Issue - meetings

To scrutinise the Active Travel projects as part of the Council Plan 2023-28, Green Gwynedd.

It was resolved:

·       To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

·       That the Committee welcomed the work of trying to meet the maintenance costs of active travel routes.

·       To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that:

Ø  there was a need to look at expenditure for the maintenance of active travel routes and costs of grass cutting/growth on verges to consider whether there were any potential savings.

Ø  questions about the maintenance of active travel routes and a question about local issues should be included in the public consultation.

Ø  risk assessment arrangements should be examined.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Head of Environment Department, Assistant Head of Environment Department (Transport) and the Traffic and Projects Service Manager. The following main points were highlighted.

Members were reminded that there was a wide range of schemes in place across the County, in both rural and urban areas. Examples were shared of similar projects in progress by Council partners to give a complete picture of the active travel network.

It was explained that projects were prioritised through the implementation of two grant streams which were funded by the Welsh Government. It was elaborated that one related specifically to active travel and safe routes within communities and for schools. The need to assess different projects to ensure that they met the criteria of those grants in order to be approved was detailed. It was updated that active travel plans also received further consideration under the Regional Transport Plan.

It was reported that active travel developments were being regularly updated with different projects at different levels of maturity. It was noted that this allowed new routes to be developed on a regular basis to meet the needs of communities.

It was noted that the Department was keen to increase the grant opportunities available in this area in the future. The ongoing challenge of maintaining these routes was explained and members were reminded that capital funding was provided to install the infrastructure but no additional funding was allocated to the Council to maintain them. It was acknowledged that a number of these routes were developed next to highways but it was emphasised that the work programme for highway maintenance did not meet the needs of users of the active travel routes to ensure that they were adequately swept and ensure that vegetation was controlled. The hope was that successfully funding an effective maintenance programme would achieve the aim of the project such as reducing traffic congestion and ensuring that there were no parking problems in urban areas. It was noted that the department had submitted a One-off Bid for funding to try and meet the demand for this work this year. It was emphasised that officers were also developing a package to support and equip schools to promote the use of these routes into the future.

Pride was expressed that the Department was working with the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board to develop routes that would assist Council partners. A specific example was shared of an active travel route in the Penrhosgarnedd area of Bangor, where it was hoped that the use of those routes would reduce the traffic and parking burden for the Health Board at Ysbyty Gwynedd and the wider area. Members were reminded that maps of active routes were available detailing their locations across Gwynedd and nationally.

It was emphasised that there was no risk assessment in place should the situation arise where there was no funding from the Welsh Government for the maintenance of the routes. Particular attention was drawn to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7