Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L Gilbert.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

In the interest of openness in respect of agenda item 6-‘Local Transport Development Plans - Tranche 2’, Councillor P Williams declared that he was the Ward Councillor for Alsager, one of the Wards referred to within the report.  It was noted that this declaration would apply to any Members on the Committee whose Wards also formed a part of Trance 2.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 April 2022.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 April 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

In accordance with paragraph 2.24 of the Council’s Committee Procedure Rules and Appendix on Public Speaking, set out in the Constitution, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the committee on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days’ in advance of the meeting.

Mr Bratt attended the meeting and spoke on agenda item 5-Levelling Up Fund Bids for Nantwich Road, Crewe Station.  His specific concerns related to the consultation process undertaken by the Council and the fact that the deadline for responses occurred after the publication date of the report.  He asked questions in respect of whether or not there was any audit of the responses to check had the actual consultation responses been properly analysed, when would they be published and when would the benefit to cost ratio estimate be published.  He also queried how he could withdraw his support.

Mr C Hindle, the Head of Infrastructure gave a general response in relation to the concerns regarding the consultation process, however it was agreed that a written response would be provided to Mr Bratt’s specific questions.

To consider a report summarising the Council’s approach to developing Levelling Up Fund bids for Crewe and to seek support to prepare round 2 constituency and LTA bids to bring forward the Nantwich Road enhancement schemes, linked to the Crewe Hub.

Consideration was given to a report on the Council’s approach to developing Levelling Up Fund bids for Crewe which sought the Committee’s support to prepare round 2 constituency and LTA bids in order to bring forward the Nantwich Road enhancement schemes, linked to the Crewe Hub.

Members welcomed the bids coming forward.  It was considered that the plans would improve accessibility to Crewe station for cycling and public transport as well as being a key component in providing a better link between Crewe station and the town centre. 

Concerns were raised that Cheshire East was considered a priority three by central government for levelling up when there were areas within Crewe that were in the top 10% of the country for deprivation.  Representations had been made by officers to redetermine the priority allocated but had not been heeded by government which was felt to be disappointing. 

It was commented that the Council needed to have future business cases ready to be submitted when further funding became available, in particular the business case regarding the access between Crewe town centre and grand junction retail park.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

1.That the Director of Highways and Infrastructure be authorised to submit both a constituency and Local Transport Authority Round 2 Levelling Up Bid for the Nantwich Road enhancement schemes.

2.That it be noted a local financial contribution of at least 10% of the estimated scheme costs would be required for each bid that was successful.

To consider a report requesting approval of the second set of Local Transport Delivery Plans, which have been prepared as part of the Council’s transport strategy framework.

Consideration was given to a report seeking the Committee’s approval for the second set of Local Transport Development Plans, which had been prepared as part of the Council’s transport strategy framework. 

Members supported the production of a number of Local Transport Development Plans however it was commented that the expectations of residents needed to be carefully managed.  In addition it was felt important that there was a synergy between Council departments in order to ensure that the projects being prepared were in conjunction with the relevant service areas which would enable opportunities to be maximised. 

A further comment was made that the plans were a ‘wish’ list and required more focus in order for the Council to achieve its purpose of maintaining roads.

The Chair advised that the government’s approach was to encourage local authorities to put forward the most innovative schemes, as a result the reality was that the Council did need to develop documents like those being considered today in order to ensure the Council was ready to bid when those opportunities came forward.

RESOLVED

1.That the Local Transport Development Plans as in Appendices A – F, which would become part of the Council’s policy and programme planning framework for transport be approved.

2.That it be noted individual projects in any Local Transport Development Plan would be subject to programming of the annual highways and transport capital budgets.  Projects would be progressed only after funding had been agreed and subject to all necessary scheme design and development works, including consultation with stakeholders.

3.That the Interim Director of Highways & Infrastructure be authorised to update the first tranche of Local Transport Development Plans, as approved at Committee in March 2022, to take account of Government’s confirmation that no additional Bus Service Improvement Plan funding would be available to the Council (see paragraph 2.4 of the report).

To receive the alignment of the 2022-23 budgets for Highways and Transport and to note or approve virements and supplementary estimates as required.

The Committee received the report which determined the allocation of the approved budgets for 2022/23 to the Highways and Transport Committee.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

1.That the decision of the Finance Sub-Committee to allocate the approved capital and revenue budgets, related policy proposals and earmarked reserves to the Highways and Transport Committee be noted.

2.That the supplementary estimates already approved as set out in Appendix B, Tables A, B and C of the report be noted.

3.That the supplementary estimates set out in Appendix B, Table D of the report be approved.

4.That the supplementary capital estimates set out in Appendix B, Table E of the report be approved.

5.That the capital budget virements set out in Appendix B, Table F of the report be approved.

6.That the financial reporting timetable as set out in Appendix C of the report be noted.

To appoint Members to the Public Rights of Way Sub Committee.

Consideration was given to a report on the membership of the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Committee. 

RESOLVED

(1)That the Highways and Transport Committee appoints Members to the Public Rights of Way Committee (PRoW) as follows:

Conservative:3

Labour:2

Independent:2

(2)That the terms of reference attached as appendix one to the report be noted.

(3)That the names of those Members to sit on the Pubic Rights of Way Sub Committee will be submitted to the Head of Democratic Services an Governance.

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

Consideration was given to the work programme.

Mrs S Baxter, the Democratic Services Officer advised of the following amendments to the work programme:-

• The Vehicle Restraint System Strategy and Skid Resistance Strategy as complimentary documents were to be presented for approval within the Speed Management Strategy report – September 2022.  The title would be updated to reflect this amendment.
• The updated Asset Management Policy, Asset Management Strategy, Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan and Resilient Network Strategy to form a single report seeking approval of these interrelated policies.  It was noted that the approval of the documents was important in relation to evidencing the Council’s self-assessment to level 3 with the DfT i.e. securing maximum amount of additional maintenance funding.  Officers were in the process of assessing whether a report would come to either the November 2022 or January 2023 meeting.

Whilst the inclusion in the work programme of the review of the Ward Member Budget scheme was welcomed, concerns were raised that the deadline for the approval of all submitted schemes was 30 June 2022.  It was requested that officers be asked to consider extending the deadline.

The Chair agreed to liaise with officers to see if this request could be accommodated and that a written response on this matter would be emailed to all Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the amendments to the work programme be approved and that the Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee seek officers advice with regard to the request to extend the 30 June 2022 deadline in relation to the approval of ward member budget schemes.