Green Group Motion

Council notes

1. Oxford was recently named as the UK’s most walkable city, due to the small distances between key tourist attractions.^[1]
2. The 2021 Census showed that 22% of Oxford residents walk to work, making walking the modal choice for more commuting residents than cycling at 17% or bus at 15%.^[2]
3. Studies show walking significantly improves both physical and mental health outcomes, and promotes longer and higher quality lives.^[3]
4. Research suggests lower income households - over-represented by ‘female heads of house, children, young and older people, black and minority ethnic (BME) and disabled people’ - rely on walking more often due to not owning a car.^[4]
5. There are inexpensive walking-related initiatives across Oxfordshire which have been successful, such as Oxford’s health walks and Bicester Blue Lines.^[5]
6. Whilst some things which improve the pedestrian experience are County responsibilities there are others which the City Council has sole or joint responsibility for, such as new benches, water fountains, public toilets, and wayfinding.
7. The City Council could require residential dropped kerbs to be “Dutch style” entry kerbs, which keeps pavements flat and easier for wheelchair users.
8. Mapping work in London has provided councils with excellent dynamic local maps, allowing residents and visitors to walk more easily. ^[6]
9. Pavement Parking is frequently named as one of the key issues facing pedestrians and wheelchair users. Government commissioned a report into this in 2020, and despite written questions and a debate, the results have not been published. ^[7]
10. Lambeth has pioneered an innovative “Kerbside Strategy” which prioritises walking, street trees, benches, and local businesses and will reallocate 25% of kerbside space to people.^[8] 

Council believes

1. Despite Oxford being a relatively small city with strong walking potential, the experience of walking or wheeling around the city needs urgent improvement.
2. We could build on Oxford’s small size and strong reputation for walking to have a cohesive strategy to improve the pedestrian experience for everyone - and this would be relatively inexpensive to do with enormous health and wellness benefits.

Council resolves:

1. Noting that there could be financial and resourcing implications,  meaning that implementation would be subject to a cabinet report setting out those implications, To request the Cabinet Member for Healthy Oxford:
   1. discuss with officers the designing of a plan for improving walking in Oxford, based on local knowledge and existing research.
   2. Works with the Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon and the Cabinet Member for Culture and officers to create a walkable map of Oxford for tourists and locals alike.
   3. Writes to the new Transport Minister on behalf of Oxford City Council, urging rapid release of the 2020 pavement parking consultation
   4. Proposes the idea of a “Kerbside Strategy for Oxford” to the County Council.
2. To request the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management reviews opportunities to invest in public infrastructure to improve the city’s walkability to enable bids in the budget process.
3. To request the Cabinet Member for Planning reviews mandating Dutch entry kerbs for residential drop kerb conversions planning conditions and considers this through the Equality Act 2010.

Councillor Morris presented his motion and was seconded by Councillor Kerr.

Council debated the motion.

On being put to the vote, the motion was agreed.

Councilnotes that Oxford was recently named as the UK’s most walkable city, due to the small distances between key tourist attractions.^[1] The 2021 Census showed that 22% of Oxford residents walk to work, making walking the modal choice for more commuting residents than cycling at 17% or bus at 15%.^[2] Studies show walking significantly improves both physical and mental health outcomes, and promotes longer and higher quality lives.^[3] Research suggests lower income households - over-represented by ‘female heads of house, children, young and older people, black and minority ethnic (BME) and disabled people’ - rely on walking more often due to not owning a car.^[4] There are inexpensive walking-related initiatives across Oxfordshire which have been successful, such as Oxford’s health walks and Bicester Blue Lines.^[5] Whilst some things which improve the pedestrian experience are County responsibilities there are others which the City Council has sole or joint responsibility for, such as new benches, water fountains, public toilets, and wayfinding. The City Council could require residential dropped kerbs to be “Dutch style” entry kerbs, which keeps pavements flat and easier for wheelchair users. Mapping work in London has provided councils with excellent dynamic local maps, allowing residents and visitors to walk more easily. ^[6] Pavement Parking is frequently named as one of the key issues facing pedestrians and wheelchair users. Government commissioned a report into this in 2020, and despite written questions and a debate, the results have not been published. ^[7] Lambeth has pioneered an innovative “Kerbside Strategy” which prioritises walking, street trees, benches, and local businesses and will reallocate 25% of kerbside space to people.^[8] 

Council further believes that despite Oxford being a relatively small city with strong walking potential, the experience of walking or wheeling around the city needs urgent improvement. Council believes they could build on Oxford’s small size and strong reputation for walking to have a cohesive strategy to improve the pedestrian experience for everyone - and this would be relatively inexpensive to do with enormous health and wellness benefits.

Council resolves to request the Cabinet Member for Healthy Oxford:

1.    Noting that there could be financial and resourcing implications, meaning that implementation would be subject to a cabinet report setting out those implications,

1. 1. discuss with officers the designing of a plan for improving walking in Oxford, based on local knowledge and existing research.
   2. Works with the Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon and the Cabinet Member for Culture and officers to create a walkable map of Oxford for tourists and locals alike.
   3. Writes to the new Transport Minister on behalf of Oxford City Council, urging rapid release of the 2020 pavement parking consultation
   4. Proposes the idea of a “Kerbside Strategy for Oxford” to the County Council.
2. To request the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management reviews opportunities to invest in public infrastructure to improve the city’s walkability to enable bids in the budget process.
3. To request the Cabinet Member for Planning reviews mandating Dutch entry kerbs for residential drop kerb conversions planning conditions and considers this through the Equality Act 2010.