traders and re-open Madeira Drive immediately.

12.9      Councillor Lloyd stated that the views of businesses and traders should be taken very seriously however, there were examples in Brighton and many other places where the reduction of traffic has transformed city centres and residential areas, boosting businesses and the same time.

12.10   Councillor Brown stated that whilst there aspects of the report such as school streets that were welcome, she had grave concerns about many aspects of the report, especially the impact of the temporary cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road as it was a major arterial route in the city. Councillor Brown stated that the cycle lane was too wide that led to cars using the bike lane to undercut traffic and did not appear well used by cyclists.

12.11   Councillor Wilkinson stated his support for the report that met the urgent need to deliver enhanced walking and cycling measures in the city and would put the council in a good position to secure the further funding the government would be making available for such measures. Councillor Wilkinson stated that it was vitally important to make active travel measures available, especially for shorter journeys in the city but it was not a given these would become permanent. Councillor Wilkinson explained that the pandemic meant that public transport would not be able to operate at full capacity for some time therefore, it was vital to increase sustainable transport options so as to avoid a large increase in car travel and worsening air quality because of it.

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

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

12.14   RESOLVED- That the committee:

1)             Agree the findings of the Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (included as Appendix 1 to this report) as an independent analysis of options which provides a strategic overview for delivering further walking and cycling measures during the Covid-19 recovery period;

2)             Agree that the recommendations at paragraphs 8.1 to 8.26 of Appendix 2 be amended and that further paragraphs 8.27- 8.29 be added to this list as follows:

8.2.  To monitor the impact of the temporary cycle lanes on Old Shoreham Road and gather evidence for a future decision on keeping or removing the cycle lanes. Commit to extend the temporary cycle lane to the West Sussex boundary in anticipation of West Sussex bringing forward proposals to link up.The future decision on keeping or removing these cycle lanes will be brought to the September ETS Committee.

8.18. Commit to implementing a programme for School Streets in the city, to support safe reopening of all primary and nursery schools, subject to feasibility in highway terms.

8.26. To note the proposals for increased cycle parking and BikeShare hubs.To support increased cycling, especially commuting, urgently make available temporary cycle parking by deploying and securing railings and gates (as often provided by event organisers).

8.27  To develop a pilot Local Traffic Neighbourhood as requested in the Hanover Action Deputation.

8.28.  To implement an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to allow full or partial closure of Trafalgar Street following engagement with local businesses.

8.29.  Establish an informal cross-party member liaison group to give oversight of the emergency funding bids and implementation of temporary highway and transport measures. This will also aid wider partner engagement.

3)        Agree the recommendations contained in Section 8 (8.1 –8.29) of the updated Urgent Response Transport Action Plan (included as Appendix 2 to this report); as the delivery plan for measures identified in the Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan; and to give delegated authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment and Culture to take all steps necessary to deliver these recommendations.

4)        Note that the schemes included in the recommendations contained in Section  (8.1 – 8.29) of the updated Urgent Response Transport Action Plan (included as Appendix 2 to this report) are all subject to securing appropriate levels of external funding to support delivery, principally the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.

5)        Agree that officers will bring a report which reviews the progress of the Urgent Response Transport Action Plan to the September meeting of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee.

6)       Agree that the proposed approach to significantly increasing provision of cycle parking within the city will be included as part of the main Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan process, as set out in paragraph 3.8 of this report.