Agenda item

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/20/36) seeking approval of the Exeter Transport Strategy, attached.

Cabinet is also asked to note that the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 24 June 2020, had considered the Notes of the Standing Overview Group on the draft Exeter Transport Strategy (the Standing Overview Group met on 18 June 2020 (Minute *182 refers).

The Group had broadly supported the recommendations of the Strategy, but added a number of additional comments for presentation to Cabinet and RESOLVED that the Standing Overview Group’s recommendations be commended to the Cabinet.

Paragraph 6 of the Report outlines the recommendations and confirms that the points raised have been incorporated into an updated strategy and a 5-year action plan contained in Appendix II.

(Councillors Atkinson, Biederman, Connett and Hannaford attended remotely in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning Transportation and Environment (PTE/20/36) seeking approval of the Exeter Transport Strategy, 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.

Cabinet also noted that the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 24 June 2020, had considered the notes of the Standing Overview Group on the draft Exeter Transport Strategy (the Standing Overview Group had met on 18 June 2020 (Minute *182 refers).

The Group had broadly supported the recommendations of the Strategy, but added a number of additional comments for presentation to Cabinet.

Paragraph 6 of the Report outlined those recommendations and confirmed that the points raised by Scrutiny had been incorporated into the updated Strategy and a 5-year action plan contained in Appendix II.

This Report included a summary of the work undertaken to date including the draft transport strategy, public consultation responses and changes since the consultation and the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency. 

The Exeter Transport Strategy focused on improving travel choices, creating better places for people and taking advantage of technology opportunities to influence travel behaviour in a positive way.  This included addressing constraints on sustainable transport networks to provide the basis of a connected city region, deliver interventions that contributed to improved quality of life and utilise technological advancements to integrate services and engage with people to influence how and when they travelled.  The proposals were embodied in 3 key themes of Greater Connectivity (which focused on travel into the city from outside Exeter’s boundaries and enhancements to key transport corridors in the travel to work area), Greater Places for People (related to travel within the city, focusing on increasing the number of trips made on foot or by bike and urban bus corridors) and Greater Innovation (working with private sector partners to test and implement innovative technology solutions to make travel easier, encourage mode shift and help  transport networks operate more flexibly and efficiently). 

The Head of Service for Planning, Transportation and Environment also agreed to amend the Strategy to reflect some of the issues presented in the South West Exeter area, as outlined by Members speaking under Standing Order 25(2).

The ten-year Strategy set a direction of travel, and further detail on the type and location of certain interventions were provided in a 5-year action plan.

The Strategy would be delivered from a number of funding sources, including LTP integrated block, developer/Community Infrastructure Levy contributions and external grant funding.  The speed of delivery was dependent on funding.

The Report also presented the Exeter Transport Strategy consultation which received more than 1,100 public responses as well as responses from key stakeholders and organisations. Respondents were broadly evenly distributed between Exeter, Greater Exeter and further afield. 

The Cabinet noted that an updated Exeter Transport Strategy would better align with current priorities and ensure the County was well placed for seeking external funding. It aimed to provide a range of travel choices which would manage congestion levels, improve air quality and move towards a low carbon transport system.

An Impact Assessment had been prepared for the attention of Members oat this meeting and was available at https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/exeter-transport-strategy.  The Assessment demonstrated there were no significant negative impacts on different groups and that much of the investment, for example in multi-use walking and cycling infrastructure, public transport and removing air quality exceedances would be expected to particularly enhance equality of opportunity across a wide range of groups. 

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability (including carbon impact), risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Gilbert, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the content of the Report be noted;

(b) that the Exeter Transport Strategy be adopted and that the contents of the Strategy, contained in Appendix I, provide the basis for developing transport projects, and infrastructure in the Exeter and Greater Exeter area; and

(c) that the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment be given delegated powers, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member(s), to make minor alterations to the Strategy and Implementation Plan.

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at: 

https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/exeter-transport-strategy/