Issue - meetings
Brent Cycle Vision - Ways to Wembley
Meeting: 10/12/2013 - Highways Committee (Item 9)
9 Brent Cycle Vision - Ways to Wembley PDF 147 KB
This report informs the Committee about Brent’s “Ways to Wembley” cycle funding bid, which was submitted to the GLA and TfL at the beginning of July 2013. This was in response to outer London boroughs which were invited to submit expressions of interest to become “cycle mini-Hollands” and receive funding for cycle improvements that will make a step change in infrastructure development and encourage cycling in their boroughs. The report outlines the content of the bid submitted, the response received from the Mayor’s office and the next stages of the process as agreed with the Mayor’s cycling commissioner. It also highlights concerns regarding the way in which cycle route improvements will be selected and delivered, and how and when the funding for these improvements will be released
Additional documents:
Decision:
(i) To note that Brent has been very successful in reducing numbers of serious and fatal collisions but was keen to improve cycle safety further by securing investment in infrastructure and training;
(ii) That the Committee supports the proposed TfL investment in cycle infrastructure and approves Brent’s approach and priorities for enhancing cycling infrastructure through our “Ways to Wembley” document;
(iii) That the Committee notes initial reservations set out in Section 6.2 regarding the method by which cycle infrastructure funding would be allocated, and by which priority routes and infrastructure would be identified and delivered;
(iv) Approved limited further investigative study work into cycle routes and bridge locations, focussed on both strategic and local cycle routes.
Minutes:
The Committee received a report about Brent’s “Ways to Wembley” cycle funding bid, which was submitted to the GLA and TfL at the beginning of July 2013. This was in response to an invitation by the Cycle Commissioner for London boroughs to submit expressions of interest to become “cycle mini-Hollands” and receive funding. The purpose of the “cycle mini-Hollands” was to make cycle improvements that would make a step change in infrastructure development and encourage cycling in the borough.
The Head of Transportation informed members that Brent put forward a sound submission for “cycle mini-Hollands to justify cycle investment within the borough, setting out some key barriers to cycling formed by numerous underground and overground rail lines, waterways and the North Circular route. He continued that following a review of all funding bids received from Boroughs, Brent’s bid was not successful in being shortlisted for mini-Hollands funding. However, GLA had written to Brent to state that they were minded to award substantial amounts of funding anyway to take forward the objectives within Brent’s bid.
Whilst welcoming the GLA’s promise for funding and reiterating Brent’s strong commitment to increasing cycling and making cycling safer, the Head of Transportation outlined officers’ concerns on the cycle funding process, which are; its focus on strategic routes into central London rather than more local cycle routes; that selection of routes and local priorities were not collaborative, with priorities being defined by the Mayor’s office rather than being discussed and agreed in partnership with Brent and; the imposed use of TfL employed consultants outside of the London Highways Alliance Contract (LoHAC) framework. Members heard that no boroughs had received the published funding and had borne all development costs to date. Furthermore, there is no indication of how and when any funding will be made available, or what the role of Boroughs will be in utilising and receiving this funding.
Member’s shared officers’ concerns and requested the Head of Transportation to prepare a draft letter setting out the concerns in full and; that a deputation including the Leader of the Council and the Chair be set up to meet the Mayor of London to discuss these issues.
RESOLVED:
(i) that it be noted that Brent has been very successful in reducing numbers of serious and fatal collisions but was keen to improve cycle safety further by securing investment in infrastructure and training;
(ii) that the Committee supports the proposed TfL investment in cycle infrastructure and approves Brent’s approach and priorities for enhancing cycling infrastructure through our “Ways to Wembley” document;
(iii) that the initial reservations set out in Section 6.2 (of the report) regarding the method by which cycle infrastructure funding would be allocated, and by which priority routes and infrastructure would be identified and delivered, be noted;
(iv) that further limited investigative study work into cycle routes and bridge locations, focussing on both strategic and local cycle routes be approved.