Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for the Active Travel Improvements (ATI) budget detailed in Appendix A.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

2.1          Approves the delivery of the Active Travel Improvements budget detailed in Appendix A to this report, which will be subject to feasibility and final design work.

2.2          Give delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Transport to work with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation to approve the final designs for each of the Active Travel Improvements.

Michelle Love, Safer Travel Manager introduced the report.

A deputation was then heard from Mr Ian Spencer of Portsmouth Cycle Forum  generally in support of the recommendations but also raising some concerns.  Deputations are not minuted but can be viewed here https://livestream.com/accounts/14063785/cabinet-tt-02dec2021

Opposition spokespeople were in support of the proposals and felt that this would help to connect the cycle network in the city.  They asked that the ward councillors be involved in discussions.  Councillor Stagg said that ward councillors would be involved in discussions and asked officers to set up a meeting with the Portsmouth Cycle Forum and ward councillors.  Michelle Love said as soon as officers had designs these would be shared with the key stakeholders including the Portsmouth Cycle Forum and ward councillors.  Further discussions could then take place about ensuring the proposals are safe and useable. 

DECISIONS: The Cabinet Member:

1. Approved the delivery of the Active Travel Improvements budget detailed in Appendix A to this report, which will be subject to feasibility and final design work.

2. Gave delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Transport to work with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation to approve the final designs for each of the Active Travel Improvements.

Purpose of report

To consider the locations suggested for infrastructure improvements as part of the Casualty & Speed Reduction LTP 2021/22 programme.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

               Approves the proposed spend from the Casualty & Speed Reduction Measures budget of £150,000 on the following schemes:

·       Elm Grove / Grove Road junction (£40,000);

·       Visibility and awareness treatments (£100,000);

·       Speed surveys (£10,000)

Joanna Hamment, Senior Road Safety Officer introduced the report.

A deputation was then heard from Mr Ian Spencer of Portsmouth Cycle Forum in generally in support of the recommendations and raising a number of points.  Deputations are not minuted but can be viewed here https://livestream.com/accounts/14063785/cabinet-tt-02dec2021

In response to questions from Councillors, Joanna and Michelle clarified the following points:

·       The low level of streetlights along Elm Grove can be investigated as part of the engagement with stakeholders officers will look into all points raised by Portsmouth Cycle Forum.

·       With regard to the low level cycle lights, this project is managed by colleagues in the network management team so Michelle said she would take forward with them. They have developed a presentation for this years low level cycle lights budget, but if members were interested in having a further discussion with the Project Manager this could be arranged.  

·       Officers said that the speed surveys were a starting point to have the evidence base to see if interventions are needed however this would not be the only source of evidence.  Data from the speed reduction survey could be taken forward to a future bid.

Councillor Bosher asked raised an example in his ward of the early release traffic lights at the Eastern Road/Havant Road junction where there are narrow lanes with no dedicated cycle lanes. He felt this was a potential hazard and the Council need to look at junctions and see if early release lights for cyclists are appropriate. He felt they were often a distraction to motorists who often start to move on the cycle lights and this should be reviewed to see if it is an appropriate location.

Opposition spokespeople asked that officers keep them in the loop as to where the budget goes as this will have an impact on other things as part of LTP 4.

The Cabinet Member asked that Grove Road north is added to the list for low level of cycle lights. She also agreed with the points made about the early release cycle lights.

DECISIONS: the Cabinet Member

Approved the proposed spend from the Casualty & Speed Reduction Measures budget of £150,000 on the following schemes:

• Elm Grove / Grove Road junction (£40,000);

• Visibility and awareness treatments (£100,000);

• Speed surveys (£10,000)

Purpose of report

To provide an end of trial review on the first phase of the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) and recommendations for next steps.     

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

2.1.        Approves the extension of the current contract with ubitricity for a period of up to three years) from expiry of the existing contract on 5 March 2022, with authority delegated to the Director of Regeneration to finalise the details of any changes to current terms working closely with finance, procurement and legal;

2.2.        Approves that the chargepoint infrastructure, which has been identified with current low usage, should be the subject of marketing and promotional activity with a review in six months to determine their future.

Felicity Tidbury, Transport Planning Manager introduced the report.

In response to questions from Councillors, Hayley Chivers, Strategic Transport Lead clarified the following points:

·       With regard to electric charging points in private car parks, officers will take forward to ensure that they are putting electric charging points in

·       The current ubitricity chargepoints are OPCC compliant which means it is open charge protocol and any other supplier can take them on.  Currently suppliers are potentially making income from the installation rather than the usage so it is not necessarily as attractive but this is something in the future that could be investigated. The physical chargepoint could remain and the software for the back office could be taken over by another supplier.

·       The Planning department are looking at the parking Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be put into the updated version and traffic and transportation officers are working closely with planning on this.

·       The electric vehicle parking bays are enforceable; if a non-electric vehicle is parked in there or if an electric vehicle is parked but not plugged in the owners can be issued a PCN.

·       If there was a chargepoint that was not used officers would promote them in the local areas.  If there was still no takeup the marked charging bay could be removed and the chargepoint remain or the other option would be to relocate this space elsewhere if there was not the demand.

Opposition spokespeople were fully in support of the recommendations and it was felt that more marketing was needed. Members also felt it was worth thinking about the number of these spaces for the future. It was also felt that consistency was key in terms of the maintenance of the charging points.

DECISIONS: the Cabinet Member

1.    Approved the extension of the current contract with ubitricity for a period of up to three years from expiry of the existing contract on 5 March 2022, with authority delegated to the Director of Regeneration to finalise the details of any changes to current terms working closely with finance, procurement and legal;

2.    Approved that the chargepoint infrastructure, which has been identified with current low usage, should be the subject of marketing and promotional activity with a review in six months to determine their future

Please note this item has been withdrawn from the agenda.  

Officers explained that the Supported Bus Services paper is withdrawn from the Traffic and Transportation decision meeting of 2December 2021. The contract prices are currently being reviewed for this extension, and therefore this paper will come to a later decision meeting once the finances are understood further.