Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Local Services - Traffic Management Section Manager, Regeneration and Local Services.

The Chairman introduced the Traffic Management Section Manager, Dave Lewin who was in attendance to give detail of progress with the Local Transport Plan (LTP) (for copy see file of minutes).

The Traffic Management Section Manager reminded Members of the introduction of “LTP1” in 2001, with the current “LTP3” being now in effect for six years.  He added that they have been initially in five year blocks; however, the Transport Act (2008) removed this requirement.  Members noted that the current LTP had been agreed by Cabinet in April 2011.  Members were reminded that the LTP was to provide a transport strategy and delivery plan that supported economic growth in County Durham.

The Committee was referred to the table at page 28 of the agenda papers setting out the five national transport goals, complimented by a sixth transport goal for County Durham of “maintenance of the transport asset”, reflecting the importance of the existing transport network.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted that the number one priority was “a stronger economy through regeneration”, with maintaining the transport asset being the number two priority.

The Traffic Management Section Manager referred Members to information relating to capital funding, based on two formula based block allocations of the integrated transport block (ITB) and maintenance block, with a table setting out funding from 2011/12 through to 2017/18.  It was added that, as part of the initial year of the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) the Council’s ITB funding was uplifted by £506,000 to be used locally towards relieving congestion, the recent works at Neville’s Cross Junction.  It was added that the 2017/18 financial year was the last year for which the DfT had allocated funding for the blocks, future years being currently shown as indicative.

The Committee noted Appendix 2 to the report set out delivery area information, relating to: sustainable travel; economic/transport corridors; the whole-town approach; and maintaining the transport asset.  The Traffic Management Section Manager reminded Members of the relationship with NECA, and the delegation back to DCC in terms of the LTP and that “LTP3” would stay in place and deliver accordingly.

The Chairman thanked the Traffic Management Section Manager for his update report and asked Members for their comments and questions.

Councillor J Atkinson asked how much engagement there was with taxi companies and in terms of walking and cycling he noted with interest the ideas in terms of environment.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted that the Taxi Licensing Liaison Group met bi-annually, with the Traffic Management Section Manager attending.  He noted that if was difficult in terms of all the competing demands in terms of kerb space, however there was engagement.  In terms of cycling, the Traffic Management Section Manager noted there were various groups, including the Durham University “Durham Bicycle User Group” and teams working at the Council.

Councillor R Ormerod noted that Government seemed to be committed in terms of electric vehicle charging and asked long term were we ready in County Durham.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted recent reports in terms of the readiness of the National Grid in terms of large scale electric charging, with sub-stations not being ready to cope.  He added in terms of County Durham the introduction of current charging points, that may take three or four hours to charge, may not be the best option for the City centre as we would want a turnover of visitors for business.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted that therefore increasing the number of charging points at the Park and Ride facilities which offered longer stays may be more beneficial.  He added that as regards the two charging points at Old Elvet, Officers were getting information as regards power usage to be able to understand the way those charging spaces were being used.  Members noted that there were requests in terms of the installation of charging points for private dwellings, and there would need to be development of a policy on this as there were a number of issues.

Councillor A Reed noted the small village of Fir Tree near Crook which had no public transport and asked if there were any plans as there were a number of elderly residents and if schoolchildren missed the school bus there was no service bus they could then catch.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted he would take up the issues with the Passenger Transport Section and get back to the Councillor.  Councillor A Reed asked as regards how to request a bus shelter for the school children waiting for their bus.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted this area was not straightforward as there were a number of potential issues, such as anti-social behaviour to consider, and he would speak to the Councillor in respect of the issue.

Councillor L Maddison noted schemes in terms of use of cycles, to be then left at agreed spots.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted such schemes had been looked at, however, there would be many issues to look at in terms of where to park, safety, how to hire and use the cycles.  He added that Durham was very hilly and in that respect perhaps did not lend itself to such schemes, however, he would speak to the Council’s Sustainable Travel Officer, Victoria Lloyd-Gent to get an update in this regard.

Councillor E Adam noted that the main priority was “a stronger economy through regeneration” and asked whether transport capacity was an issue being addressed within the LTP.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted that the strategy was to encourage the use of other modes of transport other than car, for example cycling or public transport, and schemes such as cross-ticketing and the provision of wifi on public transport could help. 

Councillor E Adam noted that in looking to encourage the use of cycling, rail and buses, was this factored against the cost and time of these incentives, the economics of it.  The Traffic Management Section Manager noted that in terms of the LTP, bus companies noted that improvements, such as the SCOOT system, had helped in terms of reliability in timetables and that cycling schemes offered a choice, with some being off-road, not mixing with traffic.

Resolved:       

That the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the progress report.