Agenda item

To receive an update from the Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation) on progress towards the ambitions of the Leeds Safe Roads Vision Zero Strategy and Action Plan.

 

A letter from Dr Ian Greenwood (campaigner to stop road death) is also appended to this item at page.

The Chair introduced the item, noting that the Scrutiny Board has had a long-standing interest in the numbers of those killed and seriously injured on Leeds roads and has been very supportive of the partnership approach in Leeds to Vision Zero.

 

For the benefit of any members of the public watching the webcast, she highlighted that the Vision Zero Strategy sets out the ambition that by 2040 no one is killed or seriously injured on the roads in Leeds.

 

The Chair acknowledged the impact of each road death reflected in the statistics in front of the Scrutiny Board for the victims, their families and their wider communities.

 

The meeting began with a minute’s silence for the victims of road death and their families.

 

Those in attendance for this item were:

 

·  Gary Bartlett (Chief Officer, Transportation and Highways)

·  Gillian MacLeod (Head of Development Services)

·  Rosie Revell (Team Leader, Safe & Sustainable Travel Team)

·  Nick Hunt (Traffic Engineering Manager)

 

·  Alison Lowe (Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime, WYCA)

·  Neil Hudson (Policy Manager – Vision Zero, WYCA)

 

·  CI Jonathan McNiff (WY Police)

·  Inspector Lorna Crabtree (WY Police)

·  Paul Jeffrey (Head of Prosecutions & Casualty Prevention Unit, WY Police)

 

Gary Bartlett introduced the Connecting Leeds Vision Zero 2040 Annual Update Report 2023-24. He noted that 2023 data is yet to be released by the Department for Transport but early indications illustrate a reduction in the number of those killed and seriously injured as compared to 2022 figures. While he cautiously welcomed the trajectory, especially in the context of comparative trends regionally and nationally, he acknowledged the human impact of each of the figures reported.

 

Gary reiterated that partnership is key to delivering change and progress towards the ambitions of Vision Zero. He noted work that is ongoing to increase awareness of Vision Zero through communication activity and events. He particularly welcomed the impact of the Vision Zero pledge and work to educate drivers about their responsibility for their own behaviour.

 

He provided a brief update on enforcement activity and set out an aspiration for the Council to lead by example across its own services, particularly in the context of this being a public health challenge. He noted links to public health are also reflected in the letter provided by Dr Ian Greenwood in the agenda pack.

 

Alison Lowe provided a brief introduction to the launch of a regional Vision Zero, highlighting the way in which it is hoped regional cooperation can accelerate progress across West Yorkshire.

 

Members sought advice about whether communication can be strengthened, alongside taking a more robust approach to safety cameras locally.

 

Neil Hudson provided an update on the regional approach to communication, noting that there is a dedicated Vision Zero communication officer at WYCA. The regional approach has included working with social media influencers, as well as using social media platforms and local radio to share key messages.

 

Gary reflected on the local work to review the approach to safety cameras, which resulted in amended guidance and a more flexible approach. This was welcomed by members.

 

Paul Jeffrey acknowledged the importance of the partnership approach to the revision of national guidance relating to safety cameras. He welcomed the move away from the previous approach to risk which was based on locations where there had been a serious injury or fatality. He updated the Scrutiny Board on the current approach to locating safety cameras and the way in which the public can highlight locations of concern.

 

Paul highlighted the importance of maintaining public support for speed enforcement by ensuring decisions about locating cameras are based on clear data about traffic flows and risk.

 

Alison Lowe signposted the Community Alert system that has been set up to enable the public to report locations of concern. It was noted that there are also financial constraints to consider in relation to locating enforcement cameras. 

 

Concern was raised about departmental capacity within the Council to deliver road safety interventions, given the size of the city and number of requests.

 

Gary Bartlett noted that greater security over medium term funding has enabled more effective planning and prioritisation of schemes. He highlighted the benefit of the City Region Transport Settlement (CRSTS) Safe Roads capital fund being provided over a 5-year period.

 

However, Gary acknowledged the ongoing challenge in relation to the scale of requests that the service received.

 

Nick Hunt also welcomed the improved approach to prioritisation and planning enabled by the 5-year CRSTS fund.

 

Alison Lowe agreed that Leeds has made substantial progress in this regard, which is reflected in the data that is monitored at a regional level.

 

Concern was expressed about dangerous driver behaviours close to schools at pick up and drop off times.

 

Gary Bartlett acknowledged the challenge with driver behaviour around schools. He noted the range of activities, intervention and education being delivered to tackle this issue but also reiterated that everyone needs to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

 

Members welcomed interventions that had been targeted at young drivers including the ‘One Life Lost’ scheme and sessions delivered by the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) Youth Interventions Team.

 

Paul Jeffrey provided further information about the partnership approach to delivering interventions targeting young people. He and Neil Hudson highlighted the PolEd online lesson resources that are offered to schools by West Yorkshire Police.

 

Alison Lowe provided further information about regional campaigns for legislative change including support for Dr Ian Greenwood’s campaign to introduce a graduated driving licence for novice drivers.

 

Rosie Revell outlined the range of educational activities aimed at young people and noted where there is appetite from schools there is the potential to procure more sessions for younger drivers provided by the TTC Group, who also deliver speed awareness courses on behalf of West Yorkshire Police.

 

In response to member queries, Gillian McLeod highlighted the activity to tackle the illegal and anti-social use of e-bikes in Leeds. This includes liaison with companies such as Deliveroo to try and improve rider behaviour in pedestrianised areas.

 

Alison Lowe provided further information on regional funding for additional police bikes.

 

Members queried whether ‘you said we did’ messages could be used to illustrate the data that has led to enforcement responses in some communities. Nick confirmed that this is beginning to take place and officers hope to be able to share ward specific data with members soon.

 

Jonathan McNiff confirmed the Police do publicise the work they are doing with mobile cameras and the results of that activity.

 

A query was raised about whether the Scrutiny Board and Executive Member could lobby government to seek the retention of a greater proportion of funds generated locally by speed cameras within affected communities.

 

Alison Lowe informed members she had raised wider systemic concerns about the inability to retain a large proportion of funding generated locally with Yvette Cooper.

 

Paul Jeffrey explained the current arrangements for funding retention linked to the payment of fines. He noted that where offences are dealt with in court money raised is returned to the treasury. In contrast there is an opportunity to recover some costs from fees paid for education provided outside of the court system. He noted that this must pay for camera infrastructure and back-office costs. If there is a surplus of such funding at a West Yorkshire level it goes back into road safety activity.

 

Paul further advised that secondary legislation linked to the Police, Crime and Sentencing Act is currently being developed and this may provide an opportunity to engage with decision makers about their approach to the retention of funding linked to enforcement activity.

 

Partners responded to member concerns about their ability to tackle mobile phone use by drivers. Police partners advised the Scrutiny Board that to secure a prosecution they have to prove a phone was in use not just in hand.

 

It was confirmed that in the year to July 2024 520 mobile phone use offences had been prosecuted.

 

Members requested a further session to specifically consider proposals to introduce a graduated driving licence in more detail and progress towards the introduction of a Council policy regarding drug and alcohol use, akin to those already in place for contractors.

 

RESOLVED:

 

Members agreed:

 

a)  To note the content of the Connecting Leeds Vision Zero 2040 annual progress report 2023-24, together with progress made against the targets in the associated Action Plan 2022-2025.

 

b)  To consider signing the West Yorkshire pledge and promoting this within their wards. Vision Zero Pledge - West Yorkshire Combined Authority (westyorks-ca.gov.uk)

 

c)  The Chair will explore potential communication on behalf of the Scrutiny Board in relation to the retention of a higher proportion of locally generated funding from road safety enforcement activity.

 

d)  To consider the graduated driving licence and progress towards a drug and alcohol policy for Council staff in more detail in a separate session.

 

Cllr Buckley left the meeting at 12.38pm.