Agenda and minutes

It was noted that following receipt of the temporary resignation of Councillors P. Baillie, Harwood and Whitbread from the Committee the Service Director – Legal and Business Operations, acting under delegated powers, had appointed Councillors Fitzhenry, Vaughan and Bogle to replace them for the purposes of this meeting.  The Committee also noted the apologies of Nicola Brown, Catherine Hobbs, Francis Otieno and Rob Sanders the Appointed Members.

The Committee considered the report of the Director, Legal and Business Operations detailing the call-in of Executive Decision CAB 20/21 28124 – Southampton Green Transport Recovery Plan. 

Councillor Shields, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities,  Mandi Bissett, Director of Southampton Collective, Alistair Chaplin, Street Space Southampton, Angela Cotton, Transition Southampton and other interested parties were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Committee discussed the reasons for requisition of Call-in of the decision in accordance with the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules 12.5.1, namely:

·  The lack of prior consultation.

·  It does not appear to support the Economic Growth element of the Southampton City Strategy; taking into account the impact of Covid-19.

·  Insufficient focus on schemes that have the most likely chance of encouraging the long term facilitation of active travel, whilst following all Government guidance for Covid-19.

·  Does not put a high enough priority on Council led “school streets” schemes the creation of low traffic residential zones. 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE

RESOLVED that Cabinet reconsider the called in decision at the next decision meeting. 

The following recommendations were made to be addressed by Cabinet:

(i)  Cabinet withdraws it’s proposed Green Transport Recovery Plan as it is not fit for purpose, undemocratically instigated, not evidence led and fails to demonstrate it supports economic growth, as set out in our Southampton City Strategy – given the impact of Covid-19 on our economy. 

If Cabinet is not minded to withdraw the plans in full:

(i)  Cabinet agrees to suspend the decision on the Green Transport Recovery Plan whilst it reviews it against the recently released Government policy announcement of ‘Gear Change’, paying particular attention to this line “we will need to ensure that understanding of transport users’ needs, motivations and behaviours is central to what we do, in order to maximise our chances of success” – that shows understanding and taking people with us is crucial to success. 

On the assumption Cabinet neither withdraws or pauses:

(i)  Cabinet introduces measures to help with traffic flows, looking to reduce congestion and stop start traffic across our City;

(ii)  Cabinet undertakes proper consultation, that can help shape any of the future proposed schemes, outside the emergency measures already taken, with a focus on spending money where it has the highest chance of long term facilitation of active travel;

(iii)  Cabinet place a higher focus on Council led “school streets” schemes and the creation of low traffic residential zones.  It is not acceptable to only have St. Denys as an identified neighbourhood scheme and action needs to be taken around all schools with traffic related issues, not just those who wish to engage with the Council;

(iv)  Cabinet immediately engage with disability representatives and amend existing and future schemes to ensure our most vulnerable are not discriminated against.  Including immediately reinstating at least some of the parking on the Common side of Hill Lane, as this has been removed with no consultation or regard to vulnerable users of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.