Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L Braithwaite.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

(During consideration of the item, Councillor P Williams arrived to the meeting).

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.

Councillor D Edwardes attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the item relating to the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy. 

To consider a report accepting a Government grant to enable the implementation of a major road safety scheme for the A537.

Consideration was given to a report requesting the Highways and Transport Committee’s approval to deliver a Safer Road Fund Scheme on a section of the A537 Buxton Road ‘Cat & Fiddle’ between its junction with the Silk Road in Macclesfield and the Cheshire East boundary with Derbyshire (“the Scheme”) that would help to reduce the number of road traffic collisions and associated casualties, including the number of people killed or seriously injured.  The Scheme was fully funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) grant received by the Council.

RESOLVED

1.That the delivery of the A537 Buxton Road, Macclesfield Safer Road Fund road traffic collision and casualty reduction scheme through the Highway Service Contract be approved, subject to the Ringway Jacobs target costs for the scheme satisfying the Council’s best value requirements.

2.That the Director of Infrastructure and Highways in consultation with the Highways and Transport Committee Chair be authorised to take all necessary actions to implement the Scheme using the funding provided by the Department for Transport.

To consider a report on the National Bus Strategy - Enhanced Quality Partnership.

Consideration was given to a report on the National Bus Strategy - Enhanced Quality Partnership.  The purpose of the report was to ensure the Council met its obligations as set out in the National Bus Strategy and in so doing sought the Committee’s endorsement of the Enhanced Partnership approach and approval of the development of the Bus Service Improvement Plan.  The Committee were also invited to confirm whether a Member Advisory Panel should be established in order to support the development and delivery of such plans in line with the Department for Transport’s programme. 

It was agreed that Councillors S Akers Smith, C Browne, L Crane, H Faddes, M Sewart and P Williams would sit on the Member Advisory Panel in order to guide the development of the Bus Service Improvement Plan and the Enhanced Partnership.

RESOLVED

1.That the commitment to an Enhanced Partnership for local buses and publication of the relevant notifications be endorsed.

2.That the development of a Bus Service Improvement Plan, in consultation with bus operators, passenger groups and other stakeholders from across the borough be approved.

3.That a Member Advisory Panel comprising of Councillors S Akers Smith, C Browne, L Crane, H Faddes, M Sewart and P Williams be established to guide the development of the Bus Service Improvement Plan and the Enhanced Partnership.

4.That it be noted the initial Bus Service Improvement Plan would be reported to the Highways and Transport Committee in September in order to meet the Department for Transport’s programme.

(During consideration of the item, Councillor C Bulman arrived to the meeting).

To consider a report approving the Council's strategy for the roll out of electric vehicle charging points across the Borough.

Consideration was given to a report on the Cheshire East Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure Strategy which provided the Committee with an update on work undertaken to develop a robust evidence base and strategic approach to the future provision of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure in the borough.

RESOLVED

1.That the draft Cheshire East Electric Vehicles Infrastructure Strategy (detailed in Appendix 1 of the report) as a basis for consultation and engagement be approved.

2.That a market testing exercise for a concession approach to delivering Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure be approved.

3.That the next steps for the development and delivery of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy as set out in paragraph 1.13 of the report be noted and that further reports would be submitted to the Highways and Transport Committee to seek necessary approvals.

To consider a report on the progress on the development and implementation of the Council's Local Transport Delivery Plans and the proposals to be taken forward within each town following the recent public consultation exercise.

Consideration was given to a report on the Local Transport Delivery Plans.   The report outlined the progress towards developing Local Transport Delivery Plans.  The plans were intended to identify how a coordinated and integrated transport network could be delivered, covering all forms of transport including walking, cycling, buses, rail and road traffic.

RESOLVED

1.That the progress made towards developing an evidence base and options for the Local Transport Delivery Plans be noted.

2.That the methodology outlined in Sections 1.9 and 1.10 of the report to shape the Local Transport Delivery Plans be approved.

3.That it be noted the final set of Local Transport Delivery Plans would be presented for approval at a future meeting of the Highways and Transport Committee.

To receive a report on the capital and revenue budgets for 2021/22.

Consideration was given to a report that outlined the Highways and Transport budget for 2021/22.  It was noted that finance training would be scheduled in due course by an external provider for all Cheshire East Councillors via Microsoft Teams.

RESOLVED

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 & Transport Committee, as set out in Appendix A be noted.

2.That the MTFS timelines, as set out in paragraphs 5.9 – 5.12 of the report be noted.

3.That the supplementary estimates and virements as set out in Appendix B to the report be noted.

To consider a report on the Membership of the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Committee.

Consideration was given to a report on the membership of the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Committee.  It was noted that the following Councillors had agreed to sit on Public Rights of Way Committee (PRoW):-

Councillors S Akers Smith, L Crane, S Edgar, H Faddes, L Gilbert, R Moreton, and D Stockton.

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 method of making nominations to the Public Rights of Committee (PRoW), as set out in paragraph 3 of the report be approved.

(3) That it be noted the following Members had agreed to sit on Public Rights of Way Committee (PRoW):-

Councillors S Akers Smith, L Crane, S Edgar, H Faddes, L Gilbert, R Moreton, and D Stockton.

To consider the work programme and determine any required amendments.

Consideration was given to the work programme.

The following amendments were reported:-

Flowerpot Junction Improvement Scheme-To now be considered at the November 2021 meeting;

HS2 Programme Update-Moved from the November meeting and to now be considered at either the January/March 2022 meeting;

Middlewich Eastern By Pass-Final Business Case Approvals- To now be considered at the March 2022 meeting.

The following additions were reported:-

Council Parking Enforcement Policy-To be considered at the November 2021 meeting;

Review of winter service -To be considered at the March 2022 meeting;

Local Transport Delivery Plans follow on report-To be considered at the March 2022 meeting;

Pavement parking update report-To be considered at the March 2022 meeting;

Performance management information to be included as standing item.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be approved subject to the inclusion of the amendments and additions as outlined above.