Agenda item

Considered – Report of the public statement and response text on active travel referred from the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee (H&K ACC) on 23 November 2023.

 

Councillor Arnold Warneken began the discussion by asking officers what would be done differently to make the Council more successful in future bids for active travel funding and learning from previous submissions?

 

In response, Allan McVeigh, Head of Network Strategy, noted that although recent bids to the Active Travel Fund (ATF) had not been successful, in overall terms it was felt that the Council has been successful in capital and revenue terms to secure funding for active travel schemes, such as through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) packages, National Productivity Investment Fund and Emergency Active Travel funding.

 

Following the recent ATF funding rejections, it was confirmed that the Council always seeks to receive feedback from the Department of Transport as to why a particular bid at that time wasn’t successful.

 

It was noted that since 2010 and the significant reduction in integrated transport block funding, there has been a focus on the priority of managing and maintaining the highway network. That is now starting to change, and it’s likely that we will be receiving more money for developing active travel in the future, potentially through the Mayoral Combined Authority for improvement-type active travel schemes.

 

Councillor Haslam felt that there are a number of easy wins that could be achieved, particularly in Harrogate, and they should be looked into. For example, there are lots of bits of footpaths and cycleways that are “unmade” and could be improved for a low cost into suitable paths/routes. These could be quick wins for active travel and safe cycling provision in the borough.

 

He felt that instead of focussing on big schemes and waiting for money to be handed down from government, that carrying out smaller pieces of work in the meantime would have a beneficial impact.

 

e.g. Path behind Hornbeam Park that crosses various roads in various places, to make it safer.

e.g. A61 into Harrogate, there’s a left turn onto the Greenway and you would be on a safe route right into the middle of Harrogate, but due to insufficient signage it isn’t widely used by cyclists and pedestrians.

 

These are labour intensive but low cost projects. As long as these smaller projects build into a wider active travel policy, then it was felt that they would be beneficial and improve public satisfaction. We would be seen as a Council to be a) taking action and b) when money becomes available from central government for bigger projects in the future, we’d be ready to go.

 

In response, the officer felt that it is exactly the approach the council has taken, but there is always more to do, as shown in the examples given.

 

It was noted that the council has been proactively engaging with the Harrogate and District Cycle Action Group (H&D CAG) to formulate a network of cycle plans together for in and around Harrogate. There is a meeting with H&D CAG shortly to discuss progress and will lead to a report going to the Corporate Director and Executive Member for Highways and Transportation. A Member asked whether consultation would take place with the ACC and Town/Parish Councils on the Corp Director/Exec Member report. This was to be considered.

 

It was asked if the current list of active travel plans have a priority order for delivery? Is there a record of the active travels schemes that we don’t go ahead with? It was understood that there is little available spending in the current Council budget, due to the need for expenditure on adult social care and home to school transport.

 

Councillor Steve Mason raised efforts in the Malton area to get kids walking and cycling to school. He noted the work of the Ryedale Cycling Forum in raising concerns. He asked for an update on the Malton to Pickering cycle route, as surfacing of the route had not been completed. Despite lobbying for someone to finish off the route to make it happen, no one is wanting to take responsibility for it. That would be a quick win. The officer agreed to look into this project.

 

Councillor Arnold Warneken asked about the delays in forming an Active Travel team within the new unitary council and the reasons for this?

 

In response, it was explained by the officer that following a significant reduction in integrated transport block funding around 2010, active travel delivery has for a number of years now, been reliant almost exclusively on external funding from bidding opportunities and local developments.

 

Looking forward there is likely to be more funding available through the proposed Mayoral Combined Authority in the form of the recently announced Local Integrated Transport Settlement (LITS), which will begin in 2025. The expectation is that this will provide a greater level of funding and critically, provide funding stability, as the money will be over seven years. This will facilitate a forward programme of works over a sustained period of time and provide the Council with the funding to invest in the resources required to deliver against that programme.

 

In the meantime, a new post has been established in Harrogate, which will be focussed on managing improvement projects and ensuring delivery of active travel schemes on the ground.

 

Also, the development of a new Local Transport Plan will allow for a focus on low carbon transport which will steer funding towards active travel modes.

 

It was asked if the council could take a basic version of the active travel framework from the Harrogate model and apply the principles to other areas in North Yorkshire, to try and adopt a more consistent approach and to create some momentum around active travel delivery.

 

In response, it was noted by the officer that some of the reasons why delivery is slower than liked is down to resource pressure. The new post referenced above is predominantly focussed on Harrogate currently as that is where the funding has been allocated and schemes currently exist. If another significant active travel scheme was successful in another area, then there is no reason why that postholder could not move to work onto that.

 

Councillor Melanie Davis emphasised the need to step up as a council on active travel, join up the dots and find the resource to be able to deliver.

 

In rounding up the discussion, Councillor David Staveley noted many examples under predecessor councils of planning applications where active/green travel plans are submitted. He felt that it is clear that we should be looking for solutions, although funding is currently a big issue to overcome for the delivery of active travel schemes. However, with the formation of a new Combined Authority shortly and a new Mayor elected in May, this does give another opportunity to influence and champion spending on active travel schemes, particularly given the transport powers are set to sit under its remit.

 

It is clear from the comments made that there are currently inconsistencies across the county on delivering active travel.

 

The Chair suggested a working group be set up later in the year, once the Mayor is appointed and in post, to look at how to establish consistent active travel plans across the county and also link to the planning work with developing a new Local Plan for North Yorkshire. It was noted that the committee was set to receive an update on the Local Transport Plan at an additional committee meeting in two weeks’ time, so it was agreed to wait until that date to consider next steps.

 

Resolved – That the referral of the public question to the committee and the comments arising be noted.