The report sets out the progress to date on the development of the new Local Transport Plan (LTP) and seeks comments and recommendations from scrutiny that Cabinet may include as part of its considerations of the new LTP vision and objectives.

The Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure and the Interim Head of Transportation and Parking introduced the item.  The committee was advised that the Local Transport Plan (LTP) was as a key strategy document to access transport funding for the county, guidance on the preparation of new LTPs was awaited from the Department for Transport (DfT), there were linkages between the new Herefordshire LTP and other strategies and plans, and attention was drawn to factors in the wider context of the plan (paragraph 23, agenda page 26).

The principal points of the discussion are summarised below:

1.           The Interim Head of Transportation and Parking reported that the LTP was in the early stages of development, there had been an extensive carbon emissions modelling exercise, and the objectives for the LTP would be considered by Cabinet (link to the issue details).

2.           The Interim Head of Transportation and Parking advised that other data would be used in subsequent stages to develop the long list of potential interventions, alongside consultation, feedback, and prioritisation.  Committee members commented on the need for contextual data to help frame discussions about the objectives.  The committee was advised that carbon emissions data had not been published with the agenda, as officers considered that supporting narrative was needed from the specialist consultants, WSP.  The Chairperson emphasised the need to conduct business in an open and transparent manner, and requested that all background materials be published in full for subsequent meetings.

3.           The Vice-Chairperson noted that reducing carbon emissions would form a key part of the LTP and questioned the research being undertaken in the context of the other goals, such as supporting economic growth, promoting equality of opportunity, contributing to better health, safety, and security, and improving quality of life and a healthy natural environment.  The Interim Head of Transportation and Parking acknowledged that, as a significant change to previous plans, the report had focussed on carbon emissions but there would be cross-references to other strategies and plans, such as the Big Economic Plan.  The Vice-Chairperson commented on the need to explore potential initiatives, such as convenient and reliable public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and co-working hubs.

4.           The Chairperson drew attention to paragraph 14 (agenda page 25) which stated ‘… transport in Herefordshire represented around 26% of total emissions’, to the council’s website which stated ‘In Herefordshire, transport accounts for 36% of our emissions’ (link to the website’), and to paragraph 24 e) (agenda page 26) which stated ‘41% of emissions are for trips greater than 50 miles'.  The Chairperson expressed concerns about the inconsistency in the way that carbon emissions had been presented, with a mix of territorial and consumption calculations. The WSP Technical Director reported that the quantification of emissions was based on the recommended standard set out in unpublished, draft guidance.  The Chairperson emphasised the need to address the inconsistency, particularly given the potential implications for the prioritisation of effort.  The committee discussed the differences in approach and the importance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25