Decision Maker: Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 30, 2024

Purpose:

Content: 8.1 The City Council is developing a long-term Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Investment Plan for the city. This report updates on the development of the Plan and includes recommendations to agree the scope and objectives, as well as the approach to identifying city-wide networks for walking, wheeling and cycling and the approach to prioritising areas for medium-term investment planning. The timeline is to complete this work by April 2025.   This report also feeds back on the Community Evidence Base, developed using the approach approved by this Committee on 13 March 2024, and how that will be built on as work on the Plan progresses.     8.2 RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:-   1.     notes the development of a Sheffield Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Investment Plan, and the South Yorkshire context;   2.     welcomes the feedback on the engagement activity undertaken, and the development of the Community Evidence Base, as approved by the Committee on 13th March 2024;   3.     agrees the scope of the Plan;   4.     agrees the objectives of the Plan; and   5.     agrees the approach to identifying areas for medium-term investment planning and city-wide network planning.     8.3 Reasons for Decision     8.3.1 The Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee is recommended to agree the recommendations as set out in the report. This will enable work on the Plan to progress, in conjunction with the South Yorkshire family of Plans, and in conjunction and collaboration with a South Yorkshire Active Travel Strategy being developed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).     8.3.2 This will enable the Plan to influence investment planning across South Yorkshire, including having material weight in the development of the programme for the main transport funding stream expected to be available in the mid-term (CRSTS2 for 2027-2032).     8.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected     8.4.1 Alternative Option 1: do-nothing. It would be an option not to develop a Sheffield Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Investment Plan at all. However, that would mean that we would not have a plan with evidenced priorities for any future investment and would not be able to take advantage of any funding that becomes available.     8.4.2 Alternative Option 2: do-less. It would be an option not to develop a city-wide Sheffield Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Investment Plan. This is what happened with the first South Yorkshire LCWIP, where Government asked for the identification of a limited number of strategic cycling and walking routes as part of the then Industrial Strategy. This is what was done – and those routes are being rolled out through the current programme (with the Transforming Cities Fund and Active Travel Fund monies). It has meant that when additional funding opportunities become available, there is no prioritised programme for taking forward into bidding for that. This would not be in line with SYMCA plans for across South Yorkshire.