Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Director of Operational Services on the development of a new Local Transport Plan for Cambridgeshire.

Subject to the inclusion of Members’ concerns in the District Statement that  the widening of the A14 Kettering bypass, duelling of the A1 to Caxton and improvements to the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury have been identified in the Governments recently published road programme as requiring  further development work only, noted the draft Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan and District Statement for Huntingdonshire and authorised the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, to make minor changes to the text of the draft LTP and District Statement, if necessary, in advance of their submission to Council; furthermore requested full Council to approve the draft Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan 2004/11 and the draft Huntingdonshire District Statement for inclusion in the plan.

In considering progress towards development of the second Cambridgeshire Transport Plan 2004/2011, Members were acquainted by means of a report by the Director of Operational Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) with the content of a draft statement for Huntingdonshire for inclusion in the plan.  Attention also was drawn to the emerging transport programme which had been designed to enhance public transport, promote cycling and walking, balance car use and encourage the preparation of green travel plans around the County.

The Executive Member for Planning Strategy, drew Members’ attention to the Government’s new road programme which the Transport Minister had recently announced as a way of dealing with road congestion.  In that respect, Members welcomed proposals to widen the A142 between Bedford and Junction 13 of the M1 but were disappointed that the widening of the A14 Kettering bypass, duelling of the A428 between the A1 and Caxton and improvements to the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury have been chosen for further development work only.  At the same time, Members expressed concern that no provision had been made for improvements to the East Coast mainline railway.  Having requested the Director of Operational Services to reflect these sentiments in the Council’s statement and in noting that changes to the documents would be circulated to Cabinet Members in advance of their submission to Cambridgeshire County Council, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the draft Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan and District Statement for Huntingdonshire be noted;

(b)  that the Director of Operational Services be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, to make minor changes to the text of the draft LTP and District Statement, if necessary, in advance of their submission to full Council; and

(c)  that full Council be recommended to approve the draft Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan 2004/11 and the draft Huntingdonshire District Statement for inclusion in the plan.

To consider a report by the Director of Operational Services requesting the views of the Cabinet on the Annual Progress Report and Huntingdonshire Statement.

  Requested full Council to approve the joint Annual Progress Report and District Council Statement and to authorise the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, to make minor changes to the text of the documents if necessary, in advance of their submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by the 31st July 2003

A report by the Director of Operational Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) inviting the Cabinet to consider the content of an Annual Progress Report (APR) on the delivery of the Cambridgeshire Transport Plan, together with a statement specific to Huntingdonshire.

With regard to the APR’s content, Members raised concerns that appendices relating to Market Town Transport Strategies, bus information strategy, major schemes update, a second A14 villages supplementary bid, road and bridge maintenance data, street lighting inventory, schemes implemented in 2002/03 and finance forms had not been circulated with the report.  In response it was reported that the missing appendices would be distributed to Executive Members as when they became available from Cambridgeshire County Council.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the joint Annual Progress Report and District Council Statement be approved and the Director of Operational Services authorised, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, to make minor changes to the text of the documents if necessary, in advance of their submission to Go-East by 31st July 2003