Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation) which presents a proposal for the development of community committee area focused action plans that draw together key funding proposals for new local area transport investment. The report also introduces a new Leeds Healthier Streets, Spaces and Communities project for local sustainable mobility and the plans for a roll out to community committee areas.

The report of the Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation) introduced an update on a focused action plan that draws together funding proposals for new local area transport investment. The report also complements previous briefings on other aspects of the highways and transportation service by providing an update on funding and changes to the project pipeline for transport strategy focused schemes at the local level.

Appended to the submitted report included a briefing paper on Better Places: Leeds Healthier Streets, Spaces and Communities and prospective sites for “pilot” schemes, Healthier Streets, Spaces and Communities.

Andrew Hall (Project Consultant) introduced the item, and provided members with a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following points:

·  The main sources of funding for sustainable local area transport are received through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the government’s City Regions Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and Active Travel England.

·  The proposed Local Area Transport Plans will be simple “informal” documents that set out key ambitions for mobility and transport investment for the wards in each community committee area.

·  The early development and scoping of the project has commenced to identify potential sites and priorities using the settlements listing in the Local Development Framework, with an initial focus on the larger towns and centres.

·  This is the initial stage of conversation, and it is intended that officers will attend additional Community Committee meetings to discuss in detail what will be incorporated into the Plan.

·  The introduction to a new Leeds Healthier Streets, Spaces and Communities project for local sustainable mobility and the plans for a roll out to community committee areas. Seeking to identify best use of the 6.2 million capital fund.

·  In terms of the project identified above, 3 centres in the Inner North East Community Committee area have potentially been identified - Meanwood centre is a candidate where the well-developed plans to rework the key road junctions will be particularly advantageous for a “pilot” scheme. Similarly Chapel Allerton centre with its recent improvements and Roundhay Street Lane,

Members commented on the following:

·  To remove mention of local area funding in the funding streams listed, as this no longer applies.

·  The Methley scheme should be used as an exemplar model.

·  Accessibility and transport links need to link up across Leeds. Issues are presented in the Inner North East Area in terms of pavement parking due to their not being Park and Ride schemes in North Leeds and no mass transit system.

·  Further to comments about the possible proposals in the Inner North East Community Committee area, it was confirmed that it is proposed to select two or three “pilot” locations which build on existing transport investments with a good fit to the project. It was also confirmed that each Community Committee area will seek some benefit from the proposals.

Members of the public were provided with the opportunity to ask questions and comment. The following was highlighted:

·  A suggestion to link Moortown and Meanwood cycle lanes.

·  To consider proposals for King Lane roundabout and Stonegate Road.

·  Lack of charging infrastructure for EVs across the city.

·  Acknowledgement that there are low-cost schemes that can be implemented such as widening pavements and reducing speed limits.

The Chair thanked Andrew for his attendance.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and information provided at the meeting.

b)  To generally support proposals for the development of the Area Transport Plans, with the caveat that further information on such proposals will be considered at a future Community Committee meeting.