Agenda item

Councillor Dale Heenan, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Transport, was in attendance and presented a detailed report summarising progress and performance in respect of each of the following service areas within his portfolio of responsibility:

·        Sustainability;

·        Strategic Transport Network;

·        Public Transport (including Concessionary Fares, Specialist Transport, Council Transport and Fleet Management);

·        Traffic and Transport Forward Planning (including Local Transport Plan and Implementation of Local Transport Plan);

·        Strategic Highways & Maintenance Works;

·        Strategic Flood and Water Management.

·        Strategic Spatial Planning and Development Framework Planning and Libraries (for the period up to May 2015 only)

The Committee noted that the report included a brief narrative on significant achievements in planning in the period between the Cabinet Member’s last Scrutiny Q and A in December 2014 and the amendment to Cabinet Member portfolio responsibilities in May 2015, at which time the portfolio responsibility transferred to Councillor Toby Elliot.

At the request of the Chair, Councillor Heenan, in his presentation of the report, commented specifically on those elements within his portfolio that he felt had been most successful, those where a different approach might have produced better results and the lessons that might have been learned as a consequence, and the challenges he expected to be faced by the Council relation to these service areas in the coming year and beyond, particularly in relation to on-going budgetary constraints.

Following his presentation of the report, Councillor Heenan responded to members’ specific questions and observations on the following issues raised in the presentation and also in the accompanying report:

·        The allocation of highways capital funding to the Localities for taking forward local priority schemes.

·        The role of Localities in influencing and prioritising planned works programmes.

·        The sources and utilisation of income derived from solar park developments.

·        Bridge assessments and opportunities to improve direct footway links between North and South Swindon.

·        The Cheney Manor Flood Mitigation scheme and the sub-contracting arrangements utilised in relation to traffic management during the period of the works.

o   The detrimental impact for road users and residents of the associated temporary traffic management scheme.

·        The Council’s Asset Management Strategy and the effective management of the local highway asset and available financial resources.

·        The Regent Circus Development pedestrian crossing points.

·        The cycling strategy and the feasibility of allowing dual use of footpaths by pedestrians and cyclists.

·        Passenger transportation and the exploration of alternative means to the diesel engine powered bus.

·        The disruption to traffic movements last winter as a result of road works, with particular reference being made to the works carried out to the Stratton railway bridge, and the likelihood of further utilities works affecting the bridge in the coming months.

·        The condition of primary footways network and the effective application of the limited financial resource available for requisite maintenance works.

·        The Council’s unsuccessful application for funding from the Local Highways Management Fund and the criteria applied to applications.

·        The Thamesdown Drive extension and measures to resolve the Greenbridge “bridge” problem.

·        The closure of Fleming Way and implementation of the “two way Station Road plan”.

·        The potential for damage being caused to the highway infrastructure and properties in the Railway Village due to buses routed through the Railway Village.

·        The feasibility and potential for voluntary public contribution (via a fare increase) towards maintaining non-viable commercial bus services.  

Resolved – (1) That Councillor Heenan be thanked for attending the meeting to present this performance report and for his full and open responses to members’ questions and observations on the issues raised.

(2) That information requested by members during the course of the Committee’s consideration of this item be forwarded to members via the Committee Clerk.