Minutes:
The Officers ran through a presentation highlighting the following –
Ø Slide 2 - The new local transport plan for 2025 has six main themes set out in slide 2. They will be moving into a new funding period and are looking at the funding was required from Government to meet the needs of the County moving forward., as well as giving the long-term vision up to 2050. Priorities would be identified for the rail and bus networks including what infrastructure is required. Road networks were covered, as well as land use, transport installation and improving the environment for walking and cycling.
Ø Slide 3 – the plan has been in development for over a year and it is to be evidence based. The district data report has been shared with the Council. The maps show key congestion areas identified such as Upper Gungate, Watling Street and the A5 corridor.
Ø Slide 5 – there is a chapter on the road network and there has been collaboration with National Highways to look at what can be done to improve how traffic performs on the A5. Key priorities are to keep the existing network running smoothly and no major works are proposed, the aim being to create an efficient, safe and sustainable traffic network. Alongside vehicle improvements they are aiming to reduce the number of miles driven and the condition of the network, as well as improved network management to cut delays when works are being carried out.
Ø Slide 6 – the County have provided advice to Tamworth on their new local plan. There are challenges to delivery with housing and employment growth changes and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) means that a vision-led approach is required to identify transport solutions.
Ø Slide 7 - the local transport plan is a statutory document required by law. The County Council are a consultee in the planning process and paragraph 114 of the NPPF identifies what should be considered when assessing developments.
Ø Slide 8 – it was highlighted that all major developments should include a detailed Transport Assessment (TA). It is recommended that the scope of the TA is agreed at pre application stage to make the process easier. Where a development shows an impact, developers should show mitigation measures. The County would then make a recommendation to the borough on whether they would object or approve the application with any conditions. If an application is refused and then won on appeal this can be costly to the Council and an example was given. There are two main reasons for saying no to a development; due to a severe impact on highways or a highway safety issue.
The Committee made the following comments/observations and asked the following questions:
1. The Council has been told in the past that the borough was close to capacity for developments, how much longer before that capacity was reached?
Officers confirmed that the Government requirement for more housing has encourage more developers to put in planning applications.
Sites have been reviewed and identified as being good for development as part of the local plan and the local transport plan will say that sites need to be able to promote travel sustainable and a reduction in the need to travel.
Members noted that the new college site was a good example of this.
The importance of infrastructure was noted to reduce the need to travel and the committee commented that it would welcome developments where the infrastructure was put in place first.
2. Clarification around who was consulted for the transport plan?
It was confirmed that a wide range of stakeholders were consulted including local communities and the NHS. The draft plan was due to be out by the end of March ready for consultation after the elections, with a view for adoption to be in September.
3. Discussion were held around the importance of the local plan to the development process.
4. It was highlighted that there was also an impact from neighbouring boroughs.
5. How much did they expect it to cost to get the roads up to standard?
Officers confirmed that they did not have exact figures but gave estimates in the tens of thousands which included maintenance of roads, bringing bridges up to satisfactory standards and to upgrade the bus network. It was highlighted that they were trying to work smarter by coordinating works along a highway corridor to address other issues and inviting utility providers to complete their works at the same time to limit disruption.
6. Clarification around the state of bridges?
It was confirmed that there are approximately 5000 structures that need maintaining and they would like to have a sustainable development program to maintain bridges to avoid more bridges getting to a critical condition and becoming dangerous.
The committee thanked the officers for attending.