CABINET Agenda Item: 6 Ward: All Portfolios: Strategic Policy and Climate Change, Community Health Cllr Tom Ronan Portfolio Holder Strategic Policy and Climate Change Meeting Date: Report Cllr Heather Shearer 1st June 2020 Author(s): Portfolio Holder Community Health, , Cllr Philip Ham, Chair of Scrutiny Board Project to reduce the volume of commuter related car journeys in SUBJECT: Mendip Internal Use Only: Please complete sign off boxes below prior to submission to Democratic Services Seen by: Name Date Chief Executive/ Tracy Aarons Deputy Chief 19/05/20 Executive(s) Officer Sign off Legal Lesley Dolan 15/05/20 Finance Paul Deal 18/05/20 Claire Malcolmson, Sara Group Manager 18/05/20 Skirton Portfolio Holder/ Cllr Ros Wyke, Cllr Philip Leader of the Ham, Cllr Tom Ronan, Cllr 19/05/20 Elected Member Council Heather Shearer Sign off Ward Member(s) Not Applicable Not Applicable (if appropriate) In February 2019 this Council declared a “Climate Emergency” and committed to make the best endeavours to enable Mendip to be carbon neutral by 2030. Following approval at February 2020’s Full Council, Mendip has now adopted the new Corporate Priorities which include: Delivering on our climate and ecological commitment Protecting and enhancing our towns and rural communities Summary: This report is a proposal to adopt a project that delivers on these priorities by reducing the volume of commuter related vehicles on our roads. We plan to achieve this through the creation of an integrated network of multi-user paths around Mendip’s busiest commuter routes and roads with the highest volumes of vehicles. The report details outlines the stages of the project delivery plan and proposes that the Council commence work immediately. 1 The report reviews the project’s potential benefits to the environment and community health through the anticipated outcomes of increased levels of commuter related active travel and the associated reduction in the number of vehicles on our roads. This paper was written before the Coronavirus pandemic, and is now even more relevant. The only way that we can ensure that the current advice to avoid public transport and the requirement for social distancing doesn’t lead to an increase in vehicles on our roads is through the provision of sufficient, alternative infrastructure. Cabinet is asked to: 1. Note the contents of this report and the benefits of active travel and reduced emissions. 2. Approve the project delivery plan. Recommendation: 3. Make a commitment, subject to the levering in of funding and approval of business cases for specific sections of work, to the delivery of an integrated network of multi-user, motor-free pathways across Mendip. Direct and/or This project will not directly impact on service delivery however it indirect impact on should be noted that the objectives of the project will support service delivery outcomes for a range of services including Climate Change, to our customers Community Health and Neighbourhood Services. and communities: The Council has created a new portfolio focusing on climate change; increasing active travel levels through the creation of an integrated multi-user path network will support the priorities coming from this portfolio. Make Mendip a fairer place – increasing access to our key employment centres and major settlements for those without access to a car by facilitating safe, motor-free, active travel. Contribution to Corporate Deliver on our climate and ecological commitment – reducing Priorities: carbon emissions through increased levels of active travel commuting Protect and enhance our towns and rural communities – making our communities more attractive places to live through the improvement of infrastructure. Through the creation of a motor- free, multi-user path network that provides alternative, free and healthy travel options across the district. There are no legal implications for the first stage of the project. Any Legal implications for subsequent stages will be identified as part of the Implications: development of the full project plan. The initial stages of the project have little financial implications Financial outside of Officer and Member time and costs related to hosting Implications: consultation events which would not exceed £2000. The implications relating to subsequent stages will be identified following 2 completion of the first stage and requests for funding will come back to Cabinet for approval. The project would provide our communities with the infrastructure needed to facilitate safe active travel to their places of work and Climate Change education, without the need to use motorised vehicles, thus Implications: reducing carbon emissions. The project proposal and delivery will be managed as part of the Scrutiny Assistant role. This will link the various activities currently taking place within different departments in the Council, the Mendip Access and Parking Strategy (MAPS), the Climate and Ecological Emergency Group (CEEG) and the Scrutiny Access Working Group Impact on Service as well as working with the many various external organisations Plans: looking at areas of the District’s current public rights of way. As the project moves forward it is anticipated that some services will become more involved and this will be picked up as part of the ongoing service plans. There are no perceived negative impacts to any characteristics/groups associated with this report. It is anticipated Equalities that by improving the quality of routes and increasing them, we will Implications: provide better access for users with disabilities. The Council has made strong commitments to reduce carbon Risk Assessment emissions. In 2017, 34% (302,941 tCO2e)1 of the district’s carbon and Adverse emissions came from Transport. With 72% of those transport Impact on emissions resulting directly from on-road transportation. Without Corporate actions as identified in this report, it risks failing to deliver on its Actions: corporate actions. The Scrutiny Access Working Group has been exploring ways of increasing access for all in the District. The development of a network of motor-free, multi-user paths has been identified as part Scrutiny of their delivery plan. Recommendation As a consequence of this the Scrutiny Access Working Group will (if any) be working to: Support the delivery of the project Assist with the coordination of the related organisations and groups to research the existing footpaths and cycle paths. 3 1 Mendip District Council Climate Emergency Baseline Emissions Report 4 INTRODUCTION The Council has declared a climate and ecological emergency and this provides the opportunity for our communities to change the way in which they go about their daily business – for example, accessing their places of work and education – to make a significant reduction in carbon emissions, must be seriously considered. In Feb 2020 the council published a Climate Emergency Baseline Emissions report for Mendip. The report details in 2017, 34% (302,941 tCO2e)1 of the district’s carbon emissions came from Transport. 72% (218,872 tCO2e)1 of the transport emissions in Mendip result directly from on-road transportation. In late 2019, Steer Consultancy were commissioned by the Council to collate available evidence and conduct analysis to show how the district’s transport network is currently used, how intensively, and what type and nature of investment would be required in the transport network to support different orders and spatial patterns of future growth in and adjacent to the district. Steer completed a transport evidence base report as the first stage of work on a transport study, which was intended to culminate in the preparation of a Highway Investment Strategy (HIS) and implementation plan for the district. The transport evidence base report collated and analysed various publicly available datasets to provide as detailed a picture as possible as to how Mendip’s transport network performs. The report showed that in Mendip, 61% of commuting residents remain here for work – contributing circa 25,000 daily commuter related journeys that stay within the district [Appendix 1.1]. The report also shows that 69% (circa 17,000) of these journeys are made in a car [Appendix 1.2]. The way we currently travel and continued growth in road traffic is damaging our environment and exacerbating obesity levels. With high volumes of commuter related journeys staying within the district, we have a real chance to positively change the way these journeys are made through the delivery of accessible, integrated infrastructure that facilitates safe, active, sustainable commuting. This report has utilised the Steer HIS transport evidence base report data to map the start, finish and traversed parishes on the corridors with the highest volumes of commuter traffic [Appendix 1.3] and the roads with the highest volumes of vehicles [Appendix 1.4] against the existing public rights of way within Mendip. The report proposes that we immediately commence the initial stage of the project to audit and record the status and suitability of the existing infrastructure and current delivery plans. When we have a clear understanding of what currently exists, we can then work on a route by route strategy to identify the physical infrastructure required (and related costs) in creating a motor free, multi-user path network. When the broad areas of work have been identified, they will be brought back to Cabinet for approval with a full outline of project delivery costs. 5 BACKGROUND AND BENEFITS Car ownership and commuting in Mendip Of the circa 25,000 commuter related journeys taking place entirely within Mendip every day, 69% (around 17,000) are made in cars, with a total of 77% of all commuter related trips (including those that end outside of Mendip) made in a car [Appendix 1.2]. This is significantly higher than the national average (68%) [Appendix 1.2]. In 2018, 84,600 vehicles were registered in Mendip, of which 65,600 were cars1. Car ownership in the district has increased by 10% between 2009 and 2018, and as the population in Mendip continues to increase, it is fair to assume that the number of vehicles owned in the district will increase inline.