Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

To inform Members of a public consultation on the draft North Hertfordshire District Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) running from 26 September to 7 November 2022.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1) Notes the report;

(2) Be encouraged to, individually and through the Area Committee, respond to the North Hertfordshire District LCWIP consultation draft attached at Appendix 1, and encourage residents and local organisations to do so too.

Audio Recording: 40:52

Before the commencement of this item Councillor Sean Nolan declared an Other Interest in that he works for the company that provides this consultation but that as advised by the Monitoring Officer he could still participate as he is not involved in the department which are facilitating it and has had no involvement.

The Senior Transport Policy Officer presented the report entitled Consultation on North Herts District Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and highlighted the following key points:

·        The LCWIP is a very detailed set of ideas for improving the safety and convenience of cycling and walking in the towns of North Hertfordshire and between Hitchin and Stevenage;

·        The plan will eventually incorporate rural areas as well, but the resources available mean they are looking at the towns to begin with;

·        Government funding is reliant on having a detailed plan for infrastructure; by developing this plan with stakeholder groups and following a consultation, it will provide the basis for Hertfordshire County Council to make funding applications to Active Travel England;

·        The Consultation starts on Monday 26^th September and will run for 6 weeks;

·        The Senior Transport Policy Officer will be attending a number of engagement events during the consultation period to answer questions and help understand how to engage;

·        One of the engagement events that needs to be organised will be in Letchworth, as there is no Town Talk presently in the area, if any Members have any suggestions for suitable venues and dates please let the Senior Transport Policy Officer know.

·        Consultation responses can be made here: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/LCWIP-NorthHerts

The following Members asked questions:

·        Councillor Sean Nolan

·        Councillor David Levett

In response to questions the Senior Transport Policy Officer advised:

·        The plans were developed with the emerging Local Plan in mind as well as taking schemes from the Growth and Transport Plan which had been recently adopted;

·        Ideally the event in Letchworth would take place before the 31^st October

Councillor Tom Plater proposed Councillor Amy Allen seconded and, following a vote it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1) Notes the report;

(2) Be encouraged to, individually and through the Area Committee, respond to the North Hertfordshire District LCWIP consultation draft attached at Appendix 1, and encourage residents and local organisations to do so too.