Agenda item

Cabinet Members: Climate Change Delivery & Environment, Highway Management and Travel & Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/139

Contact:Mehdi Zegmou, Senior Project Manager (Oxford City) Email: mehdi.zegmou@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA6).

Seek Approval for the implementation Traffic Filters ETRO.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)            approve the making of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (or Orders) introducing six traffic filters in Oxford as described in Annex 8, subject to further minor changes to allow the scheme to operate as intended without affecting the scheme outcomes;

(b)            authorise delegation to the Corporate Director for Environment and Place to make and implement the necessary Experimental Traffic Regulation Order(s) and make and implement any relevant adjustments to the scheme once it is in force;

(c)            noting that an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order allows the council to adjust the scheme once it is in force, authorise the Corporate Director for Environment and Place (in consultation with the Director for Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy) to make changes to the experimental scheme before it comes into force, provided that these changes do not materially alter the scheme’s impacts, particularly in relation to bus journey time savings and

(d)            approve the development and implementation of the infrastructure and supporting systems required for the traffic filters, at an estimated cost of £6.458m.

Councillor Duncan Enright left the meeting.

Cabinet was asked to approve an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to introduce six new traffic filters which the report stated would:

·             make walking and cycling safer and more attractive

·             make bus journeys quicker and more reliable

·             enable new and improved bus routes

·             support investment in modern buses (including the ZEBRA project to fund up to 159 electric buses)

·             help tackle climate change, reduce local air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, introduced the report.  He proposed an amendment to recommendation a):

Insert after ‘minor changes’, “(including adopting any Scrutiny recommendations)”.  This was seconded by Councillor Phillips and agreed.

Responding to speakers on this item, he emphasised that this was a democratic process – the decision was being made by democratically elected councillors.  He did not accept suggestions that he had not met with opponents to the scheme.  He noted that some of the objectors had previously opposed the High Street traffic filters but nobody was suggesting to remove them now as they had been very effective.

Councillor Gant stated that Cambridge had introduced similar measures decades ago.  There was nowhere in the city that you will not be able to drive to after the introduction of the filters.  Changes have been made following the consultation process.  The effects of the filters will be monitored, including the effects on businesses.  The aim was to open up the city and enhance public transport.

The Chair read a statement from Councillor Calum Miller who had to leave the meeting before the speakers had concluded.  The statement is included in the collection of statements published with the minutes.

Other Cabinet Members commented on the proposal:

·       The Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) that have been introduced should have been one of a series of measures to deal with traffic problems but other important measures such as the workplace parking levy have been delayed and this endangers the LTNs.

·       The biggest problem was that there were just too many cars in the city.  In many cases, several cars to one house.

·       Given the climate emergency, everybody has to change and tread as lightly as possible.

Councillor Mark Lygo stated that he would not vote for this proposal.  He believed that there had been many failings in the process.  He called on Cabinet to pause, even at this late stage and reconsider the proposals, avoiding blame.

Councillor Gant summed up, thanking officers for all their work in very difficult circumstances.  He welcomed the support from Oxford City Council’s Cabinet.

Councillor Liz Brighouse proposed an amendment to recommendation b) to append: “and for Cabinet to be informed of any changes”.  This was seconded by Councillor Phillips and agreed.

The recommendations as amended were proposed by Councillor Gant and seconded by Councillor Hannaby.  The recommendations were approved with 6 votes in favour and 1 against.

The Chair reminded Cabinet Members that there was a duty under collective responsibility to take these proposals forwards.

RESOLVED to:

(a)            approve the making of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (or Orders) introducing six traffic filters in Oxford as described in Annex 8, subject to further minor changes (including adopting any Scrutiny recommendations as agreed by Cabinet) to allow the scheme to operate as intended without affecting the scheme outcomes;

(b)            authorise delegation to the Corporate Director for Environment and Place to make and implement the necessary Experimental Traffic Regulation Order(s) and make and implement any relevant adjustments to the scheme once it is in force and for Cabinet to be informed of any changes;

(c)            noting that an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order allows the council to adjust the scheme once it is in force, authorise the Corporate Director for Environment and Place (in consultation with the Director for Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy) to make changes to the experimental scheme before it comes into force, provided that these changes do not materially alter the scheme’s impacts, particularly in relation to bus journey time savings and

(d)            approve the development and implementation of the infrastructure and supporting systems required for the traffic filters, at an estimated cost of £6.458m.

Councillor Enright re-joined the meeting.