Decision details

The draft Leeds Safer Roads Vision Zero 2040 Road Safety Strategy details how Leeds City Council and partners will work towards achieving our vision ‘to ensure that by 2040 no one is killed or very seriously injured on the roads in Leeds’.

Executive Board will be requested to:

a)  Note the production of the Leeds Safer Roads Vision Zero Strategy 2040;

b)  Endorse the draft action plan for consultation purposes;

c)  To note that a public consultation and engagement exercise will follow Executive Board to help inform the strategy;

d)  To note that the Director of City Development continues to be the lead officer for the delivery of the Vision Zero strategy and will report back to Executive Board following public consultation with a final strategy.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided an overview of the draft Leeds Safer Roads Vision Zero 2040 Strategy, detailed the work towards achieving the ambition ‘to ensure that by 2040 no one is killed or seriously injured on the roads in Leeds’ and sought agreement to undertake a public consultation exercise on the draft strategy.

Prior to the meeting Board Members had been provided with supplementary information in the form of an updated version of appendix 1, which was the proposed draft strategy for consultation purposes, which had been revised to incorporate graphic design work. In addition, the Board was also in receipt of the Inquiry report of the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth) entitled, ‘Preventing People being Killed or Seriously Injured on Roads in Leeds’.

In introducing the report, the Executive Member acknowledged and extended her thanks to the Scrutiny Board for the work which had been undertaken in this area, which included the Inquiry report as provided to Executive Board for its consideration as part of this item.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry regarding the possibility of gaining Elected Member representation on the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, it was undertaken that this matter would be raised with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

In response to a Member’s enquiry about the levels of public awareness in relation to the recent updates made to the Highway Code, it was undertaken that consideration would be given to this, with a view to the Council making arrangements for such matters to be publicised.

Responding to a Member’s comments regarding the need for further related work to be undertaken in respect of safety on residential streets, parking enforcement and accessibility of pavements, the comments made were acknowledged and it was highlighted that the approach towards the 2040 Vision Zero ambition and the wider work and engagement with the public and partners to progress safety on the highways more generally would continue to develop and evolve.

In conclusion, it was noted that the consideration of the submitted report and the establishment of the Vision Zero initiative marked a significant change in approach for the Authority in terms of road safety, with it being noted that Leeds would be at the forefront of this new approach.

RESOLVED - 

(a)  That the updated draft Leeds Safer Roads Vision Zero 2040 Strategy document, which was provided to Board Members prior to the meeting as an updated version of Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be endorsed;

(b)  That a minimum eight-week public consultation and engagement exercise following Executive Board commencing late February / early March 2022 to help inform the final strategy and initial action plan, be approved;

(c)  That agreement be given for the Director of City Development alongside the Chief Officer Highways and Transportation to lead on the development of the Leeds Safer Roads Vision Zero 2040 Strategy and who will report back to Executive Board in Summer 2022 following public consultation with a final strategy;

(d)  That it be noted that future funding required to achieve the Council’s Vision Zero ambition in Leeds will be identified through work on delivery plans.

This builds on internal consultation and development of the draft Action Plan with the Leeds Safer Roads partnership.

Internal and external consultation ongoing

Public Consultation and engagement exercise planned for early in 2022

•  All ward councillors

•  The West Yorkshire Combined Authority

•  Leeds residents and businesses

•  Third sector interest groups

•  Emergency Services

•  Public transport operators

•  West Yorkshire districts