Agenda item

The Leader introduced the report that provided Cabinet with an update on Sustainable Travel across

Newport.  

The report noted that good local transport connections have many benefits to people, businesses, the

environment, and the overall economy.  They are crucial to improving and sustaining the economic,

social, cultural and environmental well-being of Newport.   Some of the main benefits are:

•           connecting people and communities;

•           supporting economic growth by encouraging businesses to invest in the area;

•           helping tackle poverty by enabling people to access education and employment;

•           improving our environment and health by reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality and enabling people to travel more actively. 

The report also set out the national context of transport, the impacts and opportunities of the Covid-19 pandemic and gave an update on recent improvements and future opportunities in Newport.

The Leader was pleased to see the continuing improvements to the Council’s fleet, public transport, infrastructure and active travel networks at this challenging time.  She was also pleased to see the strong partnership working across Gwent on the Sustainable Travel Charter, which will be launched in October.

The Leader was delighted to see the fleet of electric vehicles delivered to Newport Transport and thanked Cllr Harvey, as Chair of Newport Transport Board and the management of Newport Transport for their hard work in bringing this vision to fruition.

The Leader invited the Deputy Leader (as Cabinet Member for City Services) and the Cabinet Member for

Sustainable Development to speak to the report.

The Cabinet Member for City Services confirmed the report sets out some of the work that is underway to improve the transport options and network across the city, as identified in the bullet points below in this report.  He was particularly pleased to see that that the Council will be receiving delivery of its first ultra-low emission refuse vehicle in March 2021 which will further support the work underway to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development thanked officers for the information collated within the report.    The Cabinet Member reported that sustainable travel networks are essential for improving and sustaining the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of Newport. They are key to connecting people and communities, supporting economic growth, tackling poverty and improving the environment and health.  She also emphasised the need to reduce carbon emissions and welcome the work being done to support the Future Generation Act. 

The Leader invited comments from other cabinet member colleagues:

Councillor Giles encouraged parents who can walk their children to school to please do so rather than

take the car which will enhance all the fantastic work mentioned in this report.

Councillor Rahman confirmed that the health and wellbeing of residents is a top priority for this

Administration whilst also investing in the future with many of these initiatives.

The Leader particularly thanked the officers for their diligence and hard work in the work done on

Ensuring grant funding was accessed in order to deliver some of these initiatives.  She also thanked

Newport’s cyclists who offer a whole raft of information and ideas to contribute to the work of the council.

She also thanked Newport’s members of the Senedd, John Griffiths and Jayne Bryant for their

collaboration in this and gave thanks to the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Lee Waters, for

his involvement in this work.

The following main points were identified in the report:

National Context

•           Wales Transport Strategy under development.

•           Local Government & Elections Bill proposes the delivery of local transport functions to Corporate Joint Committees.

•           National Infrastructure Commission for Wales in place to provide advice on the economic and environmental infrastructure needs of Wales over 5-30 years.

•           South East Wales Transport Commission in place to consider a range of issues in relation to congestion on the M4 along the south-western corridor, and to provide recommendations on possible interventions to mitigate the impact by December 2020.

Impacts & Opportunities of the Covid-19 pandemic

•           Public transport demand significantly reduced with bus and rail operations reporting a 95% reduction on pre-covid-19 levels.  A support package is maintaining a core public transport network (albeit at reduced frequency).

•           Car parking patronage reduced by 95.4% in April and May.  Usage is increasing as shops and businesses are starting to re-open.

•           Since March, an estimated 1,200 staff have been working from home on a part or full time basis contributing to the reduction in carbon emissions in South Wales.  The council is exploring some of the benefits of working differently.

•           £600k of additional funding awarded for seven schemes to facilitate social distancing and to mitigate potential increases in car use by encouraging active travel.

Recent Improvements & Future Opportunities

•           Replacing and upgrading bus stops across Newport with real time information for passengers.

•           15 ultra-low emission buses expected to enter service at Newport Bus in the autumn.

•           21 ultra-low emission and hybrid vehicles are now part of the council fleet and an ultra-low emission refuse vehicle will be delivered in March 2021, the first in Wales.

•           Car park electric charging points are being installed which will take the total points to 51 across the city.

•           Since 2014, 20km of additional active travel routes have been added to the network.

•           An on-street cycle hire feasibility study was undertaken in 2019. 

•           £1.72M of funding awarded for 2020-21 to fund nine schemes across the city to provide improvements to highways, active travel, road safety, drainage, bus infrastructure.

•           Gwent Sustainable Travel Charter to be launched in October to support and encourage public sector staff to reduce travel when possible and also to use healthy modes of transport for commuting and business miles.

•           Sustainable Travel Supplementary Planning Guidance now in place to support developers and place-makers consider sustainable travel in new community design and how developments link with the wider community.

•           47 organisations across Newport have taken part in the ECO stars fuel economy scheme to reduce fleet emissions.

In summary the report asked Cabinet to note the information contained in the report.

Decision:

Cabinet voted and unanimously agreed the report.