Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L Crane and P Williams.

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 item 8 on the agenda-Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)-Implementation Report, Councillor S Akers Smith declared that she was the Council’s Cycling and Walking Champion.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 September 2021.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to Councillor S Akers Smith declaration of interest being amended to state that she was the Council’s Cycling and Walking Champion.

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.

The following members of public attended the meeting and spoke in respect of item 5 on the agenda-Speed Management Strategy:-

Dr Ruth Thompson

Ben Ormerod

Brooke McAteer

Brian Fox

Colin Townend

The following members of public attended the meeting and spoke in respect of item 8 on the agenda- Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) - Implementation Report:-

Rob Sharpe

Peter Hall

David Mayers

The following Councillors attended the meeting and spoke in respect of item 5 on the agenda-Speed Management Strategy:-

Councillor M Goldsmith

Councillor R Moreton

To consider a report on the draft Speed Management Strategy (The Strategy) which sets out a consistent approach the Council will take to managing speed on the highway network.

Consideration was given to a report on the draft Speed Management Strategy which outlined the approach the Council would take to managing speed on the highway network.

Members made the following comments:-

·         Essential to encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation;

·         Important that the consultation process asked the correct questions;

·         Focus should be on the consultation process and finding the correct speed limits appropriate for those roads, with proposals to introduce of blanket 20mph zones being avoided;

·         Necessary to have a balance between safety and being able to function as a society;

·         Concern that the document in its current format would not lead to the implementation of many 20mph zones;

·         Reducing speed limits would help to create a safer village environment;

·         Inclusion of the word ‘Engagement’ to the three E’s (Education, Enforcement and Engineering);

·         Parts of the speed management process were not mandatory and should be looked at through the consultation process;

·         Parts the report were too prescriptive;

·         An alternative to the three E’s was suggested which emphasised applying the principles of empower, enable and encourage to the way in which the Council works in partnership with Town and Parish Councils.

During the debate an amendment was proposed and seconded requesting the resolution of Council in relation to a Notice of Motion regarding 20’s Plenty in 2020 submitted on 16 December 2020 whereby Council resolved the following should be noted:-

(i)The principle of introducing 20mph speed restrictions where appropriate – not a blanket measure. This would be through the review of the Speed Management Strategy which is scheduled to take place in 2021 and the points raised, both for and against, during today’s debate be considered during this process;

(ii)Working with Cheshire police to help maintain compliance, once such arrangements are established.

RESOLVED

1.That the publication of the Strategy for an 8 week consultation process be approved.

2.That it be noted a report on the outcome of the consultation process alongside a report seeking approval of the adoption of an updated Speed Management Strategy would be presented to the Committee.

3.That the resolution of Council in relation to a Notice of Motion regarding 20’s Plenty in 2020 submitted on 16 December 2020 whereby Council resolved the following should be noted:-

(i)The principle of introducing 20mph speed restrictions where appropriate – not a blanket measure. This would be through the review of the Speed Management Strategy which is scheduled to take place in 2021 and the points raised, both for and against, during today’s debate be considered during this process;

(ii)Working with Cheshire police to help maintain compliance, once such arrangements are established.

To consider a report on the allocation of highway revenue and capital funding to deliver day to day activities and programmes on the public highway to achieve the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Local Transport Plan objectives and priorities.

Consideration was given to a report on the allocation of highway revenue and capital funding to deliver day to day activities and programmes on the public highway in order to achieve the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Local Transport Plan objectives and priorities.

Members made comments in respect of ward member budgets and the potential for them to be increased the following year.  Whilst some Members welcomed this as long as the money could be used to be spent on patching it was noted by other Members that money from ward budgets may not be being spent as effectively as it should be and that further time was required in order to assess the success of the scheme.  It was noted that the Council had received extra funding for being in the higher category for demonstrating good practice and this was welcomed.   

RESOLVED

1.That the demands made on the Council’s revenue budgets from the important highway services outlined in the report be noted.

2.That the impact of the level of Department for Transport grant funding on the council’s ability to carry out highway maintenance to a desirable level be noted.

To consider a report on the Council’s updated Parking Services Enforcement Policy.

Consideration was given to a report on the Council’s updated Parking Services Enforcement Policy.

It was noted that the policy had last been reviewed five years ago and therefore placed the Council at risk of legal challenge if it was not refreshed.  Concerns were raised in connection with the level of enforcement rather than the policy itself and it was requested that a report on the Council’s enforcement activity be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.  Further comments were made in respect of infrastructure including ensuring road markings were clearly visible and that the correct signage was on display in order to make the markings legal.  It was requested that when patching work was undertaken road markings were refreshed.

RESOLVED

That the updated Parking Services Enforcement Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

(Prior to consideration of the following item, the meeting was adjourned for a short break).

To consider a report on the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) - Implementation Report.

Consideration was given to a report on the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) - Implementation Report.

Officers were thanked for their work on the Plan alongside those residents who had provided the relevant information which had enabled the Council to apply for further funding.  Members welcomed the Plan and the improvements it would lead to in terms of safe cycling and walking within the Borough.  Further to this a suggestion was made that the policy should be linked with the Economies and Growth Committee Rural Strategy. 

A concern was raised that there needed to stronger liaison between the planning and highways departments in order to ensure developer money was being spent on local infrastructure. 

The Chair gave specific thanks to the contributions of the Council’s Cycling and Walking Champion.  He emphasised the need for the Council to have a strategic document in place to strengthen the Council’s position when bidding for funding, but also to make sure all depts knew the Council priorities so that when planning applications came forward they could support such schemes.

RESOLVED

1.That the draft LCWIP Implementation Plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved as a basis for future development and delivery of schemes.

2.That it be noted the individual schemes would be embedded within the annual capital programmes and subject to scheme design and development including consultation with stakeholders.

To provide an update on the HS2 programme, including Government programmes, Covid-19 impacts, planning policy, key actions and next steps.

Consideration was given to a report updating the Committee on the HS2 programme, including Government programmes, Covid-19 impacts, planning policy, key actions and next steps.

During the debate an amendment was proposed and seconded requesting the inclusion of the following wording to be included at the end of paragraph 2.1.3 ‘and that a standing item on this matter be included on all future agendas clearly providing there was something to update on’.  Officers advised the intention was always to bring regular updates to Committee as and when necessary.

Concerns were raised that the Crewe Southern Link Road Bridge preferred route decision had been revoked.  In response the Chair confirmed that the decision to revoke did not mean it would not come back in the future in either the same form or an approved form it was no longer realistic for it to be delivered by 2025.  Disappointment was also expressed that there was a further delay to HS2 and that as much as possible should be done by the Council to encourage the government to deliver HS2 before 2030.  Furthermore a request was made that when the hub station was built it would have improved operational movements which had previously been lost.

RESOLVED

1.That the decisions of the Corporate Policy Committee on 04 November 2021 be noted.

2.That the work requirements for the refresh of the transport plans for Crewe, including:

(i)          Updating the Crewe Transport Model to provide an up-to-date baseline of the local transport network and priorities be noted;

(ii)         Developing a revised transport strategy for central Crewe area (Appendix 1) that both can capture the short-term Government investment priorities and support the long-term HS2 ambition be noted;

(iii)        Prioritising transport interventions identified in the transport strategy into short, medium and long-term priorities be noted;

(iv)       Preparing a Local Transport Authority Levelling Up Fund bid for Crewe, to seek up to £50m of funding to enable the delivery of package of short-term transport priorities in line with the revised transport strategy be noted; and

(v)        Undertaking community and stakeholder engagement and consultation, as required, to support a Local Transport Authority Levelling Up Fund bid for Crewe be noted.

3.That it be noted a further report would be presented to a future meeting of the Committee on the Transport Plan for Crewe and the Local Transport Authority Levelling Up Fund bid and that a standing item on this matter be included on all future agendas.

To consider a report confirming the changes proposed to Barthomley Level Crossing (Mill Lane, Crewe) and to seek a resolution from the Council for an application to the Department for Transport to make a Section 249 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Order on behalf of Network Rail to remove vehicular access and restrict the crossing to bridleway rights (for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders).

Consideration was given to a report confirming the changes proposed to Barthomley Level Crossing (Mill Lane, Crewe).

RESOLVED

1.That the Director for Infrastructure and Highways be authorised to make an application to the Department for Transport that a Section 249 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Order be made on behalf of Network Rail to remove vehicular access and reserve bridleway and pedestrian rights at Barthomley Level Crossing, Mill Lane, Crewe.

2.That the application for the Order would not be made until an indemnity or suitable undertaking was received from Network Rail to cover off any potential compensation costs related to Section 250 of the Town Country Planning Act 1990 and that Network Rail would install the turning head before the closure of the crossing to vehicular traffic.

To consider a report on the performance across Infrastructure and Highways services for the first half of 2021-22.

Consideration was given to a report on the performance across Infrastructure and Highways services for the first half of 2021-22.

RESOLVED

1.That the performance across the Infrastructure and Highways services for the first half of 2021-22 be noted.

2.That the on-going work of the Highways Service to support delivering the Council’s Brighter Futures Customer Strategy be noted.

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

The Committee considered an updated work programme.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be noted.

To receive the minutes of the Public Rights of Way (PROW) Sub-Committee.

The Committee received the minutes of the Public Rights of Way (PROW) Sub-Committee held on 13 September 2021.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Public Rights of Way (PROW) Sub-Committee be received and noted.