Issue - meetings

The Director of Environment, Transport & Planning and the Chief Finance Officer to present a report which details work to be implemented in Phase 1 of the Active Travel Programme of projects to improve York’s walking and cycling infrastructure, along with schemes that will be priorities for future funding bids, and seeks approval for the proposed programme and for the award of a contract relating to a number of schemes within it. 

Resolved:  (i)      That the revision to the Active Travel Programme proposed in Option 1 in the report, with the prioritisation of Phase 1 projects as set out in Annex 2, be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that the Active Travel Programme is affordable, achievable and effective.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to award the contract for Principal Designer services relating to a number of schemes on the Active Travel Programme, and that authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning and the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Director of Governance or his delegated officers, to take such steps as are necessary to award and enter into the resulting contracts (Option 3).

Reason:     To enable progress to be made on the ‘City Centre North South Cycle Route’ and ‘University East-West Campus Link’ schemes.

The Director of Environment, Transport & Planning presented a report which detailed work to be implemented in Phase 1 of the Active Travel Programme (the Programme) of projects to improve York’s walking and cycling infrastructure, along with schemes that would be priorities for future funding bids, and sought approval for the proposed programme and for the award of a related contract. 

The report explained the rationale behind the phased approach to the Programme, which would draw in more funding as it became available.  Funding for the first phase totalled £2.1m and included £877k from the Department of Transport.  The current programme was set out in Annex 1 to the report, with a proposed revised programme in Annex 2 and an evaluation of individual schemes within the programme in Annex 3.  Three options were presented, as detailed in paragraphs 23-54 and summarised below:

Option 1 – approve the revisions to the Programme, as recommended.

Option 2 – do not approve the revisions.  This would not result in delivery of all schemes, as the budget deficit would remain.

Option 3 – approve the award of the contract for Principal Designer services, but only in relation to those schemes remaining in Phase 1 until further funding is obtained.  This option was recommended.

In supporting the recommendations, the Executive Member for Transport thanked officers for the progress made on the priorities identified in his Decision Session in February.  He acknowledged the concerns raised under Public Participation but noted that limited funding was available; the Programme would however position the council for higher levels of funding. Officers confirmed that the Local Transport Plan placed active travel at the top of the hierarchy and that a number of schemes in the Programme had already been delivered.

Resolved:  (i)      That the revision to the Active Travel Programme proposed in Option 1 in the report, with the prioritisation of Phase 1 projects as set out in Annex 2, be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that the Active Travel Programme is affordable, achievable and effective.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to award the contract for Principal Designer services relating to a number of schemes on the Active Travel Programme, and that authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning and the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Director of Governance or his delegated officers, to take such steps as are necessary to award and enter into the resulting contracts (Option 3).

Reason:     To enable progress to be made on the ‘City Centre North South Cycle Route’ and ‘University East-West Campus Link’ schemes.