The report of the Strategic Director, Regeneration, (Document “S”) provides an update to the three previous recommendations around the management of the district’s Killed and Serious Injuries (KSI’s) on the highway.  The report also comments on the current risk to the Inter-Departmental Agreements between Planning, Transportation & Highways Service and Public Health around the Road Safety Team and Active School Travel.

Recommended –

(1)  That the strong Casualty Reduction performance in Bradford against the rest of the County be endorsed.

(2)  That the Strategic Director, Regeneration, be requested to provide a status in March 2017 on the progress of the Safer Roads element of the Single Transport Plan.

(3) That the Director of Public Health and the Strategic Director, Regeneration be requested to update this Committee on the budget outcome and any impact on the Road Safety Team and the Active School Travel programme as a result;

(4) That the Director of Public Health and the Strategic Director, Regeneration be requested to update the Committee on a strategy to underwrite the continued existence of the Road Safety Team and Active School Travel Programme and report back in March, 2017.

(Simon D’Vali – 01535 618375)

The report of the Strategic Director, Regeneration, (Document “S”) provided an update to previous recommendations around the management of the district’s Killed and Serious Injuries (KSI’s) on the highway.  The report also commented on the current risk to the Inter-Departmental Agreements between Planning, Transportation & Highways Service and Public Health around the Road Safety Team and Active School Travel.

A presentation was provided which detailed the number of all casualties, broken down into each local authority, in the West Yorkshire area and it was reported that Bradford’s performance against its neighbours was good.  Issues in some areas of deprivation, particularly in the Bradford East constituency were reported and Members were advised that Bradford East was the second highest in the country for child casualties. The presentation continued with statistical information comparing methods of travel with those KSIs; contributory factors and all child casualties between January and December 2016 in the West Yorkshire area.

The role of the Road Safety Team was discussed and it was maintained that their role was a significant support in reducing casualties and death.  The report revealed that funding for the Road Safety Team was derived from a Public Health Grant following a report on the synergies between casualty reduction and health priorities three years previously.  Public Health were reviewing all Inter-Departmental Agreements (IDAs) due to budget cuts and the Road Safety Team was part of that review.  It was confirmed that the review was out for consultation and Highways and Public Health would consider possible measures of making up a shortfall.

It was questioned how that support would be developed and Members were advised that a bid could be made to the Local Transport Plan (LTP) Board to allocate an element of the LTP funding to the Road Safety Team.  The formation of a new West Yorkshire Safer Roads Executive was reported.  The Executive was chaired by the Assistant Director, Planning, Transportation and Highways and included all heads of service, West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the Ambulance Services together with commissioning groups with budgets available for highways.  The Executive would convene its second meeting in January 2017 and would prioritise the direction of future funding. 

The report revealed national evidence that funding cuts to Road Safety had resulted in an increase in casualty levels.  Members were concerned to note that it had then taken five years of intensive education, training and publicity to return to previous casualty levels.  In response they were advised that the issue had been discussed in Parliament.

The method to set reduction targets appended to Document “S” were questioned and it was explained that a correlation of the West Yorkshire area was used. 

The report evidenced that driver error and behaviour was a cause of accidents but did not appear to include statistics on vehicle speed.  In response it was explained that intervention regarding speed reduction had not been included in the report, however, significant improvements had been made in built up areas with 20mph zones or limits and there was still the will to continue that programme of work.

Speed reduction was welcomed; however, Members stressed the importance of enforcement.  In response it was explained that there was a good relationship with the Police and there was a great deal of data sharing.

The locality of the highest child casualties was queried and a brief overview was provided.  It was reported that areas of high deprivation featured higher on the casualty lists.  Issues including the volume of  traffic using ‘rat runs’; increased pedestrian activity; lack of play space; unsupervised children playing in the street because properties had no gardens and drug dealer/anti-social behaviour making recreation grounds unsafe were a key area of concern.  Those issues were being investigated although there was more work to be done. 

Resolved –

(1)  That the strong Casualty Reduction performance in Bradford against the rest of the County be endorsed and officers be congratulated on their national leadership role.

(2)  That the Strategic Director, Regeneration, be requested to provide an update in March 2017 on the progress of the Safer Roads element of the Single Transport Plan.

(3) That the Director of Public Health and the Strategic Director, Regeneration be requested to update this Committee on the budget outcome and any impact on the Road Safety Team and the Active School Travel programme as a result.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Regeneration