Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr N Naylor. Apologies were also received from Jez Baldock (East West Rail Alliance) and Peter Hume (Network Rail).

There were none

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

Public Questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in Buckinghamshire to put a question to a Select Committee. The Committee will hear from members of the public who have submitted questions in advance relating to items on the agenda. The Cabinet Member, relevant key partners and responsible officers will be invited to respond.

Further information on how to register can be found here: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/get-involved-with-council-decisions/select-committees/

Five public questions had been received to be considered at the meeting. Four were answered during the meeting by the Cabinet Member for Transport, the fifth would receive a written reply. The questions and answers would be appended to the minutes.

The Committee will receive an update report on the East West Rail project and hear from representatives from East West Rail.

Contributors:

East West Rail Alliance

Mark Cuzner, Director

Jez Baldock, Deputy Director

East West Rail Company

Kate Campbell, Senior Communications Manager

Network Rail

Peter Hume, Joint Sponsor Lead

Buckinghamshire Council

Cllr Steve Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport

Cllr Peter Martin, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport – HS2/East West Rail

Dr Laura Leech, Head of Major Projects

Susan Browning, EWR Stakeholder & Team Leader

• The Chairman welcomed Mark Cuzner and Kate Campbell (East West Rail Alliance) and Pip Hoskins (Network Rail) to the meeting then invited the Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Steven Broadbent, to introduce the item.
• The Cabinet Member thanked Cllr Martin for working on the East-West Rail (EWR) project, which was now in its fourth year. Visible progress had been made in the last 12 months, notably in Winslow where the station had been built. The infrastructure was due to be completed by the end of 2024 and the service due to start in 2025.
• On behalf of residents, the Council had a duty to hold national construction projects to account. This was so that disruption to the road network and to communities was mitigated. Section 3 of the report detailed work to clear mud from the roads, manage traffic flows and lessen the effect of dust on nearby communities. Despite the large number of road closures and diversions, the Council had not granted all requests. Permits had been refused or altered in order to let the public and school transport through. He mentioned that some businesses had suffered and could apply for a limited mitigation payment, but this was not an easy process.
• The Cabinet Member recognised that East West Rail had delivered temporary and permanent road repairs, which substantially mitigated the impact of the construction work on local roads. He thanked East West Rail for substantially completing 20 roads and acknowledged that some road defects remain.
• The Cabinet Member chaired the EWR Mainline Partnership, which includes all the authorities on the route and has continued to lobby central government for the Aylesbury spur to be built. He noted the mitigation measures on day-to-day activities and mentioned that Council marshals were providing oversight.
• In 2023 the National Audit Office report on railways mentioned how Buckinghamshire Council had championed local residents. He hoped that work to maintain communications with residents had been effective. He felt it important to understand the importance of good communications.
• Cllr Martin, the Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport, recorded his thanks to Susan Browning who had worked on mitigation for this project.  The Chairman stated that the entire committee echoed Cllr Martin’s thanks.

Mark Cuzner, Director of the East West Rail Alliance, made the following points during the EWR presentation:

• The Cabinet Member was thanked for his positive comments on road repairs.
• The track was almost complete and all 10 footbridges were completed before schedule to reinstate public rights of way. Eight out of the ten compounds had been restored.
• The completion dates had not changed – the infrastructure would be complete in the third quarter of 2024. Both stations were being completed and the foundations for the car park at Winslow station had been laid.  The bridges built over roads had now opened. Any risks to the completion date had been managed and EWR had taken the delivery date seriously to minimise disruption. Once the infrastructure was completed, work would be done on the systems -  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the Climate Change & Air Quality Strategy Annual Progress Report that was submitted to Cabinet on 14 November 2023. Also included is an update report on the electric vehicle on-street charging project in Wendover that Members requested.

Contributors:

Councillor Thomas Broom, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment

Councillor Steve Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport

Steve Bambrick, Corporate Director for Planning Growth & Sustainability

Alexander Beckett, Energy & Climate Change Manager

Hannah Joyce, Head of Transport Strategy & Funding

Cllr Thomas Broom, the new Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, introduced himself and expressed thanks to his predecessor Cllr Gareth Williams, who had overseen substantial progress on the project to lower emissions in Buckinghamshire.

• The Cabinet Member introduced Cllr Jilly Jordan, the Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment and officers Alexander Beckett, David Johnson and Hannah Joyce.
• This was the second update report on the Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy and highlighted that a 73.4% reduction had been made in emissions already. There had been significant progress on air quality and all but one area was under the recommended limit for air pollution.

The following points were made during the committee’s discussion:

• The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment supported the spirit of reaching the net zero target by 2030 subject to resources. However, he felt that the overall target of 2050 was appropriate in a period of instability for energy supply and the global economic picture. The annual funding settlement for Buckinghamshire Council and changeability of resources were also a factor. The Council’s 2050 commitment would remain however suggestions from Members would be welcomed.
• The Cabinet Member explained that the Council had taken significant action to support Town and Parish Councils to meet net zero targets by 2030 and that all 16 Community Boards now have air quality testing kits.
• It was suggested that supporting the ‘green economy’ of Buckinghamshire was within the Leader’s portfolio.
• A Member pointed out that council’s fleet was the second largest cause of carbon emissions in the county. The Cabinet Member for Transport explained that when fleet vehicles were replaced, the vehicle’s purpose and the type of fuel was considered. The Highways Alliance partners had committed to convert all the smaller vehicles in its fleet within the next year along with providing charge point infrastructure at depots.
• The report contained an update on the vehicle charging point pilot in Wendover. Cable gulleys to allow residents to charge vehicles outside their houses were being trialled however these might not be ideal if the resident was unable to park outside their home. The use of lampposts for trickle charging was also being investigated. There were now 294 publicly accessible vehicle charging points in the county, a 7% increase on last year, and 1,000 would be installed by the end of 2027. The Gateway charge points had a new contract which had improved performance.
• The effect of domestic log burners on pollution levels was discussed, and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment pointed out that pollution was reducing in all five air quality management areas in the county. The Council would continue to monitor and respond if it felt this was a growing area of concern.
• The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment confirmed that there were no substantial changes since the report was published in November 2023, and that Buckinghamshire was taking a delivery-based approach.

The Chairman thanked everyone for contributing and giving their time.

To consider a report on the delivery of Active Travel in Buckinghamshire and the development of the Buckinghamshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

Contributors:

Councillor Steve Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport

Steve Bambrick, Corporate Director Planning Growth & Sustainability

Hannah Joyce, Head of Transport Strategy & Funding

Jonathan Fuller, Principal Transport Strategy Officer

The Cabinet Member for Transport introduced the plan and noted that the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) also included “wheeling”, where paths were used by wheelchair and mobility scooter users. The Cabinet Member explained that the report aimed to include improvements in connectivity and that there was still an ambition for a county-wide greenway.

• In all schemes, people may use just part of the route.
• The routes had to comply with national standards as they were built with the aid of national funding. At times, this could prohibit a connection.
• The report detailed the consideration given to users of the routes, for example, wayfinding signs giving journey time by method as well as distance.
• Lighting and seating were factored into the cost of new routes.
• Recently, Cabinet has adopted the High Wycombe transport strategy and LCWIP, meaning that Buckingham, Aylesbury and High Wycombe all had active plans. Chesham had developed a local solution. Community Boards had all been consulted about residents’ priorities. This year a public consultation would start on LCWIP proposals. 
• To increase the existing level of funding from Active Travel England, there would need to be public consultation and demonstrable support for any LCWIP proposals.
• Since April 2020:
  • £3.3million funding has been received from Active Travel England. Section 106 funds have contributed another £1.5 million.
  • 7km of new routes have been created.
• The Cabinet Member for Transport wished to publicly note the good work of the school travel team in promoting walking and cycling routes to schools, a project in which Buckinghamshire Council was leading the way.

The following points were made during the committee’s discussion:

• Scooters which were part of the national trial were permitted on the routes as were electric bikes. Privately purchased scooters were not allowed on public paths and roads as they did not have the necessary safety features such as speed restrictions and geolocation. Canal towpaths were not always suitable for bikes e.g. where paths narrowed under bridges. Wayfinder signs showed where bikes were permitted.
• It was hoped that WIPs could be extended towards the Hertfordshire border. Work had been done with external partners to develop more towpaths. All the work needed external funding.
• Bike busses, where children would be supervised to ride bikes to school, were promoted by the school transport team. Active travel was being encouraged as a means of getting to school.
• All users of paths and roads were expected to be considerate. In some cases, people had been injured in collisions with bikes or scooters. Clear signage could help on a shared route but it would take time to add this to the network. It was hoped that all users of paths could be civil.
• When new developments were ready, blue roundels would indicate whether bikes can use the route.
• The increased range of electric bikes would make them an option for commuting. Bikes had been added to the trial to give riders the chance to build their confidence. Parking for bikes could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Select Committee will consider the upcoming work programme.

The Chairman explained that a working group would be established in the summer. Flooding might be a suitable topic to explore, and volunteers would be needed for the group.

Thursday 28 March at 10am.

28^th March 2024.