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Agenda Item No. 9(c)

 

THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL

 

COUNCIL MEETING: 13 DECEMBER 2017

 

REFERENCE FROM CABINET:  6 NOVEMBER 2017

 

C127              ACTIVE TRAVEL - RESULTS OF CONSULTATION FOR THE INTEGRATED NETWORK MAPS AND EXISTING ROUTE MAPS UPDATE 2017 (NST) (SCRUTINY COMMITTEE -  ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION) –

 

Cabinet was advised of the results of the recent public consultation exercise on the Draft Integrated Network Maps, provided with an update to the Existing Route Maps, and approval was requested for the final Maps to be presented to Welsh Government (WG).

 

The Active Travel (Wales) Act (2013) placed duties upon local authorities in Wales to map, plan for, improve and promote opportunities for active travel. On 5 June, 2017 a report was presented to Cabinet to advise on the process that the Council was required to follow in order to comply with the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 (Cabinet Minute C9 refers). The deadline for submission to WG of the updated Existing Route Maps and the final Integrated Network Maps was 3 November, 2017.

 

Due to the volume of work involved in reviewing the maps it had not been possible to obtain Cabinet approval prior to the WG deadline.  Therefore the maps linked to the report had been provided to WG as draft documents subject to Cabinet approval on 6 November, 2017. This allowed Cabinet to either agree or amend the maps prior to the WG publication date later in November 2017.

 

In line with WG requirements, the extensive 12 week consultation process on the maps closed on 15 September, 2017. The Council received 39 email responses, and a letter with 25 signatures. Further, at school workshops 600 pupils responded and 61 persons attended the public events as part of the consultation process.  An evaluation of the responses received was linked in the report at Appendix A (http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/consultation/previous-consultations/Active-Travel-Network-Maps.aspx#AppendixA).

 

The walking and cycling routes identified in the walking overview maps and cycling overview maps showed proposed routes identified by the public. Many required upgrading in line with the full audits undertaken by Sustrans, linked to the report at Appendix D (http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/consultation/previous-consultations/Active-Travel-Network-Maps.aspx#AppendixD). Listed in the report were the routes audited with associated results. Any routes scoring 70 points or more had been added to the updated Existing Route Maps. Any routes that scored less than 70 points had been included in the Integrated Network Maps and would require additional improvements and investment over the next 15 years to enable them to meet the Active Travel criteria.

 

The updated Existing Route Maps linked in the report at Appendix B (http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/consultation/previous-consultations/Active-Travel-Network-Maps.aspx#AppendixB) and the final Integrated Network Maps linked in the report at Appendix C (http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/consultation/previous-consultations/Active-Travel-Network-Maps.aspx#AppendixC) had to be presented to WG by 3 November, 2017. WG would then notify the Council of its decision whether to accept the Council's proposals. WG had not specified a timescale for their response, however, the Council had a duty to improve walking & cycling infrastructure on an annual basis in accordance with the legislation.

 

This was a matter for Executive decision

 

Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained therein

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)       T H A T the proposed responses to the Draft Integrated Network Map consultation as linked in the report at Appendix A be approved.

 

(2)       T H A T the updated Existing Route Maps attached at a link in the report as Appendix B be approved.

 

(3)       T H A T the Integrated Network Maps attached at a link in the report at Appendix C be approved.

 

(4)       T H A T the submission to Welsh Government of the Existing Route Maps and the Integrated Network Maps, attached at a link in the report as Appendix B and C, be endorsed.

 

(5)       T H A T use of Article 14.14 of the Council's Constitution (urgent decision procedure) be authorised in respect of resolutions 1 – 4, above.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

(1)       To consider the responses received as part of the consultation process.

 

(2)       To ensure the Council had Existing Route Maps for Active Travel as required by law.

 

(3)       To ensure the Council had Integrated Network Maps for Active Travel as required by law.

 

(4)       To reflect the fact that the maps had been submitted to Welsh Government in order that the Council could fulfil its legal obligations within the specified timescale as set by Welsh Government.

 

(5)       To enable all necessary maps to be submitted to WG within the deadline.