Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment along with the Service Manager Transport Planning, Development and Street Works Management submitted a joint report setting out the Town Centre Movement Strategy (TCMS), which if adopted would be a package of interventions (schemes) that between them would deliver improvements to movement into and within the Town Centre. The joint report sought Cabinet approval of the revised draft document following Consultation and authorisation to finalise the documents for adoption.

Councillor Maureen Penny introduced the joint report and emphasised that it was intended to provide a 20-year vision to secure funding rather than detailed specific proposals. Councillor Dale Heenan, Cabinet Member for the Town Centre spoke in favour of the report and advised colleagues that addressing how shoppers and visitors moved between the Outlet Village and the town centre would be an important part of the Borough’s economic recovery after the Covid-19 virus.

Councillors Stan Pajak and Bob Wright submitted questions before the meeting along with Councillors Oliver Donachie and Brian Ford at Cabinet, covering:

·        The response rate to the consultation,

·        The range of cycling options including the need to connect fully the cycle routes through or around the town centre,

·        The Strategy’s relationship with and effect on, the Air Quality Action plan,

·        The effect of the proposed interventions on the Heritage Action Zone as well as some alternative suggestions for these proposals, and

·        The contribution towards making the Borough carbon-neutral as well as the need to revise the statement in the coving report that suggested this strategy would not contribute to this.

Councillor Penny responded at the meeting and gave an undertaking to ask officers to review the statement about climate change implications in the covering report.

Resolved – (1) That the responses to the consultation as summarised in the body of the text and attached at Appendix 1, along with the significant amendments to the proposed strategy as a consequence of that consultation, be noted.

(2) That the form and content of the Town Centre Movement Strategy as attached at Appendix 2 be agreed and adopted as a strategy.

(3) That the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage be authorised to make any minor or typographical changes as may be necessary prior to publication.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.