Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/138

Contact: James Gagg, Infrastructure Strategy Team Leader (Interim) Tel: 07776 997303/Joseph Kay, Strategic Transport Lead Tel: 07827 979234

Report by Director of Planning & Place (CA9).

The report updates Cabinet on development of the new Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan- called the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan. Specifically, it outlines the context and key points included in a proposed Vision Document (Annex 1), on which it is proposed to undertake public consultation. It also includes a summary of the engagement exercise undertaken in Spring 2020 (Annex 2), and a summary of key evidence that has been reviewed to support development of the Vision. (Annex 3) The Cabinet are asked to endorse these 3 documents as basis for public consultation commencing in February 2021.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)              note progress on the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan and the timetable leading to Plan adoption set out in Annex 1;

(b)              endorse the content of the Vision Document in Annex 1, and the supporting engagement summary and baseline evidence base documents in Annex 2 and 3 as the basis for public consultation, commencing in February 2021 for a period of 6 weeks; and

(c)              delegate the decision on the graphical format of the final Vision Document to the Corporate Director for Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport.

Recommendations Agreed as amended:

(c)    to delegate the decision on the graphical format of the final version of the Vision Document, including graphical format to the Corporate Director for Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport.

Cabinet had before it a report which updated Members on development of the new Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan - called the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan. The report outlined the context and key points included in a proposed Vision Document (Annex 1), on which it was proposed to undertake public consultation. It further included a summary of the engagement exercise undertaken in Spring 2020 (Annex 2), and a summary of key evidence that had been reviewed to support development of the Vision (Annex 3).  The Cabinet were asked to endorse the 3 documents as basis for public consultation commencing in February 2021.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Chairman of the Performance Scrutiny Committee highlighted the issues raised by the Committee.  The Committee felt that the reduction of inequalities needed to be more strongly reflected, and that the public health team should be engaged in LTCP development to ensure it was in line with the Director for Public Health’s emphasis on reducing inequalities.  For example, a person’s employment prospects might be seriously limited by poor public transport connections where they live.

In relation to Consultation, the Committee questioned how the consultation was going to work if Covid restrictions remained in place for a long period. The Committee felt that there was a need for an equality impact assessment on the consultation itself to ensure that it reached all communities and questioned whether the consultation would include AONBs.

In relation to public transport, the Committee noted that there were specific challenges in rural areas, including connectivity into and between main towns.  Nearly all the money for buses seemed to be going to Oxford or for services to and from Oxford. There was support for develop delivery hubs to reduce the number of large lorries in built-up areas.

The Committee felt that congestion on the Oxford Ring-Road needed to be tackled and it was noted that much of the congestion took place in areas experiencing deprivation. Concern was expressed about HGV rat running and the need for more access control. There was also concern about tree removal by the A40 when more need trees were needed by main roads to assist in air quality.

In relation to electric vehicles, the Committee noted that there was also the challenge of electric vehicle ‘switch’ and the need to provide for this in terms of charging points for those who do not have a garage or driveway. Concern was also expressed that school transport would be the last to get electric buses given that they always seem to have the oldest vehicles.

On planning, the Committee noted that there was an issue with out of town retail undermining local connectivity and disadvantaging people. They sought assurance that there would be connectivity improvements to those new locations.

The Committee questioned how it could be ensured that existing new development proposals reflected new policy priorities.  Development needed to have more mixed use and to move away from large housing-only estates.  Look more at place shaping, including better designed streets.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7