Agenda item

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development, (HIW/21/82) setting out a proposed framework for assessing and prioritising requests for 20 mph Speed Limits, attached.

RESOLVED

(a) that the framework for assessing and prioritising requests for 20 mph Speed Limits for use in the preparation of schemes for delivery in 2022/23 (pending agreement of budgets) be approved; and

(b) that amendments to the framework be delegated to the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management.

(Councillors Bailey, Biederman, Connett, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste, (HIW/21/82) on a proposed framework for assessing and prioritising requests for 20 mph speed limits, 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 Cabinet noted that the Newton Abbot 20 mph Pilot Scheme had been in progress since September 2019 and was intended to test whether introducing a default 20SPL would bring increased gains in a number of areas including road safety, active travel, reduced congestion and emissions and an increased sense of public safety.

Requests for new 20SPLs continued to be received and were being added to a waiting list. A budget was being sought for 20SPL schemes for 2022/23 from the Local Transport Plan or Section 106 contributions which should provide funding to progress a number of sites, depending on scale. The proposed system conformed to current policy but introduced a wider range of factors to reflect the potential benefits and allow schemes to be progressed where there was greatest benefit and need.

The proposal was that Members be invited to make representations for their communities where it was felt that the introduction of a 20SPL would be beneficial; this may be for the whole community or a discrete part of the community. Requests would be reviewed against a framework, a copy of which was included at Appendix 1 to the Report and the proposals prioritised based on alignment with current Policy principles of -   significant vulnerable road user activity and mean speeds were low (24mph or below).

The framework also included additional factors to ensure that resource was directed to where there would be the greatest benefit, including speed related casualty collision history, community support, active Community Speed Watch, deprivation Index ranking and existing Air Quality Management area. All schemes would also be considered via safety audit prior to progression. 

A budget of £100k had been earmarked for 20SPLs for 2022/23 through the Local Transport Plan or Section 106 contributions.

It was expected that introducing appropriate 20SPLs would offer a positive environmental impact as well as assist in community cohesion and focus resources to areas where there was a higher risk of residents being affected by road safety matters. 

The Cabinet noted that the proposal allowed for the gathering and prioritisation of requests for new 20SPLs from Members and communities which would remove the current frustration that all new schemes must await the outcome of the Newton Abbot 20 mph Pilot Scheme.

However, in the longer term, future changes to the speed Policy and any decision to roll out 20SPLs on a default basis would be informed by the Newton Abbot 20 mph Pilot Scheme.

The Cabinet Member advised he would take up the issue of establishing community speed watch schemes with the ‘vision zero’ group and that the assessment criteria would be regularly reviewed, hence the proposal of recommendation (b).

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 Chief Officer’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

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

RESOLVED

(a) that the framework for assessing and prioritising requests for 20 mph Speed Limits for use in the preparation of schemes for delivery in 2022/23 (pending agreement of budgets) be approved; and

(b) that amendments to the framework be delegated to the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management.