Issue - meetings

The Director of Environment, Transport & Planning to present a report which seeks approval to carry out consultation with stakeholders and residents on a draft Local Transport Policy that reflects the priorities set out in the 10-Year Strategies and the Local Plan.

Resolved:  (i)      That that the Draft Transport Strategy set out in Annex B to the report be approved as the basis for consultation on York’s future local transport policies.

Reason:     To ensure that transport policy reflects the priorities outlined in the 10 Year Strategies and the Local Plan.

                   (ii)      That authority be delegated to the Director for Environment, Transport and Planning, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport, to commence a period of stakeholder and resident consultation on the Transport Policy.

(iii)     That it be noted that a report will be brought forward to Executive following consultation on the proposed policy context in Annex B, along with a list of schemes and policies which the council will seek to deliver.

Reason:     To gain residents’ and stakeholders’ views on the strategy and provide time to respond within the timescale of a new Local Transport Plan by 2024, as prescribed by Devolution and the Department for Transport’s current expectations.

(iv)    That it be noted that the guidance from the Department for Transport on Local Transport Plans has not yet been issued.

Reason:     To put in context the timelines and challenges for producing a full Local Transport Plan.

                   (v)     That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport, to provide a response to the expected consultation by the Department for Transport on future Local Transport Plans.

Reason:     To ensure that a response can be made in accordance with government timelines, and that the priorities and policies for York are made clear to Government.

The Director of Environment, Transport & Planning presented a report which sought approval to carry out consultation with stakeholders and residents on a draft Local Transport Strategy that reflected the priorities set out in the 10-Year Strategies and the Local Plan.

The draft Strategy, attached as Annex B to the report, set out the high-level principles and priorities for York that would underpin future transport policies.  It had been developed with the help of a cross-party working group and took account of the results of the ‘Our Big Conversation’ consultation carried out in summer 2022’, as summarised in paragraph 14 and detailed in Annex A.  As outlined in paragraphs 28-35, under Devolution the Combined Authority would become the new Transport Authority but City of York Council would retain responsibility for highways and be a standing member of the Combined Authority’s transport committee.

In response to comments made under Public Participation, the Chair stressed that this was very much the start of the process.  He acknowledged the challenges ahead and encouraged all to take part in the consultation.  In supporting the proposals, he thanked officers for bringing the process to this stage, noting that the Strategy reflected the post-Covid world and underpinned compliance with the Climate Change Strategy.

Resolved:  (i)      That that the Draft Transport Strategy set out in Annex B to the report be approved as the basis for consultation on York’s future local transport policies.

Reason:     To ensure that transport policy reflects the priorities outlined in the 10 Year Strategies and the Local Plan.

                   (ii)      That authority be delegated to the Director for Environment, Transport and Planning, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport, to commence a period of stakeholder and resident consultation on the Transport Policy.

(iii)     That it be noted that a report will be brought forward to Executive following consultation on the proposed policy context in Annex B, along with a list of schemes and policies which the council will seek to deliver.

Reason:     To gain residents’ and stakeholders’ views on the strategy and provide time to respond within the timescale of a new Local Transport Plan by 2024, as prescribed by Devolution and the Department for Transport’s current expectations.

(iv)    That it be noted that the guidance from the Department for Transport on Local Transport Plans has not yet been issued.

Reason:     To put in context the timelines and challenges for producing a full Local Transport Plan.

                   (v)     That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport, to provide a response to the expected consultation by the Department for Transport on future Local Transport Plans.

Reason:     To ensure that a response can be made in accordance with government timelines, and that the priorities and policies for York are made clear to Government.