Decision details

Matter for Decision:

To agree the joint Consultation response for England’s Economic Heartland’s Draft Transport Strategy 

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

To provide the views of Cambridge City Council on the consultation. 

Option 1: To not agree the proposed response to the proposed response

Option 2: To not seek a joint response with South Cambridgeshire District Council

Reason for rejection: the consultation offers an opportunity to feedback on proposals which could have significant impacts on planning and transport in the Greater Cambridge area. 

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

That the Executive Councillor for Transport and Community Safety agrees to confirm that the response set out in Appendix 1 of this decision should be made to England’s Economic Heartland’s consultation on it’s Draft Transport Strategy.

Reasons for the decision:

To provide the views of Cambridge City Council on the consultation. 

England’s Economic Heartland is consulting on a Draft Transport Strategy which runs until 6 October 2020. England’s Economic Heartland is a Sub-national Transport Body – an organisation which seeks to provide strategic transport governance at a larger scale than existing local transport authorities, by grouping councils together. It represents a region which covers Swindon, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Herefordshire, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. England’s Economic Heartland represents 5.1m population and 280,000 businesses and works in collaboration with government and partners in the heartland focusing on strategic infrastructure and identify investment priorities in the region. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is not a member of EEH but has Associate Member status. Cambridgeshire County Council is a member of EEH.  

The key principles of the Draft Transport Strategy are as follows: 

• Achieving net-zero carbon emissions from transport no later than 2050 

• Improving quality of life and wellbeing through an inclusive transport system accessible to all which emphasises sustainable and active travel 

• Supporting the regional economy by connecting people and businesses to markets and opportunities 

• Ensuring the Heartland works for the UK by enabling the efficient movement of people and goods through the region and to/from international gateways.  

Scrutiny consideration:

The decision is being made out of the committee cycle as it was not practicable alongside other work priorities to produce a draft in time for the committee deadline. The response will be sent to Chair and Spokespersons of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee once a decision has been made giving them 5 days to comment.

Report:

Consultation response for England’s Economic Heartland’s Draft Transport Strategy which can be viewed at the link below:

  https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=Response%20to%20the%20Englands%20Economic%20Heartlands%20Draft&ID=1548&RPID=67101755

Conflicts of interest:

None known.

Comments:

No adverse comments were made.