The Head of Environmental Development and the Environmental Policy Team Leader presented a report on the progress of the Oxford Cycle City project and answered questions.

Councillor John Tanner (Executive Member for Cleaner, Greener Oxford, Climate Change and Transport) also answered questions.

·         In paragraph 4 of the report, an additional £67,000 was awarded (not £62,000 as stated).

·         The Cycle City plan was very ambitious. Oxfordshire County Council would prefer that new schemes did not start until their new long-term county-wide strategy was agreed. The Council’s response to the draft strategy would be submitted shortly. One concern was the lack of a hierarchy of priority travel modes to inform road design.

·         The Cycling Panel could have an input into those projects which could be taken forward with the funding available.

·         Most grants were available only to the County Council in its capacity as transport authority, although the city council was consulted as appropriate about any bids for these.

·         Some S106 and CIL funding from new developments was available for cycling schemes either on or off the site of the development.

·         The increase in cycle journeys as the main mode of transport would be measured for city residents.

·         Some work on the towpaths had been completed; the County Council had a grant to carry out more work; but upgrading major stretches required their assistance.

·         Adult training had been carried out as a small-scale pilot and may be continued if funds allowed.

·         It was unclear why there had been no proposals for better provision for cyclists on Woodstock Road.

·         Working relations with voluntary sector groups were generally productive.

·         It should be possible to progress schemes with clear benefits where these did not conflict with the proposals in the draft transport strategy and could be funded.

Members of the Committee commented that the Cycling Panel should consider the consultant’s report on the County Council’s draft transport strategy, and the budget and proposed expenditure on cycling improvements.

The Committee recommended that:

·         the Cycling Panel urge Oxfordshire County Council to progress the recommendation in the motion on cycle safety adopted at Council on 1 December; and

·         the consultants’ report on the Oxford Transport Strategy should be circulated to councillors,

and noted that individual responses could be made to this consultation.