Agenda item

·      The Surrey Cycling Strategy be approved as set out in Annex 1 to the report submitted. 

·      The role of Local Committees in developing affordable Local Cycling Plans be approved.

·      The continued engagement with central government to press for further funding for investment in cycling provision be approved.

·      Active engagement with the police and other local authorities in a similar position to Surrey on key aspects of cycling safety and regulations, as the basis for dialogue with central government, be approved.

·      The Framework for Coordinating and Approving Events on Surrey’s Highway be approved as set out in Annex 3 to the report submitted.

·      The comments and recommendations of the Communities Select Committee be noted and the response agreed as attached at Appendix 3 to this decision sheet.

Reasons for Decisions:

The 2012 Olympic Games positioned Surrey as a centre for cycling and presented a once in a lifetime opportunity to realise the economic, health and environmental benefits from this.  Through a partnership approach, the Strategy seeks to ensure that the benefits of this legacy result in more Surrey residents cycling for transport and leisure and that all Surrey children have the opportunity to learn to ride a bike safely. 

The issues and challenges in relation to cycling differ considerably in different parts of the county.  For that reason, the Strategy proposes the development of Local Cycling Plans, overseen by the Local Committees, which can properly reflect local circumstances.

A successful legacy also requires that steps be taken to tackle the rising levels of cyclist casualties, to encourage respect and consideration amongst all road users and to ensure that cyclists who come to the Surrey countryside show respect and consideration for local communities.  It also requires that major events that showcase our beautiful county and bring benefits to Surrey continue to be supported, whilst also ensuring that they are properly managed so as to minimise disruption and ensure no individual communities are affected by multiple events.

The County Council had developed the Surrey Cycling Strategy to support the development of cycling as a means of transport and to secure economic, health and environmental benefits for Surrey.  The Strategy also sets out plans to address the increase in cycle casualty rates and the local impacts of the increase in sports cycling and cycling events.

The Strategy’s aim is to get more people in Surrey cycling, more safely and contained a series of objectives to support the achievement of this aim.

The Strategy forms part of the Surrey Transport Plan and is the basis for the development of a series of Local Cycling Plans for each of the Surrey boroughs and districts, under the guidance of the Local Committees. It sets out clear plans and priorities, supported by appropriate governance structures to ensure a partnership approach. It has been the subject of extensive public consultation which has informed the strategy.

The Strategy is supported by a new Framework for Coordinating and Approving Events on Surrey’s Highway, which puts in place robust and transparent mechanisms for processes and decision-making governing events.  

The Cabinet Member for Community Services advised of the work that had taken place to develop the Strategy, including the input from members of the Communities and Environment & Transport Select Committees and the valuable contribution from over 3,700 comments which had been received. Cycling remained an important aspect of the council’s transport strategy and each local committee would be invited to develop their own local cycling plans to further this. Getting more people cycling more safely could reduce congestion, benefit tourism and have positive impacts on health.

The increase in cycling had provided a lasting legacy of Surrey’s successful hosting of the Olympics and the Strategy sought to ensure that this would continue in a safe manner. One aspect of this legacy had been the increase in the number of people looking to visit Surrey to cycle on its highways. The Cycling Strategy set out a robust Framework for coordinating and providing cycling events on Surrey’s highways. This placed an emphasis on the event organiser to ensure adequate consultation. Surrey County Council would also lobby central government to require that, in future, both the police and local authorities be notified of requests to hold sportive events on public roads. This would enable better planning of these events, ensuring that they were held safely and reduced the risk of any potential disruption.

Cabinet Members discussed their own experience of cycling, local schemes to support cycling and their shared concern that it take place safely with shared understanding from all road users. Education and ensuring that cost was not a factor to children learning and riding safely on cycles were identified as key factors. The benefits of separating cycles from other road traffic where possible were discussed, although it was noted that this could have significant cost implications and could not be done everywhere. Members also noted the work that had taken place with the Equalities Impact Assessments to ensure engagement and accessibility. Ensuring access arrangements for care users had been and would remain a key consideration in the planning around any events.

RESOLVED:

1.         The Surrey Cycling Strategy be approved as set out in Annex 1 to the report submitted. 

2.         The role of Local Committees in developing affordable Local Cycling Plans be approved.

3.         The continued engagement with central government to press for further funding for investment in cycling provision be approved.

4.         Active engagement with the police and other local authorities in a similar position to Surrey on key aspects of cycling safety and regulations, as the basis for dialogue with central government, be approved.

5.         The Framework for Coordinating and Approving Events on Surrey’s Highway be approved as set out in Annex 3 to the report submitted.

6.         The comments and recommendations of the Communities Select Committee be noted and the response agreed as attached at Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

Reasons for Decisions:

The 2012 Olympic Games positioned Surrey as a centre for cycling and presented a once in a lifetime opportunity to realise the economic, health and environmental benefits from this.  Through a partnership approach, the Strategy seeks to ensure that the benefits of this legacy result in more Surrey residents cycling for transport and leisure and that all Surrey children have the opportunity to learn to ride a bike safely. 

The issues and challenges in relation to cycling differ considerably in different parts of the county.  For that reason, the Strategy proposes the development of Local Cycling Plans, overseen by the Local Committees, which can properly reflect local circumstances.

A successful legacy also requires that steps be taken to tackle the rising levels of cyclist casualties, to encourage respect and consideration amongst all road users and to ensure that cyclists who come to the Surrey countryside show respect and consideration for local communities.  It also requires that major events that showcase our beautiful county and bring benefits to Surrey continue to be supported, whilst also ensuring that they are properly managed so as to minimise disruption and ensure no individual communities are affected by multiple events.