Economy, Place, Access and Transport Scrutiny Committee

24^th September 2024

Report of the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning

Local Transport Strategy Implementation Plan 2024-2026

Summary

1. This report presents a proposed Implementation Plan for York’s new Transport Strategy, covering the period up to the end of 2026. Members are asked to consider whether the proposed IP is an appropriate, proportionate response to York’s transport challenges, as captured in the Our Big Transport Conversation Engagement and suggest changes to the IP, or an alternative course of action.

Background

2. York needs a new Local Transport Strategy. In October 2023 Executive approved a consultation process, which took place between November 2023 and February 2024 – badged as “Our Big Transport Conversation”. Results were presented to Executive in March 2024 and overwhelmingly favoured a progressive transport strategy that is aligned with the council’s EACH priorities. EPAT Scrutiny discussed key transport schemes in York city centre in May. In July the visions and policies making up a Local Transport Strategy for York, and a Movement and Place Plan framework were endorsed by Executive and officers began work on an Implementation Plan for the first period of the new Local Transport Strategy (which is projected to run until 2040 – sharing the same timescale as the Local Plan).

3. EPAT Scrutiny is now asked to consider the measures in the draft Implementation Plan which accompanies this report. There is significant uncertainty in funding and governance structures going forward – with the new Parliament yet to set out its funding priorities and governance frameworks. The new York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority will play an important part in York’s Local Transport Strategy and is currently working to identify its transport priorities. It is also possible that greater focus on devolution by central government will change the powers available to the MCA, City of York Council and other important partners such as Active Travel England. Accordingly, the Implementation Plan presented here is intended to cover the period until the end of 2026, with a new Plan produced for the post 2026 period in mid-2026 – at which point more clarity is expected about arrangements going forward. The 2026 Implementation Plan will also be shaped by the recommendations of the York Movement and Place Plan which is a key short term deliverable of the new Transport Strategy with completion anticipated by the end of 2025.

4. Nonetheless, responding to public engagement, the proposed Implementation Plan sets a significant change of direction for transport in York. The IP reaffirms York’s commitment to the city’s “transport modal hierarchy”, which prioritises active modes and public transport and was supported by 81% of respondents to Our Big Transport Conversation. EPAT are asked whether they endorse the IP as a proportionate and appropriate response to the transport challenges York will face over the next 15 years, the results of the public engagement and the discussions in May about options in York city centre.

Consultation

5. The proposed IP is based upon the results of public engagement between November 2023 and February 2024. This outlined priorities for transport in York and identified “pinch point” locations where residents saw transport provision as being compromised. The consultation also informed the Movement and Place Plan framework, adopted in July 2024, which has also, in turn, informed the IP.

Options

6. Members are asked to review the IP and adopt it, suggest ways in which it could be better positioned to respond to York’s transport priorities, or suggest an alternative approach.

Council Plan

7. The IP as set out is aligned with the EACH priorities of the Council Plan – positioning transport as a key enabler of wider equalities, affordability, climate and health objectives. This is recognised in the IP which emphasises the importance of working across the Council – for example, working with Public Health to fund and deliver transport schemes which assist in meeting health objectives.

Implications

8. The IP is presented to Scrutiny for assessment before presentation to Executive in November – at which point a detailed assessment of the IP’s implications will be made. In practice, whilst the IP sets a direction for transport in York, individual schemes or changes in policy (for example, reallocation of existing budgets to support York’s modal hierarchy) would be subject to Executive Member or Executive decisions.

9. The IP is an ambitious document. Effective delivery of the schemes and initiatives within it will require change – in some cases step change – in the way City of York Council addresses and funds transport interventions. This is highlighted in the Implementation Plan. If funding for the new short term schemes identified in the IP is obtained, this will require additional staff in the transport team to deliver the measures. The new measures will themselves need to be subject to individual Member or Executive decisions, the number of which will be significant.

Risk Management

10. The IP is presented to Scrutiny to allow Members to discuss its contents and feed back to officers their views - or suggest an alternative course of action. In itself the IP does not invoke risk – however, the finalised Implementation Plan will need to be subjected to a full risk assessment. The IP also contains a commitment to assess the costs and benefits of the packages in the IP, and the extent to which they contribute to meeting the objectives adopted by Executive in October 2023. The IP also contains a commitment to annual monitoring and, if necessary, adjustment to meet targets or mitigate emerging risks.

Recommendations

11. There is no direct recommendation of this report – Members are asked to consider whether the proposed IP is an appropriate proportionate response to York’s transport challenges, as captured in the Our Big Transport Conversation Engagement and suggest changes to the IP, or an alternative course of action.

Contact Details

Author:	Chief Officer Responsible for the report:
Julian Ridge Sustainable Transport Manager Transport 01904 552435	James Gilchrist Director Transport, Environment and Planning
	Report Approved	tick	Date	16/09/2024

Wards Affected: List wards or tick box to indicate all					All	tick

For further information please contact the author of the report