Agenda item

  To consider a report by the Chief Officer Highways and Transport which seeks to advise Members of the Transport Conversation and engagement process and requests feedback and input from the Community Committee on the future strategic approach to transport in the city and the development of a proposition and delivery plan for the £173.5 million fund due to be allocated following the cancellation of the NGT project.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transport informed the Community Committee of the Transport Conversation and engagement process and sought feedback and input from Members on the future strategic approach to transport in the city and the development of a proposition and delivery plan for the £173.5 million fund due to be allocated following the cancellation of the NGT project.

The Chair expressed disappointment that the report did not relate solely or in part to the Outer North West area.

The Transport Strategy Manager was at the meeting and provided the Committee with a presentation.

Members were advised that following the cancellation of the NGT project Leeds now needed to provide Government with a proposition and delivery plan by the end of the year, in order to release the £173.5 million funding.

In response to the NGT decision a city wide debate on the future of transport strategy was launched with a Transport Summit on 10^th June 2016. The summit was attended by 170 stakeholders from across the city and included Members. At the summit the Leader of Council announced the start of the City’s largest ever Transport Conversation to seek the views from key stakeholders, partners and communities from across the city.

Members were informed that that there were two phases the first being the launch of an on-line survey which opened 2nd August and is due to close on 20^th September. For those unable to access the on-line survey hardcopies were available at Community Hubs, One Stop Centres and Libraries. The officer informed the Committee that currently there had been 3000 responses however the responses were mainly from men. The officer encouraged Members to ask more females to complete the survey.

Members noted that two workshops would take place on 15^th and 20^th September. They also noted that the Transport Conversation feedback would be fed into the development of an outline series of proposals for the spend of the £173.5 million, this would be presented to Executive Board on 19^th October 2016.

Members were informed of the issues currently facing Transport as:

·  Congestion on major routes in to the city

·  Air quality in the city centre

·  Economy – with increased jobs in the city

·  Change in demographics for all areas

·  Changes in technology including driverless taxis and smart ticketing

·  Growth of white van deliveries as more people shop on line

·  Population growth

·  Fall in bus usage

·  New housing developments in all areas of the city but predominately in the East of the city

A lengthy discussion took place with Members raising issues including:

·  Congestion on a number of commuter routes into the city including A65, A660, A658, A657

·  Additional housing planned for the area with no additional infrastructure

·  Length of journey from city centre to outer North West.

·  The fact that it was difficult to move within the community from one area to another by bus

·  The frequency of community buses specifically on weekends

·  The cost of travel

·  The amount of HGV’s using the minor routes to avoid congestion on the major routes

·  Connectivity from city centre to airport

·  Look at use of park and ride

·  Use of travel cards or similar

·  Use of up to date technology on transport

·  Crossing points across the river Wharfe and river Aire

·  How to attract more visitors to Leeds through a modern transport system

·  Initiative to get more young people to use the buses

Members were of the view that creating a quality transport system for the city long term would require the involvement of surrounding authorities.

Members were also of the view that a franchised bus service might improve the service in the city and the surrounding areas.

RESOLVED – That the Community Committee;

·  noted the wider strategic context of the Transport Conversation which will extend beyond a first phase conversation into the Spring / Summer of next year, informing a wider transport strategy for the City and your area over the next 20 years;

·  noted the Department of Transport £173.5 million offer for public transport improvements, in the context of a currently planned report to Executive Board on 19^th October and the planned submission of strategic investment case to the Department of Transport

·  provided feedback and advised on the key priorities for transport investment in the city and the local community.