The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet approval for the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2025-2041.

ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for transport and infrastructure introduced the report.  It was highlighted that the council was required to adopt a Local Transport Plan under section 108 to 113 of the Transport Act 2003.  The policies within the plan must promote safe, integrated efficient and economic transport.  The Act required consultation and on adoption must be provided to the Secretary of State. 

The key points that the document considered were set out.  Notably, it unlocked eligibility for competitive strategic DfT funding e.g. Active Travel, Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding and provided a strong business case for major infrastructure projects e.g. the Western Bypass. Additionally, the government have been progressing with a new incentivized element to the highways maintenance block with a proposed 25% funding uplift given, if councils meet certain criteria such as best practice in sustainable transport and long-term planning and asset management.  It ensures infrastructure investment was targeted and evidence based. It improved the reliability and quality of bus services and reducing chronic road network delays. Provided a clear measurable framework for reducing transport emissions by 40%. It promoted public health benefits by encouraging active travel measures with engagement of Active Travel England.

It was highlighted that the adoption of the LTP5 was central to delivering the council's environmental policy commitments and achieving key success measures outlined in the County Plan. The environmental impact of all future projects within the LTP5 would be a key consideration in their respective business cases, ensuring appropriate measures were taken to minimize negative effects and maximize environmental benefit. 

Financial implications, it was noted that the LTP5 was a strategic planning document

and did not in itself commit the council to any immediate capital expenditure. The purpose was to provide a clear framework for future investment. Funding to support the development and initial implementation of these policies was already included within the council's Medium-Term Financial Strategy. All future infrastructure projects and major schemes identified in the LTP5 would be subject to a separate review and would require future funding bids including capital, program allocations and external grant opportunities.

The Council Plan 2024 to 2028 committed Herefordshire Council to develop Herefordshire as a place for growth, prosperity and communities to thrive. This year, the Delivery Plan committed the council to deliver the Local Transport Plan to ensure places can prosper and thrive with the right integrated transport networks and to seek cabinet approval to recommend the adoption of the LTP5 to council for agreement. 

Risk management was laid out at paragraph 16, page 102 and clearly laid out the impacts of not adopting the LTP5. The consultation process for the Local Transport Plan 5 2025 to 2041 was highly inclusive integrating extensive public feedback to shape the final strategic documents.

Detailed information on the consultation undertaken can be found at appendix A. An 8-week consultation on the draft LTP5 took place over the summer 2025. The consultation utilized both in-person and online forums to maximize its reach and engage with a diverse range of residents in Herefordshire. It was primarily hosted on the council's online web page, Herefordshire Consultations. A young adult survey was also shared online and hard copies of the draft LTP5 were made available in libraries across Hereford. There were also a handful of events such as engagement with schools and colleges across the area including the Hereford Sixth Form College.

Feedback from Herefordshire Council's Connected Community Scrutiny Committee meeting of the 3rd of June had also been considered. Views expressed during the consultation period from consultees, stakeholders and strategic partners were shown at appendix A.   

The draft document was published last week and an all-member briefing was held earlier this week to go through the changes to the consultation draft document following the consultation responses.

It was noted an additional recommendation was to be included which would delegate authority to the cabinet member, in consultation with the Director of Economy and Environment to make any consequential amendments to the LTP following an all-member briefing before making the recommendation to council.   

There were no comments from cabinet members. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups.  It was raised that the LTP was not an example of best practice, as it was not sufficiently forward looking.  Detailed comments were provided by political parties, but members were unable to see where those comments were included within the final report. Concern was raised that the report referred to only 5 councillors in the consultation, but there were 16 across two of the political groups who provided comments. Also it was not clear what changes/revisions were made since the report was shared with scrutiny.

There was an over reliance on one major infrastructure project to under pin the plan and not enough of other forms of transport options to achieve the modal shift.

Bus travel options in the market towns were inconsistent with Leominster and Ross being half hourly whilst they were hourly in Ledbury but constantly late.  This impacted on younger people accessing educational facilities from those market towns.

There was no reference to the climate emergency. Cornwall’s LTP provided an example of good practice.  There were no references or links made with the council’s climate adaptation plan and the risks/opportunities the plan outlined.

Members have not had sight of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) which underpins the LTP.  Assurance was sought that cabinet had reviewed the final SEA, reviewed the NTS and understood what the predicted environmental effect of the LTP would be before it was approved at full council. 

There was positivity regarding the bypass being included but there needed to be more investment in active travel and modal sift. Noted there were only four mentions of children and an explanation was requested regarding what key aspects would contribute to a child friendly Herefordshire.

Concern remained that the LTP was being developed without alignment to the new Local Plan, meaning the document did not consider where the new housing would be in the County. 

It was raised when would the consultation document be made available and would it be included in the council papers.  Concern was raised that scrutiny appeared to have been bypassed since its summer consultation, and they had not considered the final version.  It was raised if cabinet had reviewed the detailed document covering the consultation report and if they were content that the feedback provided had been adequately addressed and included in the final LTP.  Concern was also raised that the LTP was being rushed to ensure policy cover for the council’s spending on road projects. 

In response to group leaders, it was noted that the bypass was cancelled at the stage it was in that moment of time, but it was this cabinet’s agenda to bring that back forward.  The old LTP was outdated and did not include reference to the Local Walking, Wheeling, Infrastructure Plan (LWWIP).   

Noted there were numerous references to children in the LTP, and children were considered in everything the council does. 

The Strategic Environmental Assessment would be included in the council agenda pack. 

Regarding modal shift, it was confirmed that the LTP would not be considered in isolation and the LCWWIP would also be consulted on.  It was noted the LTP was a strategic document, with the LCWWIP and BSIP following.  It was confirmed that seeing all these documents combined provided different choices of transport. 

Clarification would be provided when all the necessary documents would be made available prior to full council on 5 December. 

Councillor Price proposed the recommendations, and it was unanimously resolved that:

That:

a)    The Local Transport Plan 5 (LTP 5) 2025 - 2041 for Herefordshire is recommended to Council for adoption.

Additional recommendation added:

b)    Delegates to the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure in consultation with the Director of Economy and Environment to make any consequential amendments to the LTP necessary as a result of a [all] member briefing before making the recommendation to Council.