Agenda item

At its meeting on 23 April 2025, the Committee agreed to the formal request of Cabinet of 25 March 2025 to “consider the council’s response to the assembly recommendations, prior to approval by Cabinet in July 2025.”

The Committee has invited Cllr Andrew Gant, Cabinet member for Transport Management, and Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet member for Place, Environment, and Climate Action, to present the report. 

The Committee has also extended invitations to Paul Fermer, Director of Environment and Highways, and Susannah Wintersgill, Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Partnerships, to answer the Committee’s questions and to Carole Stow, Engagement Consultation Manager, Victoria Powell, Communications and Engagement Manager (Strategic Programmes), as well as Hannah Battye, Head of Place Shaping, Joanne Fellowes, Place Planning Manager (Central), and Melissa Goodacre, Sustainable Transport Manager.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Report to follow

At the Chair’s discretion the second two public addresses were taken at this stage. 

The Committee welcomed Cllr Andrew Gant, Cabinet member for Transport 

Management, and Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet member for Place, Environment, and 

Climate Action, to present the report to the Committee. 

The Committee also invited Paul Fermer, Director of Environment and Highways, Susannah Wintersgill, Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Partnerships, Carole Stow, Engagement Consultation Manager, Victoria Powell, Communications and Engagement Manager (Strategic Programmes), as well as Hannah Battye, Head of Place Shaping, Joanne Fellowes, Place Planning Manager (Central), Melissa Goodacre, Sustainable Transport Manager, and Susan Ritchie, Director of Mutual Gain, to answer the Committee’s questions. 

Members queried how the Council would motivate behaviour change and the Cabinet member for Transport Management stressed promoting a vision to the public and facilitating convenient choices for the county. He highlighted that people already decided on travel based on various factors, so the goal was to provide additional information. The Cabinet member for Place, Environment, and Climate Action suggested focusing on informing and nudging rather than preaching. The Council had been conducting travel campaigns and launched the Better Travel website to encourage active travel options. 

Members inquired about metrics for evaluating fare-free park and ride trials and how mobility hubs would integrate with transport and land use plans. The Cabinet Member for Transport Management and the Director of Environment and Highways explained that while the Council was keen on utilising park and ride assets, specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) had yet to be defined. They emphasised the need to break down recommendations into work streams and actions to measure success. The Head of Place Shaping noted that a park and ride strategy was being developed and was to align with current initiatives, including integrating mobility hubs with existing plans. 

The Committee inquired about the usefulness of the Citizens Assembly for officers and its potential repetition. The Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action found the session insightful, particularly regarding bus fare challenges for children, aligning with long-term transport plans. The Director of Environment and Highways and the Head of Place Shaping both emphasised the Assembly's value in providing diverse perspectives that enhance policy decisions. They planned to continue engaging with the Assembly and have funding for future initiatives. 

The Committee inquired about how the Citizens Assembly shaped the communication strategy and influenced participants. The Director of Mutual Gain stated that the Assembly did not use Council promotional material but provided essential travel plans and mobility hub information. Participants valued the balanced, objective approach that included opposing views. The Director of Public Affairs noted that the Assembly was conducted objectively, which kept participants engaged and interested in further involvement. 

The Director of Environment and Highways acknowledged the importance of improving communication strategies based on the insights gained from the Citizens Assembly. He emphasised the need to enhance their communication efforts to bring people along and effectively change behaviour through marketing and communication activities. 

The Committee enquired about monitoring the implementation of recommendations from the Citizens Assembly. The Director of Environment and Highways noted that further work was needed to fully understand and shape these recommendations, including defining success criteria and measurement methods. The Head of Place Shaping added that the recommendations will be divided into work streams and actions, then integrated into existing or new programs. 

The Director of Mutual Gain stated that four recommendations fell short of the 80% threshold but were included in the full report. She noted that some overlap with the recommendations that met the threshold might have caused some to be voted down due to perceived duplication. She suggested that the recommendation on subsidised travel for those over 60s might have been introduced too late, leading participants to assume it was already covered. Additionally, the children's travel subsidy could potentially have reached 80% if considered separately.