Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

None.

Felicity Tidbury, Transport Planning Manager, presented the report for the Director of Regeneration, which set out the detailed schemes following the budget allocation of £650k.  The range of schemes aimed to provide improved transport links and further government funding may be forthcoming.

Deputations are not minuted in full but can be viewed on the Webcast here https://livestream.com/accounts/14063785/Cabinet-TT-14Mar2019

Mr Mike Dobson made 2 deputations:

i)             On behalf of the Friends Of Old Portsmouth Association (FOOPA) -  in support of the item and emphasising the importance of greater funding for measures to control speeding through traffic calming and improve pedestrian safety

ii)            Portsmouth Cycle Forum (PCF) - in support of the item and emphasising the importance of increased funding for measures to encourage cycling and improve road safety and asked that there be more consultation with PCF at the design stage.

Pam Turton, Assistant Director Transport, reported that the Old Portsmouth Area Study was almost ready to be shared with the ward councillors and FOOPA before it was made public.  She would ask officers to provide Mr Dobson with more information on "speed compliance".  Councillor Stagg thanked the officers for the time put into this work.

Pam Turton reported that the schemes in  LTP3 would be going ahead with match funding, awarded £2.2m through the Department of Transport's Tranche 1 of the Transforming Cities Fund.  The needs of cyclists were being looked at and PCF would be invited to look at the proposals as they progressed.  Work was continuing on the prioritised list of interventions identified by PCF.  Schemes such as Shipwrights Way are progressing as is the development of the Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plan.

Councillor Stagg, as Cabinet Member, was aware of the need to improve communication on the early release cycle traffic lights and of areas that needed more attention, such as Goldsmith Avenue, Stamshaw Road, Arundel Street and Copnor Bridge.

Councillor Chowdhury, Labour Spokesperson, commented on the narrow roads and suggested greater use of wider pavements for future cycle paths.

Councillor Stagg asked that cycling be reflected within LTP3 and the ongoing projects.

DECISIONS:

(1)       The LTP3 2019/20 Implementation Plan attached to the report be adopted;

(2)       Authority was delegated to the Director of Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation and the Section 151 Officer to agree any minor amendments to the Implementation Plan that may be required to take account of future funding changes and policy announcements.

(3)       It was noted that an update to the Local Transport Plan is currently being undertaken to outline how transport can address and respond to the challenges being faced by the city.

The report by the Director of Regeneration provides an update on progress made with the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund and recommends that arrangements are put in place to enable joint working with Hampshire County Council on the development and delivery of schemes.

RECOMMENDED that

(1) Progress on Tranche 1 of the Transforming Cities Fund bid for Portsmouth and the wider South East Hampshire Region is noted, with a further report on the programme, detailing progress towards Tranche 2 to be provided following further Government announcements;

(2) Authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation and S151 Officer, to agree contractual and other arrangements as necessary to facilitate joint working to develop a Strategic Outline Business Case for the Transforming Cities Fund with Hampshire County Council.

(1) Progress on Tranche 1 of the Transforming Cities Fund bid for Portsmouth and the wider South East Hampshire Region was noted, with a further report on the programme, detailing progress towards Tranche 2 to be provided following further Government announcements;

(2) Authority was delegated to the Director of Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation and S151 Officer, to agree contractual and other arrangements as necessary to facilitate joint working to develop a Strategic Outline Business Case for the Transforming Cities Fund with Hampshire County Council.

Felicity Tidbury, Transport Planning Manager, presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and was pleased to announce that the previous day Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council had been awarded £2.64m for Tranche 1 of Transforming Cities Bid, £2.2m for Portsmouth schemes (Hampshire's £400k related to continuous routes real time information and to Rowner Bridge Rapid Transit link).  For Portsmouth the real time information would be used for key junction signal updates in Copnor, Fratton and for the Eastern Road.  The package for the Tranche 2 bid was now being prepared.

Councillor Chowdhury supported the recommendations.

Councillor Stagg, as Cabinet Member, was pleased by this good news and thanked Felicity Tidbury for her work that had led to the bid being successful.

DECISIONS:

(1) Progress on Tranche 1 of the Transforming Cities Fund bid for Portsmouth and the wider South East Hampshire Region was noted, with a further report on the programme, detailing progress towards Tranche 2 to be provided following further Government announcements;

(2) Authority was delegated to the Director of Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation and S151 Officer, to agree contractual and other arrangements as necessary to facilitate joint working to develop a Strategic Outline Business Case for the Transforming Cities Fund with Hampshire County Council.

The report by the Director of Community & Communication outlines the work currently underway to support the provision of people-centred transport options, which will encourage independence for those whom access to public transport is limited due to a disability. 

The update report on the work being undertaken was supported and noted.

(This is not subject to call-in)

Pam Turton, Assistant Director Transport, presented the information report on behalf of the Director of Community and Communication, which set out work taking place on people-centred transport options.  Gina Perryman, Access and Equality Advisor, was also present and explained the Hive is a newly established public information hub for the voluntary sector, based in the Central Library. Gina Perryman also reported on plans to extend concessionary bus passes (which would also explore home to school transport in suitable cases) to encourage independence for disabled people. The finance officers would look into the viability of this.

Councillor Stagg, as Cabinet Member, welcomed the work on inclusivity for disabled students and the accompanying training.  It was noted that work was continuing with the licensed taxi drivers on the accessibility of vehicles. 

Councillor Chowdhury, Labour Spokesperson, also stressed the importance of accessible public transport.  Gina Perryman reported that since 2016 bus stops had been raised and all buses have low floors and she was aware of work taking place to train taxi drivers on the Equalities Act requirements.

Councillor Stagg supported and noted the update report on the work being undertaken.