Agenda item

The B&NES Climate Emergency Action Plan, approved in October 2019, recommends a major shift to mass transport, walking and cycling to reduce transport emissions.  Liveable Neighbourhoods are an important aspect of proposals to tackle the climate emergency and to improve health and wellbeing across the area.  The ambition is for Liveable Neighbourhoods is to breathe new life into residential areas by reducing the dominance of motor vehicles. We strive to reconsider how road space is utilised to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, enhance road safety and promote healthy lifestyles. The idea is to provide fairer access for those travelling on foot and by bicycle, creating healthier outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy. This includes better walking and cycling routes, and vibrant local high streets where people can relax outside and connect with others.

Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall read out a statement (attached as Appendix 4 to these minutes) where he welcomed the report which reflected the Council's climate emergency action plan, which was approved just over a year ago, which recommended a major shift to mass transport walking and cycling as ways to reduce our transport emissions.

Before reading out her statement in support of the report, Councillor Joanna Wright highlighted minor corrections to figures 6.1 and 9.2 of the report (attached as Appendix 5).

Councillor Joanna Wright read out the following statement:

‘It is my great pleasure to propose to you tonight this paper on Liveable Neighbourhoods.  This paper is without doubt one of the most radical changes to transport infrastructure and the reorganisation of road space ever presented to the Cabinet.  Transport is one of the few sectors where our carbon emissions are still rising. This Council has declared a climate emergency, and it is necessary that we find innovative new ways of enabling residents in BANES Council to share road space. Liveable neighbourhoods will help to reframe how communities use the public highway, so that the greater emphasis is given to those using active travel.  Liveable neighbourhoods will help to create pleasant, healthy and safe places for people to live, work, and be. There is no doubt that transport is one of the most difficult, and most contentious policy areas that we as Councillors have to consider.  Behaviour change is one of the toughest nuts in politics to crack, asking all sections of the community to rethink their travel choices, is a demanding ask. Let us remember that 24% of households have no access to a car; that the youngest, the oldest and the poorest are unfairly affected by the dominance of vehicles, and rarely do we hear the concerns of those that are marginalised.  But we do know is that the number of vehicles on our roads has increased significantly, and is still rising.  Whatever we do or do not do, congestion costs all of us in lost productivity and poor public health. Liveable neighbourhoods are a cost effective way to reduce the dominance of vehicles in residential areas and helps to prioritise active travel. The overall aim of this policy is to reduce vehicle use rather than divert traffic elsewhere. Data shows that 42% of journeys made by private car for the trips that are less than three kilometres in March this year. Many of us can replace short car journeys, with an active travel choice. The positive impact that these changes to travel will be seen in a plethora of ways such as the environment, health, safety, and community. The liveable neighbourhoods’ policy will enable a range of measures to be deployed, including modal filters, expansion of residence car parking, school streets, strategic corridor improvements to build capacity for active travel and investment in on-street electric vehicle charging. All these schemes will maintain vehicle access to homes and businesses and can be designed without disadvantaging disabled people, and other people with restricted mobility. Liveable neighbourhoods are not about stopping individuals using a vehicle. They are about encouraging unnecessary car use. The Council has taken this policy to the public and received 1,595 responses. And I am delighted to say significant support has been given to this new policy. Over three quarters of respondents agreed with the proposed approach to developing liveable neighbourhoods’ themes. Many highlighted the need for improved walking and cycling infrastructure, particularly to support children travelling to school. Residents emphasised the need for improved cycling from areas outside of Bath into the city. Many respondents fagged fairness and justice issues around a potential displacement of traffic onto main roads. Therefore, the Council will enhance capacity on the highway network for public transport, walking and cycling to mitigate potential displacement of traffic as part of the overall strategic delivery plan.

Over three quarters of respondents supported the Council's approach to reviewing and expanding residents parking zones.  Residents have raised issues regarding the needs of disabled people, charges, enforcement, student parking and hotel permits. And, as asked by Councillor Stephenson-McGall on what are we doing to take this work forward. Work is already underway to expand residence parking zones in parts of Bath.  Consultation on some of these things is expected to commence in early 2021, subject to the approval of this policy this evening.  Over three quarters of respondents supported t proposals on street electric charging. One fifth of respondents were concerned about placing electric vehicle infrastructure in the carriageway to avoid obstructing the footway. Space for non-electric vehicles will need to be reduced consequently, but it is imperative that we shift vehicles from fossil fuels to new sustainable energy options.

For years, the Council has tinkered around the edges of community problems with ad hoc traffic calming schemes, the odd bollard and the strips of yellow paint. Liveable neighbourhoods’ policy for the first time addresses the issues faced by communities in a holistic way.

Neil and I recognise that this is not going to be easy. And that many will only be convinced, when they see it in operation. This will require an ordinate level of political will and will take courage from the politicians, as well as the communities to take forward, these necessary changes. We are delighted to have the support of the Royal United Hospital to our proactive approach, and they are keen to work with the Council to actively engage with us, as this strategy develops. Can I assure you all both Neal, and myself will be monitoring the introduction of this policy closely. We want this to be a success. It is my contention that this new policy will deliver on the many promises made by this Liberal Democrat administration. The Council's aim is to create a connected city fit for the future, which will promote active travel. And in so doing, the Council will deliver on the climate emergency, it will deliver on public health, and it will deliver on social justice.

Before moving to recommendations. I would like to acknowledge the amazing work done by our Transport team, and the development of this policy, and the consultants and the consultation groups that they have been involved in through this process. Thank you.

I am very pleased to propose this paper, and that ask that you endorse the recommendations as printed.’

Councillor Joanna Wright moved the recommendations.

Councillor Neil Butters seconded the motion, and read the following statement:

‘My pleasure in seconding this very significant motion. The Council's climate emergency plan approved in October 2019 recommends a major shift to walking, cycling and public transport to reduce transport emissions. The primary aim is to improve health and wellbeing, across the air in line with other forward-thinking authorities, and this would be by providing fair access for those travelling primarily on foot and by bicycle, creating healthy outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy. If we don't do this, then our children and grandchildren will be paying a heavy price action.

Liveable neighbourhoods are a cost-effective way of reducing the dominance of vehicles in less central areas and prioritising active travel. To get an idea of the scale of the task before us Emergency Planning indicated that in order to meet our net zero decarbonization target by 2030 we will need to reduce the number of vehicle miles per person by 25% and effective modal shift to sustainable modes of transport, the 7%.

Note that the aim is to reduce overall vehicle use rather than divert traffic elsewhere. There will be a lot more however who might well consider walking outside and instinctively getting their cars for short journey without getting the matters second thought. It is these people we hope can be persuaded, not to give up their cars, but to use certain less frequently than before.

The more walking and cycling simply won't happen unless these notions become more obviously pleasant and safe. When streets are created primarily for people rather than benefits, they provide opportunities for better social connections. That means better mental health. They engender thriving local communities more sustainable living and encouraged more empowered communities, giving people are saying this design of their streets means much greater ownership in people's environments. Liveable neighbourhoods offer great benefits not only for children in itself, hugely important. But for the elderly and disabled. Jo and I need the ideas of members across the Council Chamber, which is not the preserve of one particular party. We would like all Councillors to give thought to what opportunities might present themselves in their Wards, and not just sitting back. What opportunities might that be in the towns in rural areas. We do recognise this is not just a city issue. This is a great opportunity to take a major leap forward. Let's seize the day Carpe Diem. Thank you.’

Councillor Richard Samuel also supported the motion by reading out the following statement:

‘Today on the day that the Centre for cities, published information showing that nitrogen dioxide levels post lockdown had increased across most cities in Britain, we can see that action is still needed to tackle the problem of excessive air pollution. I strongly welcome these proposals because I think they seem to come on strong support within our communities. I have been campaigning to get these policy proposals in place for over three years in my Ward. And, as well as whilst I was chairman of Camden Residents Association, before being elected, but the association first produced ideas that we would now call liveable neighbourhoods aggressive driving, inconsiderate rattling, intolerance of buses, hostility to cyclists, pavement parking, and even driving on pavements are all things that I see certainly on a daily basis in my Ward.  Residents who live in what should be traffic reduced areas will welcome these steps by the Council, and I thank Councillors Wright and Butters for bringing them to fruition.

I also want to comment on the need to expand residents parking zones and simplify the process. I have worked with several groups of residents in east of my ward, who wants to see residents parking zones extended.

I will recall a meeting with then Cabinet Member Councillor Shelford two years ago, when he told residents that the Council had lost the petitions they had presented, and that after seven years they would have to go back to the beginning of the RPZ process. That was no way to treat residents. It was appalling.

The problem we were trying to solve was that all day parking by commuters, parking for free and residential streets, to the detriment of residents who live in the city and contribute to its life and community.

These commuters always park just outside the current zones, which are zones 15 and 16, and cause daily problems of anti-social behaviour and nuisance for residents. In one street, cars are known to turn up at eight o'clock in the morning and actually hover in the street, waiting for residents to move out. And it's a real problem. So, I hope that long last night we will be able to consult residents on extensions to residents parking zones in east of my Ward.

I'd like to say that while I do recognise that there are particular problems in my Ward that need solving, I do understand that this is not possible for the Council to undertake this these policies right across the whole area in the single go. Resources are too stretched and workloads are too high to do that. However, it must be recognised that I believe that the Northeast city has particular problems that need tackling as soon as possible.

Over the coming year, I believe we will see the beginning of a long, long needed transport changes, proper safe cycling routes will appear. CO2 charging in RPZ will discourage the use of larger polluting vehicles, the Clean Air Zone will improve air quality, further restrictions on vehicles entering the historic core of Bath, and the proposals in this report will create a paradigm shift in the way that our streets are used, away from the domination by fossil fuel powered vehicles to more sustainable modes of transport. All these actions form part of this administration's clear commitment to carbon reduction where transport and transport emissions form a third of UK carbon dioxide emissions.  I would like to thank the Cabinet Members and officers who worked so hard to develop this challenging agenda from a standing start in 2019, after three wasted years under the previous administration. It's tough work, but it's going in the right direction. Well done.’

Councillor David Wood commented by congratulating the sensible approach in putting this together, particularly around considering access for emergency vehicles and recycling trucks within the liveable neighbourhoods’ projects.

Also, low traffic, neighbourhoods and liveable neighbourhoods aren't just for our towns and cities. The traditional model does lend itself more to those urban areas, because often the modal filters just aren't suitable for the rural areas and villages. However, the spirit of liveable neighbourhoods can be applied to villages as in some of those villages people don't feel safe walking to the shop, to pub or school or to visit other people. Councillor Wood thanked the Cabinet Members and the officers for all the efforts they put into this so far.

Councillor Rob Appleyard also supported the motion and congratulated Councillors Wright and Butters and fantastic report.  Councillor Appleyard stressed the significance of walking and cycling on the health and wellbeing of residents, including the substantial impact these have on mental health of the population.

Councillor Kevin Guy also supported the report by thanking Councillors Wright and Butters, and agreed with Councillors Wood and Appleyard that liveable neighbourhoods were not just created for the city, but also to rural areas of BANES, and its significance in encouraging residents to walk and cycle for the benefit of their health and wellbeing.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

1)  Review the responses to the consultation on the proposed Liveable Neighbourhood strategies.

2)  Delegate the decision to adopt the three Liveable Neighbourhood strategies (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods; Residents’ Parking Schemes; and On-Street Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy) with minor amendments, updates and corrections, to the Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Joint Cabinet Members for Transport.

3)  Support the need to allow all schemes once implemented to be in place for a minimum of 6 months to allow behaviour change to occur.