Agenda item

The City Transport Director submits a report to provide members of the commission with an update on the progress of the City’s 20mph programme, and to provide members of the commission with details on the next phases of the City’s 20mph programme.

The City Transport Director submitted a report to provide members of the commission with an update on the progress of the City’s 20mph programme, and to provide members of the commission with details on the next phases of the City’s 20mph programme.

Key points to note other than those on the slides (attached with the agenda pack) were:

• Any opportunities to consider roads for 20mph would now be considered.
• A monitoring approach was being taken to assess the level of impact.  This took into account best practice from the government.
• The level of impact and level of support would be considered in order to refine the programme further.
• Air quality was a national issue, and this would be monitored.
• An updated version of programme progress would be produced.
• Three further 20mph zones had come online since the slides had been published.
• The roads marked in purple had joint Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) with Leicestershire County Council.
• Traffic surveys had been scheduled for this side of the school summer holidays.
• People could search for individual roads to ascertain their status.

Members were invited to comment and ask questions, Responses were as follows:

• In response to queries about how marginalised areas were approached to ensure that the consultation was representative, it was explained that the biggest issue with engagement was that it was a niche issue.  In order to boost engagement, door-knocking had been undertaken.  It was also the case that in certain communities, people had stepped forward as a spokesperson for a community to suggest that there was a demand for 20mph zones in the area.  Ward Councillors had also done this on behalf of residents.  It was noted that a comparative number of objections had not been received and the City Transport Director could not recall a time when a 20mph zone had been brought in and residents has said that they were not consulted correctly.
• Additionally, whilst the sector had struggled with engagement, it was considered as to how it could be ensured that people had a voice, particularly in lower performing areas. 
• It was noted that when surveys were assessed over multiple years there could be negative perceptions where the reality was different.  This was due to people perceiving lower speeds as speeding, when average speeds were reduced, people were in the mindset of lower speeds.
• Traffic calming measures were monitored to ensure they were appropriate, and maintenance and safety features were looked at to ascertain if lessons could be learned. 
• Support was there as long as the Council engaged from the beginning and were open and honest about intentions.
• In response to queries about supporting data for road safety, it was noted that there had been a trend of a reduction in casualties with regard to other road users (i.e. pedestrians or cyclists).  Compliance with the 20mph scheme had been high and average speeds were reducing.  There had been a general reduction of traffic on calmed roads.  Additionally, more people were now walking and cycling and doing so over increased distances.  There were comparative measures showing a positive impact on measures that were aimed for and a negative impact on measures that were hoped to be avoided.  Data was available from spot-checks and city-wide measure.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into account by the lead officers.