Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Green City and Place seeking approval for the Green Transport Recovery Plan and financial approval for funding.

(i)  For the Cabinet to provide overall approval of the Southampton Green Transport Recovery Plan (provided in Appendix 1) which sets out both the key work done to date, work that is currently in progress and work planned for the future, to complement and supplement Connected Southampton 2040 (LTP4) and the schemes identified in Table 1.

(ii)  Cabinet is recommended to accept the Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF) grant of £0.245m and approve the addition of this amount to the capital programme 2020/21, together with approval to spend as per the details provided in paragraph 13 of this report.

(iii)   Cabinet delegates authority to the S151 officer to accept and authorise spend of any future additional ETAF grant allocation which is expected to be £0.980m but subject to further DfT guidelines and a business case submission that will be approved by the Director of place following consultation with the Cabinet Member and is in accordance with the details provided in paragraph 13 of this report.

1.  Since the UK Covid-19 lockdown was imposed on 23rd March 2020 there has been a significant impact on traffic and transport in Southampton. The advice to stay at home and only travel when essential has seen average traffic levels reduce by 60% compared to the week before the lockdown commenced.  Bus travel has similarly reduced, with 85% fewer people travelling by bus in May compared to February.  These changes in traffic and travel habits have created a new dynamic and cycling has been a primary beneficiary, with a doubling in the number of cycle trips.  This has been most marked on leisure routes such as Weston Shore, Riverside Park or SCN1 towards the New Forest (See Appendix 2 for local traffic trends).  The reduction in traffic has also seen improvements in air quality.

2.  As the lockdown is progressively and incrementally eased this presents a point in time to take advantage of the opportunities and tackle the challenges to how people travel.

1.  Do Nothing – Not to implement any schemes in the GTRP.  This was rejected because the Council has received direction from DfT to support social distancing and active travel.  Not having a robust plan would mean that the additional Emergency Active Travel funding available to SCC could not be accessed.

2.  Do Minimum – select fewer schemes within the GTRP.  This was rejected as it would not have the desired effect to support people who have taken up walking and cycling as a means of exercise or transport during the lockdown.