Issue - meetings

“In September 2008 Cabinet approved a Sustainable Transport Policy with a related Travel to Work Plan. In the related Press Release Cllr Wright said 'The Travel for Work plan introduces practical measures in support of the council's continued commitment to a long-term reduction in the number of car journeys to South Cambridgeshire Hall'. The Press Release claimed it was preceded by 9 months of surveys and data gathering.

“Will the portfolio holder now please tell us how the Policy has been monitored over the past 18 months, to what extent the 'practical measures' have been implemented, what specific effects the Policy has had on the travel activities of Members, staff and visitors and what measurable environmental impact has resulted?”

Councillor Douglas de Lacey asked the Planning Portfolio Holder: “In September 2008 Cabinet approved a Sustainable Transport Policy with a related Travel to Work Plan. In the related Press Release Cllr Wright said 'The Travel for Work plan introduces practical measures in support of the council's continued commitment to a long-term reduction in the number of car journeys to South Cambridgeshire Hall'. The Press Release claimed it was preceded by 9 months of surveys and data gathering.

“Will the portfolio holder now please tell us how the Policy has been monitored over the past 18 months, to what extent the 'practical measures' have been implemented, what specific effects the Policy has had on the travel activities of Members, staff and visitors and what measurable environmental impact has resulted?”

Councillor Nick Wright, Planning Portfolio Holder, highlighted the following measures which have been implemented or which were in the process of implementation:

·                      Smarter driver training with the Energy Saving Trust to help officers learn how to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions;

·                      Pool cycles available at the Council offices for free loan to all staff;

·                      Reduced cycle purchase and bus ticket costs through salary sacrifice schemes;

·                      Website improvements to promote alternative modes of transportation and to encourage use of public transport, walking, cycling or car-sharing to the Council offices;

·                      Travel Link noticeboards containing information for greener travel, raising staff and visitor awareness of the issue;

·                      Subscription to the county-wide car-sharing database, Camshare, allowing members of staff to register their commuting journeys and match them to others travelling similar routes, including commuters outside of the Council and Cambourne Business Park employee group;

·                      Working from home initiatives, which were proving to be an effective alternative, particularly on days when the meeting room booking system indicated significant car parking pressures from external visitors; and

·                      Preparation of a Travel Link summary leaflet / brochure to introduce more sustainable travel to and from the Council offices, which would be useful not only to staff but also for visitors and new starters.

Councillor Wright confirmed that, according to the annual Travel for Work surveys, regrettably, lone driver commuting figures had not decreased over the past four years, but assured Council that officers were confident that the new initiatives would start to deliver better results.

In response to Councillor de Lacey’s supplementary question on how the decrease of lone driver commuters would happen and what Cabinet would do to improve the figures, Councillor Wright confirmed that the Cabinet was regularly monitoring the situation and seeking new initiatives to promote and encourage sustainable travel.

 Cabinet RESOLVED:

1. That the Travel for Work plan and the associated package of measures to reduce the environmental impact of staff and others who travel to the council offices and on council business be APPROVED.

2. That the Planning Services Portfolio Holder be designated as the political champion for taking forward the Travel for Work plan.

3. That any staffing resources required to ensure effective implementation of the new Travel for Work plan in future years be considered as part of the service planning process for 2009/10.

4. That the additional permanent on site parking spaces and associated improvements to the outside amenity area for staff be implemented, subject to the necessary planning consents.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.                  That the Travel for Work plan and the associated package of measures to reduce the environmental impact of staff and others who travel to the council offices and on council business be APPROVED.

2.                  That the Planning Services Portfolio Holder be designated as the political champion for taking forward the Travel for Work plan.

3.                  That any staffing resources required to ensure effective implementation of the new Travel for Work plan in future years be considered as part of the service planning process for 2009/10.

4.                  That the additional permanent on site parking spaces and associated improvements to the outside amenity area for staff be implemented, subject to the necessary planning consents.

The Planning Portfolio Holder introduced this item, which requested that Cabinet approve a Travel for Work Plan that aimed to achieve the following vision:

‘To promote a wide range of sustainable travel choices for our existing and future employees, elected members and visitors, in order to support their travel needs, reduce our environmental impact from travel and to make the most efficient use of resources in delivering services to our customers and providing leadership to our local communities.’

The Planning Portfolio Holder gave a review of Travel for Work plans to date and advised that the new plan had been informed by staff and Member responses to the Travel for Work survey.  A key finding from the survey was that 73% of journeys to work were made by lone car drivers, a figure that was considered too high.

Travel for Work Co-ordinator

Members expressed concern about the justification for a Travel for Work co-ordinator.  The Planning Portfolio Holder explained that one of the key reasons for the failure of previous plans had been the lack of ongoing management and maintenance.  He said that, to be successful, the plan had to be a living document, requiring adaptation and promotion to achieve its goals.

It was also suggested that a decline in the number of car sharers since 2004 reinforced the need for any plan to be actively managed.

Public Transport

Members reiterated the concerns expressed in the report about the unavailability of public transport at a time when the cessation of local bus services continued.  It was suggested that the County Council be contacted in respect of the issue.

Community Leadership

It was considered that a robust Travel for Work plan was required to enable the Council to demonstrate community leadership; as such, the view was expressed that the authority should be looking to reduce, not increase, the number of car parking spaces.  The Planning Portfolio Holder replied that reducing the number of parking spaces was a measure within the plan, but that currently a lack of parking spaces restricted the use of South Cambridgeshire Hall as a public venue.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.                  That the Travel for Work plan and the associated package of measures to reduce the environmental impact of staff and others who travel to the council offices and on council business be APPROVED.

2.                  That the Planning Services Portfolio Holder be designated as the political champion for taking forward the Travel for Work plan.

3.                  That any staffing resources required to ensure effective implementation of the new Travel for Work plan in future years be considered as part of the service planning process for 2009/10.

4.                  That the additional permanent on site parking spaces and associated improvements to the outside amenity area for staff be implemented, subject to the necessary planning consents.

The report is attached and includes a recommendation to Council. The Plan can be viewed on the Council’s website www.scambs.gov.uk

Cabinet DEFERRED this item. 

Cabinet DEFERRED this item, to allow a full consideration of the relevant planning matters. 

There has been a high demand for car parking  here at Cambourne since the relocation from Cambridge and we are now revisting the council’s travel for work plan to see what we can do to help improve the situation.

During February/March we are seeking information from visitors, staff and Members regarding journeys to, for and from the Council.   So far we have had a very positive response from staff and visitors. We would now really welcome your contribution to the development of a new travel for work plan.

Realistically we know that coming to the council offices by car will continue to be necessary for many people and the travel for work plan is not intended to be 'anti-car'. It will be designed to encourage people to choose different methods of travel appropriate to their commitments for both work and outside of workpurposes with incentives wherever possible for using alternatives to the  car.

We will provide details of  the link to the online survey via email shortly and a hard copy of the form will be left for each Councillor in the Members Lounge.  If you could please complete the Members travel survey on In-Site or in paper format so we can find out more about your current travel arrangements and, most importantly, hear your suggestions this would be really appreciated. The deadline for completing the questionnaire is Monday 10 March. 

We thank you in anticipation of your support but if you have any queries please contact:

Denise Lewis            Corporate Project Manager – Housing Futures

Michele Campbell – Inspire Project Officer

at travelforwork@scambs.gov.uk