Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Nick Carter (Councillor Kieron Mallon substituting).

There were no declarations of interest.

This meeting will be held virtually in order to conform with current guidelines regarding social distancing. Normally requests to speak at this public meeting are required by 9 am on the day preceding the published date of the meeting. However, during the current situation and to facilitate these new arrangements we are asking that requests to speak are submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e. 9 am on Friday 24 July 2020. Requests to speak should be sent to colm.ocaomhanaigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk  together with a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9 am 2 working days before the meeting.

Where a meeting is held virtually and the addressee is unable to participate virtually their written submission will be accepted.

Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

The Chairman had agreed to the following request to speak on Agenda Item 4, Active Travel: Patrick Coulter.

Oxfordshire County Council has a programme of active travel initiatives, designed to promote walking and cycling. This programme has recently been boosted through the Emergency Active Travel Fund, which is being provided by the Department for Transport to support a significant shift to walking and cycling, particulalrly as lockdown restrictions are eased. The fund is being released in two tranches:

Tranche 1 was released in June. OCC was given an indicative allocation of £597,000, and received 50% of this, £298,000.

Tranche 2 was announced on Friday 10 July, with bids required to be submitted on Friday 7 August. OCC have been given an indicative allocation of £2.38m.

A presentation to the Committee will:

Consider lessons learned from tranche 1 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund and how these will help inform our management of tranche 2.

Consider the wider programme of active travel, and how the Emergency Active Travel Fund will enhance this programme

Provide details of the schemes that are being recommended to be put forward for funding as part of tranche 2, including the rationale and evidence base that supports these proposals.

The Committee are recommended to note and comment on the presentation.

Patrick Coulter, speaking on behalf of Headington Liveable Streets, Headington Action and Headington Neighbourhood Forum, asked Members to support their bid for Tranche 2 funding to create three low traffic neighbourhoods in Headington.

Low traffic neighbourhoods are now both Government and County Council policy.  He suggested that Headington should be a priority area given the high volume of traffic generated around all of the hospital and educational institutions.

The Headington Neighbourhood Plan was endorsed through referendum by 85% of those taking part. And is supported by all the area’s City and County councillors.  He believed that it is imperative that the County Council provides sufficient officer resources to support their policy for the implementation of low traffic neighbourhoods.

Jason Russell introduced the presentation.  He noted that the Active Travel Fund was just one part of the picture which he wanted to set in the wider context.  The amount of money in the fund was relatively small but would be a catalyst.  Communication has been a key issue with expectations being raised and then not matched by the funding offered.  However, the learning from Tranche 1 will put the Council in a better position for Tranche 2.

Councillor Kieron Mallon asked why Bicester was mentioned in relation to the A361 which does not go near the town.  He said that this error gave him little confidence in the document.  It was clear that the whole process was rushed.

Councillor Yvonne Constance responded that they have been given little time to put together the bids but it was that or not bid at all.

Sue Halliwell gave the presentation for the Tranche 2 bid.  The deadline for the bid was only one week away.  Officers have had contact with the Department for Transport but not as much as they would have liked.  Bidding will be competitive.  The proposals for Cherwell and West will be prioritised by the BCR (Benefit Cost Ratio) which results in the order Witney, Bicester, Banbury.

Members raised a number of issues:

·         the lack of Member-engagement in the process.

·         the membership of local working groups that were considering proposals.

·         the shortage of officers to go out on location to examine proposals.

·         the temporary or longer-term closures of parking bays and their effects on, and consultation with, local business.

·         the lack of public transport alternatives in many areas leaving people dependent on cars.

·         the increased provision for cycling in some areas when there was little use of the existing facilities.  

·         the lack of proposals in the South and Vale areas.

·         the lack of schemes in rural areas despite the large number of proposals received.

·         the unpopularity of modal filters.

·         routine work being put aside in order to deal with the Active Travel funds.

Councillor Constance and the officers responded as follows:

·         The local working groups included district, city and county officers as well as representatives from bus companies etc.

·         Social distancing guidelines still recommend 2 metres separation where possible but all temporary arrangements will be under constant review.

·         Businesses will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33/20