Agenda item

Cabinet will be asked to approve the strategy following public consultation and to recommend to Council that it be adopted

Robin Kerr (Chairman, Federation of Bath Residents’ Associations) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 7 and on the Council's website] made a number of points relating to traffic congestion and air pollution and supported the rapid implementation of the strategy which he said was vital and long-awaited.

Adam Reynolds (Chair, Cycle Bath) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 8 and on the Council's website] appealed to the Cabinet to invest £10 per head of population into cycling on a yearly basis.

Councillor David Dixon asked Adam Reynolds why he had suggested £10 per head.  Adam said he felt that £10 would be a starting point but that Bristol invested £16 per head per year.

Councillor David Bellotti asked Adam Reynolds whether he knew the sum of the Council’s investments in cycling in the last year had in fact been more than £10 per head.  Adam said he had hoped for a commitment to annual investment, not for a single year.  Councillor Bellotti asked whether Adam was aware that the Cabinet could not commit to expenditure under future administrations and Adam acknowledged that he had not been aware of that.

Councillor Tim Ball asked Adam Reynolds whether he felt that all cyclists should undertake training.  Adam acknowledged that there were some bad cyclists, as there were some bad motorists.

Professor Donald Thomas (Greenway Residents Association) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 9 and on the Council's website] urging greater emphasis on pollution in residential areas.

Steve Bradley (Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for Bath) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 10 and on the Council's website] urged the Cabinet to pursue the Park and Ride proposal for the east of Bath; to make progress on the options available for relief for the east of Bath; and to continue its commitment to the MetroWest project.

Councillor Anthony Clarke in an ad hoc statement expressed disappointment that only a limited area was being covered by the proposals and asked that they be seen as the first of a number of building blocks.

Councillor Caroline Roberts moved the proposals.  She referred to the Transport strategy which had been held in 2013; the Planning, Transport and Environment PDS Panel had scrutinised the Plan; the Local Development Forum steering group had given it cross-party consideration; and now the Cabinet was being asked to recommend the Plan to Council for adoption.

Councillor Paul Crossley seconded the proposal.  He felt it was an exciting Plan with a wide consensus of agreement.  He had been particularly impressed by the comments made by Professor Donald on air quality.  He also welcomed the challenge made by Adam Reynolds over the issue of cycling provision.

Councillor Crossley emphasised that the MetroWest project would be key to delivery of the Strategy and he was pleased to hear the support from local Residents Associations.  He reminded the meeting that attention would next be given to the Transport Strategy for Keynsham, although that responsibility would fall to the next administration.

Councillor Tim Ball said that the administration had successfully introduced the Core Plan, Enterprise Area Masterplan and now was about to agree the Bath Transport Strategy.  He agreed with the points made by Adam Reynolds because he too had youngsters who could not cycle on the roads because of bad drivers.

Councillor Dine Romero supported the proposals which she said were a work in progress but which contained some exciting solutions to the needs of the city.

Councillor David Dixon said that it would never be possible to solve completely the problems of Bath’s transport system; but under the present administration superb progress had been made.  He anticipated an ongoing debate about through traffic and the link road to the east of the city.  He was determined to look at more adventurous, sustainable good quality solutions.

Councillor Caroline Roberts summed up by emphasising that the Strategy would meet the needs of all users of the city.

On a motion from Councillor Caroline Roberts, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ENDORSE the Getting Around Bath Transport Strategy and recommends that it be adopted by Council on 12th November 2014; and

(2) To APPROVE the capital budget of £350k in 2014/15 and £150k in 2015/16) towards the development of the Park & Ride to the east of Bath.