Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director, Place.

The Summons will be published prior to the meeting of Cabinet on 4 March 2025. The reports attached to this item will therefore be the Cabinet versions. An update will be provided in the event Cabinet resolves any changes to the recommendations or documents.

Appendix A - Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) (Pages 17 - 976)

Appendix B - LTP4 Executive Summary (Pages 977 - 1000)

Appendix C - LTP4 Draft Delivery Plan (Pages 1001 - 1016)

Appendix D - Consultation Summary Document (Pages 1017 - 1050)

Appendix E - List of proposed changes to LTP4 (Pages 1051 - 1054)

The Chairman called upon Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport and Assets, to introduce the report. Cllr Reay moved the proposal set out in the report to adopt the Local Transport Plan (LTP4), which was seconded by Cllr Richard Clewer.

Cllr Reay provided detail on the background and preparation of the Plan, noting the particular importance of transport within a large rural county such as Wiltshire. The executive summary document was highlighted given the necessarily extensive nature of the formal Plan documentation. She also set out the vision for transport in the council area in the Plan, investment in public transport and active transport, not penalising residents who needed to use cars, and thanked residents and stakeholders for responding to help shape the plan, as well as work from the council’s overview and scrutiny task groups and committees.

A public statement was then received from Andrew Nicolson, Wiltshire Climate Alliance, criticising development of the LTP4 in the context of the council’s climate emergency commitments.

Questions from Members of the Public were received as detailed in the Agenda Supplement. Mr Nicolson asked a supplementary question asking for detail on estimates of how much the local authority could influence the level of emissions. Cllr Reay stated she would arrange for someone to provide further detail. Mr Nicolson also asked how the council was collaborating with neighbouring authorities on cross boundary measures for example to reduce car trips. Cllr Reay stated the council worked with others through the sub-national transport body, including on a range of strategies relating to transport matters, and also worked with the rail industry to bring forward investment to move more journeys from car to rail.

Group Leaders were then given the opportunity to comment on the report and proposal.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, thanked all those who had contributed to the extensive piece of work that was the LTP4. He noted that it was more of a strategy than a formal plan, but the name was a requirement. He stated it was not the role of the council to assess if journeys were essential or how people chose to make those journeys, but it needed a structure to work to provide infrastructure and choice wherever possible, and so the direction of travel went along with the need to reduce carbon emissions. He considered the Plan to be an evidence and thoughtful approach to achieving those goals without penalising motorists.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, thanked Mr Nicolson and the Wiltshire Climate Alliance for holding the council to account on this and other matters. He raised concerns that despite its large size the LTP4 may be aspirational rather than practical in terms of delivery. He expressed disappointment in the level of responses the council was able to encourage. Cllr Thorn stated he would support the proposal, though hoped there would be opportunity to make changes in the future, and that the delivery plans would be critical.

Cllr Ernie Clark, Leader of the Independent Group, also drew attention to the level of public responses to such an important document.

Cllr Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, stated it was important to have a local transport plan, and noted views on what was important in transport changed over time and it was necessary to allow the plan to evolve to be made to work for local residents.

The item was then opened to general debate for all Members.

There were comments that the LTP4 balanced the council’s transport aspirations within constraints which existed, for example pursuing carbon neutrality goals without targeting current residents. The important of public transport and road safety were discussed, along with continued importance of cars in the county, the impact of more developments without offstreet parking, and long term difficulties in some areas in advancing cycle networks for example around Royal Wootton Bassett.

Some concerns were raised by some Members that the LTP4 remained vague and lacking in measurable actions, though the Plan was still supported. It was also suggested it was reliant upon government funding or decisions which could or already had been reduced or removed, and as such lacked substance. Others suggested the council needed to improve its joined up working across all services to deliver the proposed outcomes or aspirations from the policies.

Other comments included reference to digital connectivity, challenges in working collaboratively with neighbouring authorities when it was felt some of their actions impacted negatively upon Wiltshire residents such as encouraging HGV traffic into the county.

Cllr Reay then responded to the points raised. She acknowledged the document was lengthy but that the level of detail was necessary in order to qualify for funding streams and deliver on its aims. The delivery plan section was highlighted as critical. She noted the comments on level of consultation responses, that it had been a challenge given the nature of the documents but thanked the Communications team for their positive efforts. Cllr Reay provided further detail on matters raised such as EV charging, access to bus stops, a national highways study looking to secure further funding for the A350 and A303, and noting the Leader was meeting the minister responsible for railways to discuss the need to improve capacity.

At the conclusion of debate, it was then,

Resolved:

That Council:

1)    Adopts the Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) (2025 - 2038); and,

2)    Delegates authority to the Director, Highways and Transport, in consultation with the Director, Legal and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Transport and Assets, to make any necessary minor changes to the document before it is published.

In accordance with the constitution there was a recorded vote.

Votes for the Motion (54)

Votes against the Motion (0)

Votes in abstention (2)

Details of the vote are attached as an appendix to the minutes.