Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/64) seeking approval to go to Consultation on the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 4 2026 - 2040, attached.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared for Members at the meeting, is attached, and also available at - Published Impact Assessments - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk).

RESOLVED

(a) that a public consultation to be carried out in conjunction with Torbay Council on the draft Local Transport Plan 2025-2040 (Appendix I) and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (Appendix II); and

(b) that delegated authority be given to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport to make minor amendments to the draft Local Transport Plan 4.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Leaver and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item raising questions on the future proofing of plans, devolution impacts, local plans, and the recent Government announcement relating to buses).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/64) which sought approval to go to Consultation on the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 4 2026 - 2040, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The draft Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2026-2040 (LTP 4), was shown in Appendix I. The Plans were statutory documents, required under the Transport Act 2000 (as amended), which set out the overarching ambitions for the County’s local transport network (including Torbay) over a medium-term time period. This included the policies, proposals and strategic direction to guide future planning and investment in transport infrastructure and services.

The current Local Transport Plan (LTP 3) covered the period 2011-2026 and there had been many changes since that time.

It was proposed that the draft LTP 4 be recommended for public consultation during Autumn 2024 for a total of 8.5 weeks.

In terms of vision, the draft LTP 4 had been developed using available advice from the Department for Transport, including the need to focus on growing the economy, reducing environmental impacts, improving transport users’ experience and ensuring the transport system was safe, reliable and inclusive.

Transport will facilitate sustainable growth and support reaching net zero carbon by 2050 at the latest. Well-integrated, accessible and inclusive transport will improve travel choice and benefit the health and wellbeing of everyone.

Alongside the overarching vision (above), six objectives for transport in Devon and Torbay had been identified which included Decarbonisation, Reliable and Resilient, Easier Travel, Unlock Development, Greater Places for People and the Place to be Naturally Active.

The draft LTP 4 recognised that Devon was a large County with a dispersed settlement pattern including major urban centres and growth areas focused along the main road and rail corridors; historic market and coastal towns, and picturesque seaside, country and moorland villages in more remote, rural locations. The significant demographic variations presented different challenges for connectivity.

In August 2024, Government released changes to the National Planning Policy Framework for consultation, which included specifying that local planning authorities should identify opportunities for maximising the efficient use of land, especially in areas well served by transport and other infrastructure. The draft LTP 4 therefore identifies four place types where policy and interventions were tailored to the specific challenges facing those communities and the opportunities that could deliver the vision and objectives of the LTP. These include Exeter, Torbay, Growth Areas and Rural Devon and Market & Coastal Towns.

The draft LTP 4 will include Action Plans for each of the chapters. The complete list of interventions, separated by place type, was detailed in the draft LTP 4 document (see Appendix I).

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 609