Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to gain Cabinet approval for the Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2025-2035. As the Highway Authority for Surrey, Surrey County Council has a duty to produce a Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet approves the adoption of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) 2025-2035.

2.    That Cabinet delegates decisions on delivery of the ROWIP to the Executive Director for Environment, Property and Growth, in consultation with the Director for Environment and Cabinet Member for Environment, through annual implementation plans and performance indicators.

Reasons for Decisions:

The ROWIP is a statutory document requiring review every 10 years. The four proposed themes in the revised ROWIP reflect feedback from the public and partners which focused on: supporting access for all; maintaining rights of way so they are safe; a desire for improved connectivity where possible and a willingness from residents and partners to work with SCC to inform how the network could be used. Feedback from the 12 week statutory consultation shows 80-90% of respondents agreed with the priorities.  Delivery will be through an annual implementation plan which needs to be able to respond to changing conditions on the network and availability of funding.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)

The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment who explained that as the Highway Authority for Surrey, Surrey County Council had a duty to produce a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) which must be reviewed and updated every 10 years. This was a statutory document. Extensive engagement had been undertaken including an online public survey, an online survey for Parish Councils, a presentation to Surrey Association of Local Councils (SALC), an online briefing for Members and an online survey and workshop for Surrey landowners. Following extensive engagement between December 2023 and January 2025, including a 12 week statutory consultation, a new ROWIP (2025-2035) had been produced. Nearly 4,300 online responses were received from the online surveys, one of the largest responses received from any Council consultation.

The four proposed themes in the revised ROWIP reflect feedback from the public and partners which focused on: Public Rights Of Way Are For Everyone, Maintaining and Protecting the Network, Future Surrey and Communications And Partnership. Future Surrey provided an essential link to connecting improvements to rights of way with cross Council objectives such as active travel routes, safe routes to school and new community links created through development. It actively supports delivery of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, Local Transport Plans, Local Cycling and Walking Plans, One Surrey Growth and Vision Zero Road Safety Strategy.

The Cabinet Member explained that each year an Annual Report, evidencing work carried out to deliver the ROWIP would be produced. Officers were thanked for the excellent work undertaken to produce the ROWIP. Cabinet Members supported the plan and recognised the investment being put into the Rights of Way network and the high level of collaboration undertaken with partners and stakeholders to produce the ROWIP. The Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways stated that he was pleased to see that the report recognised the value and importance of enforcement. The Cabinet Member for Environment stated that it was important that local people reported any issues on Rights of Way immediately.

The Leader stated that part of the work on Local Government Reorganisation was around the establishment of Community boards. These multi agency boards would bring together partners including those from health, community safety and local government. It was envisaged that these boards would consider items such as Rights of Way and ensure they are protected, enhanced and maintained.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet approves the adoption of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) 2025-2035.

2.    That Cabinet delegates decisions on delivery of the ROWIP to the Executive Director for Environment, Property and Growth, in consultation with the Director for Environment and Cabinet Member for Environment, through annual implementation plans and performance indicators.

Reasons for Decisions:

The ROWIP is a statutory document requiring review every 10 years. The four proposed themes in the revised ROWIP reflect feedback from the public and partners which focused on: supporting access for all; maintaining rights of way so they are safe; a desire for improved connectivity where possible and a willingness from residents and partners to work with SCC to inform how the network could be used. Feedback from the 12 week statutory consultation shows 80-90% of respondents agreed with the priorities.  Delivery will be through an annual implementation plan which needs to be able to respond to changing conditions on the network and availability of funding.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)