Agenda item

Note:

Under the Council’s constitution, 30 minutes are available for the consideration of motions. In practice, this realistically means that there is usually only time for one, or possibly two motions to be considered.

 

With the agreement of the Lord Mayor, motion 1 below will be considered at this meeting, and motion 2 is likely to be considered, subject to time.

 

Details of other motions submitted, (which, due to time constraints, are very unlikely to be considered at this meeting) are also set out for information.

 

MOTIONS RECEIVED FOR FULL COUNCIL

 

GOLDEN MOTION (GREEN PARTY): Adopt a Vision Zero Approach to Eliminate Road Deaths in Bristol

 

This Council notes:

1.         Statistics from the Department for Transport state that between 2017 and 2021 – the last period with complete data, 36 people were killed and 636 seriously injured by vehicle collisions within the city boundary. On average, 134 people were injured every year.

2.         The One City Plan aims to achieve zero people killed or seriously injured (KSI) due to incidents on Bristol’s roads by 2040 – Goal 360 - and as part of this, the council has a performance target (BPPM120) to reduce the number of road casualties on our transport network – the current KSI target is ninety-five people per year.

3.         Vision Zero is a proven strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. Key principles include:

o          Safe speeds - encouraging speeds appropriate to the street;

o          Safe streets - designing an environment forgiving of mistakes;

o          Safe vehicles - reducing risks posed by the most dangerous vehicles;

o          Safe behaviours - improving the behaviours of people using our roads;

o          Post-collision response - learning from collisions and improving justice and care for victims.

4.         The council has adopted both the children's charter and being an age-friendly city, these are two of the most vulnerable groups in our society to road traffic collisions.

5.         Councils and organisations that have adopted Vision Zero include: Kent, Devon, Cornwall, Brighton and Hove, Blackpool, Leeds, Hackney, Transport for London, National Fire Chiefs Council, The AA, and RAC.

6.         The Vision Zero approach is endorsed by international organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and is led by an ethical stance that it is not acceptable that people should be killed or seriously injured as a price for mobility. These are avoidable events – not accidents.

7.         Actions that can be taken to achieve vision zero often include:

o          Road Design, including separation of cycle users and pedestrians from vehicles;

o          Enforcement of Speed Limits and the Highway Code;

o          School Streets;

o          Low Traffic Neighbourhoods;

o          Education;

o          A cohesive network of walking and cycling routes.

 

This Council believes:

1.         The vast majority of road deaths are avoidable, and the only acceptable long-term casualty target for road deaths and serious injuries in Bristol is Zero.

2.         It is vitally important to provide consistent, accessible active travel infrastructure for people to use across the city. Yet, fear of injury suppresses the demand for walking and cycling. This adversely affects children, older people and people with disabling conditions and prevents them from moving around our city.

3.         Although there is currently a One City target of zero deaths/serious injuries by 2040, The council and its partners do not have a published plan to meet this target.

4.         The council produced a Safe Systems Plan in 2015 to reduce road casualties and was well placed nationally, given advanced work on city-wide 20mph speed limits, but it has since fallen behind.

5.         By separating people walking, cycling, and using vehicles, casualties will be reduced. Work is ongoing to connect routes such as in Old Market and Victoria Street, but currently, much of Bristol’s active travel infrastructure is disconnected and does not meet the accessibility requirements of a modern diverse society in our city.

6.         High-quality, consistent road design can reduce road deaths. Local Transport Note 1/20 is the current best practice design guideline for all transport schemes and is endorsed by Active Travel England.

7.         While there are a number of actions that will require joined-up work with partner organisations, there are some steps to reduce road casualties that the Council could take or investigate now including:

o          Speed Limiters in all council vehicles to act as pace vehicles for the whole city;

o          Roll out of ‘vision zero’ training to all council employees who drive as part of their role;

o          Investigate actions with One City partners, such as the Police, to enforce 20mph and safer driving practices as part of their operations;

o          Identify the ten most dangerous junctions in the city and implement coordinated and evidence-based changes to make them safer;

o          Banning Digital Billboards as these distract drivers;

o          Re-deployable average speed cameras at hotspots;

o          A public awareness campaign on #VisionZeroBristol with targeted education programmes that change road user attitudes and behaviour;

o          Reduce risk through intelligence-led enforcement;

o          Run an “Exchanging Places” programme to make HGV drivers, bus drivers and cyclists more aware of one another;

o          Investigate the use of safer HGVs based on the Transport for London (TfL) policy;

o          Accelerate the rollout of School Streets and provide a road safety forum for schools.

 

This Council resolves to:

1.         Set a Vision Zero target for road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

2.         Include consideration of this target in all relevant council decisions and strategies e.g. road design and procurement, by implementing LTN1/20 when building any new walking, cycling and road projects or providing diversions around highway maintenance work.

3.         Develop supplementary planning documents and/or other guidance to support the delivery of Vision Zero via Bristol's Local Plan process and the Joint Local Transport Plan.

4.         Work with One City partners and other organisations including Arcadis – our strategic delivery partner, West of England Combined Authority, Major Employers, Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire and Rescue, South West Ambulance Trust, Bristol Health Partners, Bristol Blue Licensed Taxi Association, FirstBus, Stagecoach, Transpora, Voi, Developers and residents to achieve Vision Zero.

5.         Work with the West of England Combined Authority and the surrounding Unitary Authorities to promote a joined-up approach to Vision Zero across the region.

6.         OSMB to hold an inquiry day with relevant stakeholders, including One City partners and citizen groups.

7.         Request the administration to report back to Full Council on progress towards these steps in 6 months.

 

Motion Proposed by: Councillor David Wilcox (Green Party)

Motion Submitted: 29 June 2023

 

--

 

SILVER MOTION (KNOWLE COMMUNITY PARTY): VALUING THE COMMUNITY SECTOR

 

This council is facing a considerable financial shortfall and there is general concern that even more valued community services will be closed. In some cases, a much better solution is to encourage the community to take over the service with an asset transfer or to let the community become involved in managing the venture or facility.

 

Too often the option of community management is considered late in the day after the salami slicing council department has made the task twice as hard.

 

Cllrs from all parties will no doubt have examples from their own wards of ventures that are working or others that could be given a chance. I have added in notes a list of the ventures within Knowle ward as an example.

 

Asset transfers give the new owners access to grants that the council could not and are able to tap into enthusiasm and willingness to volunteer. Customers become more flexible and forgiving of small errors.

 

This Council has the services of a very good specialist officer to deal with asset transfers but there is concern that the back-up is not always as positive as it should be and a short consideration of asset transfers by Communities Scrutiny has led to the need for a second report. This could be done by extending time available to Communities Scrutiny or even better by a scrutiny enquiry day.

 

In the meantime, some positive factors that should provide encouragement:

1.     We should look at the community value and not just a narrow and potentially misleading financial calculation as it affects the council in the short term.

2.     we should look at how partners (e.g. police and NHS) can be involved.

3.     we should be encouraged if the income is commercial from the public and not purely grants.

4.     we must have the option of a responsive licensing facility prior to actual CAT.

5.     we should be encouraged if a recognised problem is being tackled that has not been effectively up until now.

6.     help in kind in early stages should be considered by the council.

This Council therefore calls for the Administration to show a more positive attitude towards asset transfers and community management and taking into account points 1-6, calls for action to follow a scrutiny enquiry and that a regular review be set up to consider progress and potential new opportunities.

 

NOTES

Examples from Knowle Ward:

1.     Arnos Vale Cemetery - compulsorily purchased for £1 from “developer” and handed to trust formed by campaigners. Huge grants attracted and successful commercial and community activity. Voted one of the best cemeteries in the country.

2.     The Park Daventry Road - old Merrywood school on closure 20+ years ago given to trust that brought together charities investing in training, education and community benefit. Turbo charged by asset transfer and recently completed a new £10M + new community building and a key partner in new secondary school opening shortly on part of the site. A good example of council cooperation.

3.     Redcatch community centre - some 20+ years ago a group of local people took over a dilapidated unwanted council building and with grants and local effort turned it into a massively popular, high quality community centre with low hourly charges. All volunteer, no wages taken by anybody involved. Asset transfer followed and used as an example by officers of a successful CAT in report to scrutiny.

4.     Jubilee pool - council failed to run this much-loved community facility efficiently. Despite unfriendly conditions imposed by Mayor and severe challenges of energy costs memberships has doubled and there is a trading profit. Cat completed 30/9/22.

5.     Redcatch Community Garden - took over redundant bowling green 5 years ago. Have attracted grants, despite failure of council to extend license efficiently and attract 200,000 visits a year for training, social activity and environmental and horticultural education. Asset transfer finally after much delay getting started.

6.     Redcatch Park Pavillion- parks department a few years back aborted investment plans for urgent repairs and said they wanted to asset transfer instead. Partnership formed between community garden and The Park football club who needed extra facilities because of Daventry Rd developments. Parks departmen have failed to progress CAT or even licence and sports changing facilities unusable. In the biggest irony, the football club had previously done exactly the sort of renovation needed and the lowest bidder for the aborted scheme is a local sponsor of the club and stands ready to do the work for them for free. One of the most successful sporting organisations in Bristol with an emphasis on disabled and female teams frozen out.

7.     There are many other community organisations, including our parks group, that have transformed Redcatch Park, that do excellent work and what bands the vast majority of them together is a desire to benefit the local community, roll up their sleeves and contribute positively. Being held back by the council is very frustrating. 

Proposed by Councillor Gary Hopkins (Knowle Community Party)

 

Received 24 May 2023

 

Following a short adjournment, it was then moved by the Chair that standing order CPR2.1(xi) be suspended to allow the meeting to go past the 30 minutes time limit for motions. Following a vote, this motion was rejected.

 

Councillor Weston moved that the meeting be extended by 15 minutes to hear the Golden Motion only. Following a vote, this motion was carried.     

Golden Motion: Adopt a Vision Zero Approach to Eliminate Road Deaths in Bristol

 

Councillor David Wilcox moved the following motion:

 

This Council notes:

1. Statistics from the Department for Transport state that between 2017 and 2021 – the last period with complete data, 36 people were killed and 636 seriously injured by vehicle collisions within the city boundary. On average, 134 people were injured every year.

 

2. The One City Plan aims to achieve zero people killed or seriously injured (KSI) due to incidents on Bristol’s roads by 2040 – Goal 360 - and as part of this, the council has a performance target (BPPM120) to reduce the number of road casualties on our transport network – the current KSI target is ninety-five people per year.

 

3. Vision Zero is a proven strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. Key principles include:

·       Safe speeds - encouraging speeds appropriate to the street;

·       Safe streets - designing an environment forgiving of mistakes;

·       Safe vehicles - reducing risks posed by the most dangerous vehicles;

·       Safe behaviours - improving the behaviours of people using our roads;

·       Post-collision response - learning from collisions and improving justice and care for victims.

 

4. The council has adopted both the children's charter and being an age-friendly city, these are two of the most vulnerable groups in our society to road traffic collisions.

 

5. Councils and organisations that have adopted Vision Zero include: Kent, Devon, Cornwall, Brighton and Hove, Blackpool, Leeds, Hackney, Transport for London, National Fire Chiefs Council, The AA, and RAC.

 

6. The Vision Zero approach is endorsed by international organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and is led by an ethical stance that it is not acceptable that people should be killed or seriously injured as a price for mobility. These are avoidable events – not accidents.

 

7. Actions that can be taken to achieve vision zero often include:

·       Road Design, including separation of cycle users and pedestrians from vehicles;

·       Enforcement of Speed Limits and the Highway Code;

·       School Streets;

·       Liveable Neighbourhoods;

·       Education;

·       A cohesive network of walking and cycling routes.

 

This Council believes:

1. The vast majority of road deaths are avoidable, and the only acceptable long-term casualty target for road deaths and serious injuries in Bristol is Zero.

 

2. It is vitally important to provide consistent, accessible active travel infrastructure for people to use across the city. Yet, fear of injury suppresses the demand for walking and cycling. This adversely affects children, older people and people with disabling conditions and prevents them from moving around our city.

 

3. Although there is currently a One City target of zero deaths/serious injuries by 2040, The council and its partners do not have a published plan to meet this target.

 

4. The council produced a Safe Systems Plan in 2015 to reduce road casualties and was well placed nationally, given advanced work on city-wide 20mph speed limits.

 

5. By separating people walking, cycling, and using vehicles, casualties will be reduced. Work is ongoing to connect routes such as in Old Market and Victoria Street, but currently, much of Bristol’s active travel infrastructure is disconnected and does not meet the accessibility requirements of a modern diverse society in our city.

 

6. High-quality, consistent road design can reduce road deaths. Local Transport Note 1/20 is the current best practice design guideline for all transport schemes and is endorsed by Active Travel England.

 

7. While there are a number of actions that will require joined-up work with partner organisations, there are some steps to reduce road casualties that the Council could take or investigate (subject to funding) including:

·       Speed Limiters in all council vehicles to act as pace vehicles for the whole city;

·       Roll out of ‘vision zero’ training to all council employees who drive as part of their role;

·       Investigate actions with One City partners, such as the Police, to enforce 20mph and safer driving practices as part of their operations;

·       Identify the ten most dangerous junctions in the city and implement coordinated and evidence-based changes to make them safer;     

·       Re-deployable average speed cameras at hotspots;

·       A public awareness campaign on #VisionZeroBristol with targeted education programmes that change road user attitudes and behaviour;

·       Reduce risk through intelligence-led enforcement;

·       Run an “Exchanging Places” programme to make HGV drivers, bus drivers and cyclists more aware of one another;

·       Investigate the use of safer HGVs based on the Transport for London (TfL) policy;

·       Accelerate the rollout of School Streets and provide a road safety forum for schools.

 

This Council resolves to:

1. Set a Vision Zero target for road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

 

2. Include consideration of this target in all relevant council decisions and strategies e.g. road design and procurement, by implementing LTN1/20 when building any new walking, cycling and road projects or providing diversions around highway maintenance work.

 

3. Develop supplementary planning documents and/or other guidance to support the delivery of Vision Zero via Bristol's Local Plan process and the Joint Local Transport Plan.

 

4. Work with One City partners and other organisations including Arcadis – our strategic delivery partner, West of England Combined Authority, Major Employers, Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire and Rescue, South West Ambulance Trust, Bristol Health Partners, Bristol Blue Licensed Taxi Association, FirstBus, Stagecoach, Transpora, Voi, TIER, Developers and residents to achieve Vision Zero.

 

5. Work with the West of England Combined Authority and the surrounding Unitary Authorities to promote a joined-up approach to Vision Zero across the region.

 

6. OSMB to hold an inquiry day with relevant stakeholders, including One City partners and citizen groups.

 

7. Report back in six months on progress towards implementing a plan to achieve Vision Zero by 2030.’

 

The motion was seconded by Councillor Emma Edwards.

 

Following debate, upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED (52 For, 0 against, 0 abstentions) and it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council notes:

1. Statistics from the Department for Transport state that between 2017 and 2021 – the last period with complete data, 36 people were killed and 636 seriously injured by vehicle collisions within the city boundary. On average, 134 people were injured every year.

 

2. The One City Plan aims to achieve zero people killed or seriously injured (KSI) due to incidents on Bristol’s roads by 2040 – Goal 360 - and as part of this, the council has a performance target (BPPM120) to reduce the number of road casualties on our transport network – the current KSI target is ninety-five people per year.

 

3. Vision Zero is a proven strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. Key principles include:

·       Safe speeds - encouraging speeds appropriate to the street;

·       Safe streets - designing an environment forgiving of mistakes;

·       Safe vehicles - reducing risks posed by the most dangerous vehicles;

·       Safe behaviours - improving the behaviours of people using our roads;

·       Post-collision response - learning from collisions and improving justice and care for victims.

 

4. The council has adopted both the children's charter and being an age-friendly city, these are two of the most vulnerable groups in our society to road traffic collisions.

 

5. Councils and organisations that have adopted Vision Zero include: Kent, Devon, Cornwall, Brighton and Hove, Blackpool, Leeds, Hackney, Transport for London, National Fire Chiefs Council, The AA, and RAC.

 

6. The Vision Zero approach is endorsed by international organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and is led by an ethical stance that it is not acceptable that people should be killed or seriously injured as a price for mobility. These are avoidable events – not accidents.

 

7. Actions that can be taken to achieve vision zero often include:

·       Road Design, including separation of cycle users and pedestrians from vehicles;

·       Enforcement of Speed Limits and the Highway Code;

·       School Streets;

·       Liveable Neighbourhoods;

·       Education;

·       A cohesive network of walking and cycling routes.

 

This Council believes:

1. The vast majority of road deaths are avoidable, and the only acceptable long-term casualty target for road deaths and serious injuries in Bristol is Zero.

 

2. It is vitally important to provide consistent, accessible active travel infrastructure for people to use across the city. Yet, fear of injury suppresses the demand for walking and cycling. This adversely affects children, older people and people with disabling conditions and prevents them from moving around our city.

 

3. Although there is currently a One City target of zero deaths/serious injuries by 2040, The council and its partners do not have a published plan to meet this target.

 

4. The council produced a Safe Systems Plan in 2015 to reduce road casualties and was well placed nationally, given advanced work on city-wide 20mph speed limits.

 

5. By separating people walking, cycling, and using vehicles, casualties will be reduced. Work is ongoing to connect routes such as in Old Market and Victoria Street, but currently, much of Bristol’s active travel infrastructure is disconnected and does not meet the accessibility requirements of a modern diverse society in our city.

 

6. High-quality, consistent road design can reduce road deaths. Local Transport Note 1/20 is the current best practice design guideline for all transport schemes and is endorsed by Active Travel England.

 

7. While there are a number of actions that will require joined-up work with partner organisations, there are some steps to reduce road casualties that the Council could take or investigate (subject to funding) including:

·       Speed Limiters in all council vehicles to act as pace vehicles for the whole city;

·       Roll out of ‘vision zero’ training to all council employees who drive as part of their role;

·       Investigate actions with One City partners, such as the Police, to enforce 20mph and safer driving practices as part of their operations;

·       Identify the ten most dangerous junctions in the city and implement coordinated and evidence-based changes to make them safer;   

·       Re-deployable average speed cameras at hotspots;

·       A public awareness campaign on #VisionZeroBristol with targeted education programmes that change road user attitudes and behaviour;

·       Reduce risk through intelligence-led enforcement;

·       Run an “Exchanging Places” programme to make HGV drivers, bus drivers and cyclists more aware of one another;

·       Investigate the use of safer HGVs based on the Transport for London (TfL) policy;

·       Accelerate the rollout of School Streets and provide a road safety forum for schools.

 

This Council resolves to:

1. Set a Vision Zero target for road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

 

2. Include consideration of this target in all relevant council decisions and strategies e.g. road design and procurement, by implementing LTN1/20 when building any new walking, cycling and road projects or providing diversions around highway maintenance work.

 

3. Develop supplementary planning documents and/or other guidance to support the delivery of Vision Zero via Bristol's Local Plan process and the Joint Local Transport Plan.

 

4. Work with One City partners and other organisations including Arcadis – our strategic delivery partner, West of England Combined Authority, Major Employers, Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire and Rescue, South West Ambulance Trust, Bristol Health Partners, Bristol Blue Licensed Taxi Association, FirstBus, Stagecoach, Transpora, Voi, TIER, Developers and residents to achieve Vision Zero.

 

5. Work with the West of England Combined Authority and the surrounding Unitary Authorities to promote a joined-up approach to Vision Zero across the region.

 

6. OSMB to hold an inquiry day with relevant stakeholders, including One City partners and citizen groups.

 

7. Report back in six months on progress towards implementing a plan to achieve Vision Zero by 2030.’