Issue - meetings

Councillor Maureen Penny, Cabinet Member for Highways, Maintenance, and Waste Services and Councillor Gary Sumner, Cabinet Member for Strategic Initiatives, Transport and Planning along with Director of Strategic Development and Growth submitted a joint report.  The report set out the recommended draft interim Swindon Road Safety Strategy 2021 for consideration by Cabinet along with proposals to carry out a consultation exercise on this revised approach to road safety.

Councillor Penny introduced the joint report, which was setting out a clear process by which Ward Members could submit requests for schemes. Councillor Sumner seconded the report. Councillor Ford asked Cabinet colleagues to consider cycle and pedestrian links from outlying areas as the strategy was developed.

Councillor Grant asked about the process for requesting a safety zone, in particular how such bids would be weighted by local support or by accident data. Councillor Penny replied that both were necessary to help form a priority list, as any scheme was dependent on the funding available.

Resolved: (1) That the direction of travel towards adoption of a ‘Safe Systems’ approach for Swindon’s Road Safety Strategy be approved.

(2) That for consultation purposes the draft Swindon Road Safety Strategy as set out in Appendix 2 and policy regarding 20mph limits and zones in Appendix 4 be approved.

(3) That the Director for Strategic Development and Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Infrastructure, Transport & Planning and the Cabinet Member for Highways, Maintenance & Waste Services be authorised to

(a) Commence a public consultation on the draft Swindon Road Safety Strategy and

draft 20mph schemes policy.

(b) Consult with the Community Safety Partnership Board on the draft strategy.

(c) Report back to Cabinet on a proposed final document having taken into account

feedback from the public consultation.

(d) Enter into discussions with partners in the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety

Partnership to develop the Safe Systems approach across the partnership.

(4) That it be noted that this report addresses Council’s concerns as set out in motion recorded at Minute 54, 19^th November 2020, regarding the policy towards future consideration of requests for 20mph speed limits raised by Ward Councillors.

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