Agenda item

To receive a presentation and to note a report giving an overview of the work being undertaken to encourage sustainable modes of transport.

The Panel received a presentation on Sustainable Transport Initiatives funded by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), by Phil Burke, Travel Plan Co-ordinator.

Transport policy for the Borough was set out in the Local Transport Plan, which included the outcomes of encouraging and providing for healthier modes of transport, such as cycling and walking, and improving the experience of moving around the Borough, particularly using more environmentally-friendly modes of transport.

The LSTF was funded by central government with £580 million. There was a competitive bid format, and the twin criteria of encouraging economic growth and reducing carbon emissions. Bracknell Forest had been successful in securing a bid for £1.64 million over a period of three years.

LSTF projects were split between revenue and capital projects. Revenue projects (promotional work) included schools, businesses, and residents. Capital projects (infrastructure) included Urban Traffic Management Control systems, a Real Time Information system for bus users, and the renovation of the bus station.

The Council was funding Sustrans to deliver the Bike It programme to schools in the Borough which aimed to increase the number of children cycling to school. The officer supporting the programme had been working with 24 schools over three years. Activities included Biker’s breakfasts, Dr Bike, skills sessions, and Bike Polo. Funding would run until 2015 and one member of staff at each school would be trained to continue the work if funding was not continued after this time.

Two area-wide Travel Plan Networks had been established with the aim of helping businesses address the transport issues they faced. In the Southern Business Area there was Waitrose, Fujitsu, BMW, Panasonic, IHT, and Boeringer Ingelheim. In the Western Business Area there was Dell, Vodaphone and Hewlett Packard. Work undertaken had included staff surveys, roadshows, a lift share scheme, and negotiations for shared shuttle bus services.

The aim was to work with residents and deliver personal travel planning to 3,000 households over the next two years. Travel information and advice would be offered, with incentives such as free bus taster tickets and encouraging residents to take part in a challenge with rewards for completion. Working with British Cycling and Sky, twenty led cycle rides had been delivered in 2013 and another twenty were planned for 2014, primarily aimed at families and encouraging cyclists back into the saddle.

In response to Members’ questions, the following points were made:

• The aim was for urban traffic management to be extended to car parks to show drivers the number of spaces available at each car park.
• Five years worth of licences and management agreements would be purchased whilst funding was in place and the aim was to offset costs with Section 106 funding once LSTF funding ran out.
• Some local bus operators had been approached; outcomes were likely to be dependent upon costs and who was prepared to fund changes.
• Work would be undertaken to improve all of the bus station facilities including the public toilets. Funding was being sought for this and work was due to start this year.
• A database had been available since 2007 open to public and private lift sharers. There was a group specifically for Bracknell Forest Council employees. There was a cost attached to a private lift share database but a closed one was being developed for the Southern and Northern industrial estates.
• The development of a control room function in relation to a traffic management system for Bracknell Forest was required and there would be a three to five year transition from using Reading Borough Council for this function.