Agenda item

Motion Submitted by the Green Party Group - Lower Speeds, Safer Roads: Harnessing New Technology to Build Back Better on Trafford’s Streets

 

Council notes that all parties in Trafford have previously supported motions or amendments backing the expansion of 20 mph zones. It also recognises that the provision of enforcement and competing demands on the police and other agencies has slowed that expansion down and has hitherto often been cited as reason not to make 20 mph zones more widespread.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the intention of our Government to abide by Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, making it a mandatory requirement for speed limiter and data recorder technology to be installed in new models of vehicle from 2022, and all new vehicles from 2024. For the first time speed

Compliance will be in-built into private vehicles, bringing them into line with HGVs.

 

And Council recognises the opportunity this provides to local authorities to look again at 20 mph schemes:

 

?       That will not be a long-term drain on policing resources and won’t need investment in humps or traffic calming.

?      That offer long-term savings through collision reduction, better public health (through cleaner air and increased active travel) and reduced highway wear and tear.

?      That can help reduce health inequalities in deprived neighbourhoods, where research shows child pedestrian deaths are over four times those in affluent neighbourhoods.1

?      That will bring policy into line with the principle of the Stockholm Declaration2, signed by the UK government in February 2020, which mandates a maximum road travel speed of 20 mph “where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner, except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe".

?      That further the objectives of Trafford’s Public Health Report, which finds that “slowing city traffic makes roads safer for everyone, and encourages walking and cycling”.3

?      That benefit from strong public support, according to national surveys.4

 

Council resolves:

 

?      To take advantage of this new opportunity.

?      To strive to utilise the Department of Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Funding to enable new funded 20 mph limit zones.

?      In the short term, to provide Trafford residents with the right to request signed 20 mph speed limits on their streets, using a similar mechanism to the one already used for residents to request parking schemes.

?      To adopt a policy of favouring the implementation of 20 mph limits or zones as a default for all streets in residential areas, town centres/retail districts and roads where vulnerable road users and motor vehicles mix. A report outlining how this could be achieved and funded will be presented to the Council by the end of the financial year.

 

 

1    Welsh 20 MPH Task Force Group: Final Report

      https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-07/20mph-task-force-group-report.pdf

2    Stockholm Declaration Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety: Achieving Global Goals 2030

3    Combating Climate Change: Report of the Director of Public Health Trafford 2019

4    Working Together to Promote Active Travel. A briefing for local authorities

      https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523460/Working_Together_to_Promote_Active_Travel_A_briefing_for_local_authorities.pdf

Minutes:

It was moved and seconded that:

 

Council notes that all parties in Trafford have previously supported motions or amendments backing the expansion of 20 mph zones. It also recognises that the provision of enforcement and competing demands on the police and other agencies has slowed that expansion down and has hitherto often been cited as reason not to make 20 mph zones more widespread.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the intention of our Government to abide by Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, making it a mandatory requirement for speed limiter and data recorder technology to be installed in new models of vehicle from 2022, and all new vehicles from 2024. For the first time speed compliance will be in-built into private vehicles, bringing them into line with HGVs.

 

And Council recognises the opportunity this provides to local authorities to look again at 20 mph schemes:

 

?     That will not be a long-term drain on policing resources and won’t need investment in humps or traffic calming.

?     That offer long-term savings through collision reduction, better public health (through cleaner air and increased active travel) and reduced highway wear and tear.

?     That can help reduce health inequalities in deprived neighbourhoods, where research shows child pedestrian deaths are over four times those in affluent neighbourhoods.1

?     That will bring policy into line with the principle of the Stockholm Declaration2, signed by the UK government in February 2020, which mandates a maximum road travel speed of 20 mph “where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner, except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe".

?     That further the objectives of Trafford’s Public Health Report, which finds that “slowing city traffic makes roads safer for everyone, and encourages walking and cycling”.3

?     That benefit from strong public support, according to national surveys.4

 

Council resolves:

 

?     To take advantage of this new opportunity.

?     To strive to utilise the Department of Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Funding to enable new funded 20 mph limit zones.

?     In the short term, to provide Trafford residents with the right to request signed 20 mph speed limits on their streets, using a similar mechanism to the one already used for residents to request parking schemes.

?     To adopt a policy of favouring the implementation of 20 mph limits or zones as a default for all streets in residential areas, town centres/retail districts and roads where vulnerable road users and motor vehicles mix. A report outlining how this could be achieved and funded will be presented to the Council by the end of the financial year.

 

1    Welsh 20 MPH Task Force Group: Final Report

      https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-07/20mph-task-force-group-report.pdf

2    Stockholm Declaration Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety: Achieving Global Goals 2030

3    Combating Climate Change: Report of the Director of Public Health Trafford 2019

4    Working Together to Promote Active Travel. A briefing for local authorities

      https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523460/Working_Together_to_Promote_Active_Travel_A_briefing_for_local_authorities.pdf

 

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

 

Council notes that all parties in Trafford have previously supported motions or amendments backing the expansion of 20 mph zones. It also recognises that the provision of enforcement and competing demands on the police and other agencies has slowed that expansion down and has hitherto often been cited as reason not to make 20 mph zones more widespread.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the intention of our Government to abide by Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, making it a mandatory requirement for speed limiter and data recorder technology to be installed in new models of vehicle from 2022, and all new vehicles from 2024. For the first time speed compliance will be in-built into private vehicles, bringing them into line with HGVs.

 

And Council recognises the opportunity this provides to local authorities to look again at 20 mph schemes:

 

?     That will not be a long-term drain on policing resources and won’t need investment in humps or traffic calming.

?     That offer long-term savings through collision reduction, better public health (through cleaner air and increased active travel) and reduced highway wear and tear.

?     That can help reduce health inequalities in deprived neighbourhoods, where research shows child pedestrian deaths are over four times those in affluent neighbourhoods.1

?     That will bring policy into line with the principle of the Stockholm Declaration2, signed by the UK government in February 2020, which mandates a maximum road travel speed of 20 mph “where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner, except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe".

?     That further the objectives of Trafford’s Public Health Report, which finds that “slowing city traffic makes roads safer for everyone, and encourages walking and cycling”.3

?     That benefit from strong public support, according to national surveys.4

 

Council resolves:

 

?     To take advantage of this new opportunity.

?     To strive to utilise the Department of Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Funding to enable new funded 20 mph limit zones.

?     In the short term, to provide Trafford residents with the right to request signed 20 mph speed limits on their streets, using a similar mechanism to the one already used for residents to request parking schemes.

?     To adopt a policy of favouring the implementation of 20 mph limits or zones as a default for all streets in residential areas, town centres/retail districts and roads where vulnerable road users and motor vehicles mix. A report outlining how this could be achieved and funded will be presented to the Council by the end of the financial year.

 

?     to note and support the measures as outlined above;

?     notes that Trafford residents can request 20 mph schemes on their streets, using existing mechanisms like the one to request parking schemes, and waiting restrictions etc.;

?    to support the favouring and implementation of 20 mph zones in residential areas, and other appropriate locations like schools, with a report brought by the end of March 2021 setting out an assessment of the deliverability of this work including timescales for accelerated delivery if possible, options for better promoting the existing right of residents to request schemes whilst managing expectations on the time required for implementation, and how further work in this already key strategic area will fit with the various existing tranches of work to improve road safety in the borough; and

?    that this be funded through both the Councils capital programme (subject to financial constraints) and other funding mechanisms that Trafford Council can take advantage of.

 

1    Welsh 20 MPH Task Force Group: Final Report

      https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-07/20mph-task-force-group-report.pdf

2    Stockholm Declaration Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety: Achieving Global Goals 2030

3    Combating Climate Change: Report of the Director of Public Health Trafford 2019

4    Working Together to Promote Active Travel. A briefing for local authorities

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523460/Working_Together_to_Promote_Active_Travel_A_briefing_for_local_authorities.pdf

 

Following a debate on the matter and in putting the amendment to the vote a recorded vote was called for, in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5. This resulted as follows:

 

Those in favour of the Amendment: Acton, Adshead, Akinola, Dr. Barclay, Bennett, Miss Blackburn, Brotherton, Butt, Dr. Carr, Carter, Mrs. Churchill, Dillon, Duffield, Evans, Freeman, Mrs. Haddad, Harding, Hartley, Holden, Hynes, Jarman, Lloyd, Mitchell, Morgan, Myers, New, Patel, K. Proctor, S. Procter, Ross, Slater, Taylor, Thomas, Thompson, Walsh, A. Western, D. Western, Whitham, Whyte, Williams, Winstanley, Wright and Mrs. P. Young.

 

Those against the Amendment: Councillors Brophy, Bunting, Coggins, Jerrome, Minnis, Newgrosh and Welton.

 

Those choosing to abstain: Councillors Boyes and Cordingley.

 

With the result of the vote being 43 in favour and 7 against, with 2 abstentions, the Amendment was declared carried.

 

The Substantive Motion was then put to a recorded vote which resulted as follows:

 

Those in favour of the Substantive Motion: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Akinola, Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Boyes, Brophy, Brotherton, Butt, Dr. Carr, Carter, Mrs. Churchill, Cordingley, Coggins, Dillon, Duffield, Evans, Freeman, Harding, Hartley, Holden, Hynes, Jarman, Jerrome, Lloyd, Minnis, Mitchell, Morgan, Myers, New, Newgrosh, Patel, S. Procter, Ross, Slater, Thomas, Thompson, Walsh, Welton, A. Western, D. Western, Whitham, Whyte, Williams, Winstanley and Mrs. P. Young.

 

Those against the Substantive Motion: Bennett, Bunting, Taylor and Wright.

 

Those choosing to abstain: Councillors Mrs. Haddad and K. Procter.

 

With the result of the vote being 46 in favour and 4 against, with 2 abstentions, the Substantive Motion was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That Council notes that all parties in Trafford have previously supported motions or amendments backing the expansion of 20 mph zones. It also recognises that the provision of enforcement and competing demands on the police and other agencies has slowed that expansion down and has hitherto often been cited as reason not to make 20 mph zones more widespread.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the intention of our Government to abide by Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, making it a mandatory requirement for speed limiter and data recorder technology to be installed in new models of vehicle from 2022, and all new vehicles from 2024. For the first time speed compliance will be in-built into private vehicles, bringing them into line with HGVs.

 

And Council recognises the opportunity this provides to local authorities to look again at 20 mph schemes:

 

?     That offer long-term savings through collision reduction, better public health (through cleaner air and increased active travel) and reduced highway wear and tear.

?     That can help reduce health inequalities in deprived neighbourhoods, where research shows child pedestrian deaths are over four times those in affluent neighbourhoods.1

?     That will bring policy into line with the principle of the Stockholm Declaration2, signed by the UK government in February 2020, which mandates a maximum road travel speed of 20 mph “where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner, except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe".

?     That further the objectives of Trafford’s Public Health Report, which finds that “slowing city traffic makes roads safer for everyone, and encourages walking and cycling”.3

?     That benefit from strong public support, according to national surveys.4

 

Council resolves:

 

?     to note and support the measures as outlined above;

?     notes that Trafford residents can request 20 mph schemes on their streets, using existing mechanisms like the one to request parking schemes, and waiting restrictions etc.;

?    to support the favouring and implementation of 20 mph zones in residential areas, and other appropriate locations like schools, with a report brought by the end of March 2021 setting out an assessment of the deliverability of this work including timescales for accelerated delivery if possible, options for better promoting the existing right of residents to request schemes whilst managing expectations on the time required for implementation, and how further work in this already key strategic area will fit with the various existing tranches of work to improve road safety in the borough; and

?    that this be funded through both the Councils capital programme (subject to financial constraints) and other funding mechanisms that Trafford Council can take advantage of.

 

1    Welsh 20 MPH Task Force Group: Final Report

      https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-07/20mph-task-force-group-report.pdf

2    Stockholm Declaration Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety: Achieving Global Goals 2030

3    Combating Climate Change: Report of the Director of Public Health Trafford 2019

4    Working Together to Promote Active Travel. A briefing for local authorities https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523460/Working_Together_to_Promote_Active_Travel_A_briefing_for_local_authorities.pdf

 

Supporting documents: