Agenda item

To receive and consider a written report from the Deputy Leader, and to question the Deputy Leader thereon.

A written report was received from the Deputy Leader, Cllr D’Agorne.

Members were then invited to question the Deputy Leader on his report.  Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed, and replied to as indicated:

10 Year Vision for Transport and Consultation

From Cllr Webb: Your administration has presided over a significant decline in cycling rates, squandered sustainable travel opportunities and set back traffic reduction by years.  Given this track record, why would residents who share a vision of a cleaner, lower polluting city with more and safer active travel options back the Green party in this election?

Response: Because it has the vision and has already made a number of significant changes, as can be demonstrated by looking at the policies brought forward in spite of the challenges of Covid etc.  We are committed to making good on those promises and implementing the schemes drawn up.  We have to secure the funding to be able to deliver them, hopefully with cross-party support.  We have a draft Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan which I hope all parties will be contributing towards so that we can make active travel a positive choice for people instead of using the car.

[Supplementary from Cllr Kilbane: Why have you spent 4 years talking about things rather than doing them?]

Supplementary Response: Certain projects in the past have moved forward without having that underpinning, and the last Labour administration did a u-turn on sustainable travel.  We have been careful to try and avoid that situation by making sure our policies are underpinned with evidence and have the support of residents.

From Cllr Wann: Do you share my concerns about the national cuts to the Active Travel England programme?

Response:  That certainly is a serious concern – the government put in place ambitious policies to promote Active Travel, with 50% of local trips to be by walking or cycling, but that cannot happen overnight without funding.  If the government is going to withdraw that funding, the targets will not be met.  Depending on the outcome of our most recent bid we may be able to put forward a fully costed response to the riverside path to Jubilee Terrace.  Some funding and how that would be spent was identified at my Decision Session, but we need additional funding to be able to deliver.

[Supplementary from Cllr K Taylor: The city’s indicative allocation was £360k but a bid for £1.57m was submitted for the riverside pathway scheme.  What is the Plan B if that doesn’t succeed?]

Supplementary Response:  The figure you quote is correct, but the letter from the DoT indicates that councils are encouraged to bid for more if appropriate and that’s what we did.  Your project did well to get to that point of being put forward.

From Cllr Crawshaw: In December 2019 you voted in favour of a motion to remove non-essential vehicles from the city centre and said you would have a plan in place by 2023.  What has happened?

Response: Covid, among other things.