Agenda and minutes

The Chairman declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Nottinghamshire County Councillor and Chairman of the Nottinghamshire County Council Transport and Environment Committee.

Councillor R Butler and Councillor J Cottee declared a non-pecuniary interest as Nottinghamshire County Councillors.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2021 were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of the Director for Growth and Economic Development

Mr Chris Carter - Nottingham City Council delivered a presentation to advise the Group of the Transforming Cities Funding Programme, totalling £161m shared with Derby, of which £40m is to be spent on enhancing the walking and cycling network in Nottingham, including £9m allocated for the new foot/cycling bridge and associated connections across the River Trent.

Mr Carter advised the Group that Nottingham City Council had been working on a strategic network of footpaths and cycle routes through collaborative work across the D2N2 area to create a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The LCWIP focuses on areas the bridge will enhance, including a connection to Derby, Nottingham and local urban connections.

Mr Carter explained that the bridge is the highest profile scheme and provided the Group with details of the projects Governance.

Mr Paul Horn – Project Manager, Nottingham City Council continued with the presentation, providing plans showing the existing bridges currently used by pedestrians and cyclists at Clifton, Wilford, Trent Bridge and Lady Bay and the proposed new bridge location at Waterside Nottingham. Waterside Nottingham being a regeneration site located in the Trent Basin, connecting to Trent Fields, West Bridgford on the Rushcliffe side and providing commuting and leisure routes through the Waterside site and onto the City Centre or Gedling to the east.

Mr Horn explained that funding had been granted for a bridge at Waterside Nottingham and that the City Council were looking at 3 locations within this area the area, Trent Basin, Poulton Drive and Trent Lane, the most favourable site being Trent Basin.  In addition, Mr Horn advised the Group that to the south of the river there are still some challenges but discussions with landowners so far have gone well, including Notts County Football Club, Nottingham Forest Football Club, Nottingham Rugby Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club who recognise the benefits of a new bridge. 

Mr Horn provided images at the Trent Basin site, explaining that there was currently no development, but there are plans for high value housing here and that discussions with the developer were ongoing. Further images of the site plan and bridge designs were provided for the Group to consider.

In concluding, Mr Horn provided details of the projects work programme with a public exhibition and consultation expected by September/October 2021, and following this a planning application is expected to be submitted December 2021/January 2022, with construction starting Autumn 2022 and completion by spring 2023.  Mr Horn added that the City Council will continue to engage with stakeholders ahead of a formal consultation and public engagement, adding that connecting communities both sides of the river will require joint working across the City Council, County Council and the Borough.

The Chairman reminded the Group that the purpose of this item is for the Group to provide support for the new bridge proposal and to consider any planning issues that may arise.

The Chairman asked which of the three proposals is the City Council’s preferred location for the bridge and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Report of the Director for Neighbourhood

Sean Parkes a representative for Nottinghamshire County Council delivered a presentation on Cycling in Nottinghamshire, providing an overview of the County Council’s strategic background, funding for cycling, how potential infrastructure improvements are assessed and prioritised and coordinated behaviour change programmes.

Mr Parkes advised that the County Council is currently reviewing its Strategy Plan for the period 2021-2025, including its Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 and Fourth Implementation Plan 2022/23 which includes the Cycling Strategy Delivery Plan 2016 covering cycling strategic priorities, a Cycling Action Plan and cycling infrastructure priorities.

Mr Parkes explained the Boroughs role as a stakeholder consultee to review and coordinate the role of cycling networks within the County Council’s strategy within the Boroughs responsibilities as follows:

·       Local Plan/Developer Contribution Strategy

·       Cycling Development Plans on the Borough’s estate

·       AQMA action plans

·       Rushcliffe Borough Council’s travel plans (employee/visitors)

Mr Parkes continued, providing the group with examples of funding opportunities available for cycling, explaining the role of Rushcliffe when considering cycling infrastructure in town centre improvements (and other district council) funding bids, securing/releasing funding from developer contributions.

Mr Parkes advised the Group of the DfT requirements in respect of infrastructure assessment, highlighting the D2N2 Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), an evidence based assessment to demonstrate need for improvements, whilst sharing the D2N2 strategic objectives for supporting economic growth, tourism and the visitor economy, addressing transport congestion, climate change, air quality and health deprivation.  In addition, the assessment aims to identify short (1year), medium (4 years) and long (10 years) term infrastructure priorities.

Nottinghamshire County Council at its Communities and Place Committee approved:

·       Strategic priorities for future highways cycling investment

·       Provisional short-term highway infrastructure priorities

·       Incorporation of ‘Local Transport Note 1.20: Cycle infrastructure Design’ into existing highway design principles

·       Additional assessment/prioritisation of local route improvements

In addition, the Group noted that there is to be a planned public consultation on a draft D2N2 wide infrastructure priorities.

Within the infrastructure assessment, further steps include:

·       Feasibility/design/deliverability – focusing primarily on short term priorities

·       Value for money assessments – dependent on scheme value

·       Criteria for available funding

·       Local support for proposals

The Group noted that the Boroughs potential to influence the infrastructure assessment by acting as a priority consultee, suggesting schemes around planned growth and the integration of infrastructure priorities for future plans and funding.

Mr Hugh McClintock from Pedals delivered a presentation that highlighted the growth in cycling and bike sales over the past 18 months during the Covid pandemic and the Governments current policy, ‘Gear Change’ a bold new vision on cycling and walking, including the revised DfT Local Transport Note 1/20 as touched on in Mr Parkes presentation.

Mr McClintock emphasised the need for a cycling network that is coherent, direct, safe, attractive and comfortable to use, stressing that up to date and accurate maps are essential and should be widely available and promoted.

In assessing the quality of local walking and cycling networks in the Borough, Mr McClintock requested the need for a more coordinated approach with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report of the Director for Finance and Corporate Services

It was RESOLVED that the Group consider its Work Programme and that the following items for scrutiny were agreed.

13 October 2021

·       Covid-9 Business Recovery Update

·       CIL Update

·       Work Programme

19 January 2022

·       Tree Conservation

·       Conservation Areas Review – Part 2

·       Work Programme

20 April 2022

·       Cycling Networks in the Borough – Part 2

·       Work Programme

ACTIONS - 14 JULY 2021