Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Ray Theodoulou, Stephen Davies, Paul McCloskey, Gina Bloomefield, Jim Dewey, Keith Rippington and Matt Babbage.

Cllrs Shaun Parsons and Patrick Coleman were in attendance as substitutes.

Members of the Committee are invited to declare any pecuniary or personal interests relating to specific matters on the agenda.

Please see note (a) at the end of the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

Members to consider a report on the Local Transport Plan Review.

3.1       Members were reminded that this meeting was a joint meeting of the Environment and Gloucestershire Economic Growth Scrutiny Committees to consider a draft review of the Local Transport Plan (LTP). The joint nature had arisen from the cross over of interest for both Committees to scrutinise the Plan’s development.

3.2       The Chair advised members that the purpose of the item was for both Committees to comment, ask questions, and raise concerns/issues on the draft report presented. These comments will then be recorded and fed into the ongoing consultation before the report is sent to Cabinet in December.

Background

3.3       Simon Excell, Lead Commissioner for Strategic Infrastructure, introduced the item with a presentation outlining the background for the review and the key suggested changes.

3.4       The Committee were advised that the published draft review was not the final document. Following today’s scrutiny, an emerging draft consultation document will go to Cabinet and then to formal public consultation early 2020.

3.5       The Council undertook early stake holder engagement on the draft document and feedback indicated the emerging reviewed LTP was much more in line with district and LEP policies.

3.6       It was explained that this review has come about due to the significant change in priorities and policies that have been seen recently, both locally and nationally.

3.7       It was important that the reviewed LTP linked well with the evolving climate change agenda, new Local Plans such as the Joint Core Strategy and the Local Industrial Strategy currently being produced by the GFirst LEP. It is vital for Gloucestershire that all such plans and strategies are co-ordinated.

Changes within the LTP document

3.8       Members were informed that a key change to the LTP was a new chapter on ‘Shaping the Way to 2041’. This chapter looked towards a new timeline and beyond the 2031 timescale of the original LTP. Its focus will be to take consideration of trends, emerging technologies such as a better use of smart phones for transport, and new transport modes such as electric vehicles.

3.10    The ‘Overarching’ chapter has been revised to take account of the county’s priorities on climate change and the environment, growth, health and wellbeing and sustainable travel behaviour.

3.11    The ‘Public and Community Transport’ chapter has been updated. The term ‘Park and Ride’ has been changed to ‘Transport Interchange Hubs’. The idea being that the concept should grow to include other modes of transport, rather than just the traditional car and bus model.

3.12    It was highlighted that there are currently 3 existing Transport Interchange Hubs, with another 6 proposed at M5 Junction 10, A46 Shurdington, Elmbridge, West of Severn, M5 Junction 11A and M5 Junction 12.

3.13    There will a focus on bus priority, especially in the congested areas, as well as an encouragement to invest in ultra low emission vehicles.

3.14    The Cycle Policy will be updated to strengthen Gloucestershire’s Cycle Network and to make cycling a more direct, safe, comfortable and therefore more attractive transport option for the County.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.