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Agenda and minutes

Venue: This meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams

Contact: Tanya Patel, Governance Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

15.

Apologies for Absence

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Rois Ali (Coventry City Council).

16.

Minutes - 19 October 2020 pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on the 19 October 2020 were agreed as a correct record.  

17.

Portfolio Lead for Transport Question Time - Response to Recommendations pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Presented By: Chair

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The sub-committee reviewed the response received from Councillor Ian Ward, Portfolio Lead for Transport, to the recommendations raised by the Transport Scrutiny Sub-Committee at its Q&A Session held on the 19 October 2020.

 

With regards to recommendation three the Chair expressed that this focussed on political lobbying rather than Transport for West Midlands Lobbying. The Managing Director, Transport for West Midlands felt that lobbying at every level of the ‘levelling up’ agenda should be done, she went on to confirm funding announcements from the Government response on the Comprehensive Spending Review had addressed some progress on the ‘levelling up’ agenda.

 

Recommended to Overview & Scrutiny Committee that:

 

(1)  The response received from Councillor Ian Ward, Portfolio Lead for Transport to the recommendations arising from the Q&A Session on the 19 October 2020 be noted.

18.

Development of the Local Transport Plan pdf icon PDF 4 MB

Presented By: David Harris

Minutes:

The sub-committee received a presentation from the Transport Strategy and Place Manager on the developments of the new West Midlands Local Transport Plan. It was recognised that various changes will impact and reflect the LTP, some of those factors were related to Brexit, devolution, powers, changing social priorities, climate and air quality crises. In order to progress the LTP and drive transport forward in an innovative way TfWM have undertaken work to reflect and look forward; with a key message of the progression of technology whilst recognising that technology alone would not fix the future. It was recognised that the direction of travel was heading in the right way along with movement for growth investment. It was noted that some of the changes required were around carbon emissions needed to be tackled along with inequalities and congestion. Five key areas the new LTP would focus on is Tackling the climate emergency, creating a fairer society, becoming healthier and more active, supporting places and communities and sustaining economic success.

 

Councillor Jackie Taylor felt that there was an omission with regards to businesses and potential employees who do not have private transport options, however the Transport Strategy and Place Manager felt that this wasn’t something that could be specified through the LTP but measures to level up access for individuals could be.

 

Councillor Ken Hawkins suggested that the new LTP did not contain enough on supporting places and communities, planning and development for both businesses and communities to address new communities, businesses and parks ensuring that there were appropriate transport links. The Transport Strategy and Place Manager noted the comments and felt that the new LTP was to highlight issue instead of jumping to solutions, this would help identify issue but the LTP not a dilatative planning policy but is there to influence and raise concerns.

 

Councillor Philip Bateman commented that the COVID-19 pandemic had change the mindset of individuals and felt the overall trust of the document was good. Kashmire felt that the LTP had a gap in addressing major events upcoming within the region, although the Transport Strategy and Place Manager felt this would be addressed within the Commonwealth Games Strategy. The chair highlighted the need for public engagement and elected member engagement within each MET as that would be critical moving forward with the plan.

 

Recommended to Overview & Scrutiny Committee that:

 

(1)  The presentation be noted.

 

(2)  The comments made by members of the sub-committee be noted.

19.

Emergency Active Travel Fund Update pdf icon PDF 183 KB

Presented By: Claire Williams

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The sub-committee received a report from the Head of Cycling and Walking on an update on the Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF) in May 2020 which funded the implementation of cycling and walking facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was recognised that the region had been awarded £3,850,997 of funding within tranche one of the EATF and a further bid was made and awarded in tranche two for the amount of £13,787,200. A list of schemes had been put forward by the seven MET Authorities and would be delivered by the end of March 2022.

 

The chair requested further information on the mandated consultation of the EATF for Tranche two, the Head of Cycling and Walking confirmed that the consultation plans would be expected from each local authority on the delivery of their scheme with the overarching plan being published by the WMCA. The Chair also asked the Head of Cycling and Walking opinion on whether local authority had been creative enough in their ambitions with the plans brought forward. She felt that there was a fair set of ambitions across the region but felt that each local authority were at different stages towards their journey in championing active travel.

 

Councillor Jackie Taylor queried as to how disadvantaged groups across the region could access support to access cycling equipment. The Head of Cycling and Walking confirmed that statistics showed a problem with bike ownership and shared various initiative/opportunities to support individuals in accessing funds to support bike ownership, and access to discounted public transport opportunities.

 

The chair felt that the EATF tranche one and two gave local authorities an opportunity to undertake some linked scrutiny of particular schemes.

 

Recommended to Overview & Scrutiny Committee that:

 

(1)  The background, approach and progress with Emergency Active Travel Fund and Active Travel Fund programmes being delivered in the West Midlands be noted.

 

(2)  A further update to be brough back to a future meeting of the sub-committee.

20.

Regional Road Safety Progress pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Presented By: Anne Shaw / Mark Corbin

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The sub-committee received a report from the Director of Network Resilience on the progress made in relation to the region’s target to reduce killed and seriously injured (KSI) by 40% by 2028 with a longer-term ambition to achieve zero harm on road in the West Midlands. The sub-committee were also updated with the establishment of the Regional Road Safety Strategic Partnership and the priorities established.

 

The chair queried the reduction in the KSI rate by 40% by 2028 and sought assurances that current plans in place would deliver this target within the timeframe set. The Director of Network Resilience felt that the target did need reviewing and would look at how best to deliver on this target. Councillor Ken Hawkins suggested better education and better designed mobile average speed cameras was required. Following Councillor Liz Clements request of a change of a blanket 20 mph zones in residential areas the Director of Network Resilience noted that this required a legislation change and a national campaign, with the alternative being traffic regulation orders being introduced.

 

Councillor Jackie Taylor expressed concern over pavement parking and the dangers associated to individuals. The Director of Network Resilience informed the sub-committee of a public consultation undertaken to address this matter and suggested that this would be more locally managed, and a number of equality issues needed to be addressed within the road safety strategy.

 

Recommended to Overview & Scrutiny Committee that:

 

(1)  The progress made on managing Road Safety across the region and the priorities agreed through the Regional Road Safety Strategic Partnership be noted.

 

(2)  The range of activities delivered by partners across the West Midlands throughout 2019/20 to date be noted.

21.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 114 KB

·       WMCA Board

·       Transport Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Presented By: Lyndsey Roberts

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The sub-committee noted its workplan on business for consideration at future meetings and the WMCA Board. It was noted that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the sub-committee would discuss the feasibility on undertaking the scrutiny review on alternative ticketing polices to be considered within this municipal year.

 

In preparation for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Q&A session on the budget it was agreed a workshop would be held for members.

 

Recommended to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee that:

 

(1)      The sub-committee work programme, be noted.

22.

Date of Next Meeting

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

Monday 22 February 2020 at 10.30am.