Agenda item

Written answers to the questions below will be published on a supplementary agenda.

(A)       Question from Mr Jim Borcherds

“Stevenage Borough Council has a duty to encourage the use of sustainable travel rather than car usage in the Town. For this to be done residents need to have confidence that the network of cycle paths and footpaths around the town are being looked after and kept clear of hazards.

In June 2022 there were areas of the Cycleway network that still had leaves on them that fell in the Autumn of 2021, these areas had obviously not been swept in over six months.

On a recent occasion I had an email 10 days after reporting glass on the cycleway, letting me know that “This case has been closed because it will be resolved soon by the already planned programme of works” – case reference RIC448883495

As I understand it the system in Stevenage for maintaining the footpath and cycle path network involves mechanically sweeping the cycle paths every 8 weeks, litter picked once per week, and reports of problems like glass being resolved within 48 hours.

I also understand that it is policy to start to clear fallen leaves from the network from 1st November unless they are reported. I understand that there is a map showing the locations of persistent leaf fall that the Council uses to manage its work on clearing leaves.

Many residents and visitors to Stevenage use the FixMyStreet system to inform local authorities of problems. A benefit of the FixMyStreet system is that users can see other reported problems (unlike the Stevenage Borough Council system). My understanding is that Stevenage Borough Council does not subscribe to FixMyStreet.

From the examples I have given there is clearly a mismatch between what is supposed to happen and what does.

Can you give details of what plans Stevenage Borough Council has to improve the reporting and resolution of problems on the footways and cycleways so that less people are discouraged from using them?”

(B)       Question from Mr Paul Dawson

“The United Nations and World Health Organisation both mandate the setting of a maximum 30km/h (20mph) speed limit wherever vulnerable road users mix in a frequent and planned manner with motor vehicles, except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe.

St Albans District Council, Watford Borough Council and 11 other Parish and Town Councils across the county have already passed motions in favour of wide area 20mph speed limits in Hertfordshire. In addition, North Herts District Council and Royston Town Council, representing two of the three Hertfordshire Sustainable Travel Towns of Letchworth and Royston, have also passed 20mph motions.

Stevenage remains the only Sustainable Travel Town in Hertfordshire that has not passed a similar motion. Will Stevenage Borough Council, therefore, follow the lead taken elsewhere and propose a motion in favour of the implementation of a wide area 20mph speed limit on urban and residential roads in Stevenage and across Hertfordshire where pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users mix with motor vehicles?”

(A)       Question from Mr Jim Borcherds

The Council noted that a response to the question submitted by Mr Borcherds regarding the network of cycle paths and footpaths around the town had ben published in the supplementary agenda for the meeting.

Mr Borcherds was present at the meeting and, following a brief introduction during which he stated that the reply to his original question indicated that the situation was worse than that described on the SBC website in respect of the frequency of sweeping of and clearing of broken glass on cycleways and issues with the use of the FixMyStreet system, he asked the following supplementary question:

“What plans are there to improve the reporting and resolution of problems on the footways and cycleways so that less people are discouraged from using them?”

The Portfolio Holder for Environment & Climate Change replied to confirm his view that the major issue raised in the question and supplementary question concerned performance management.  It was quite clear than the sweeping and leaf-clearing winter schedule was not at an ideal standard, but had been driven by a reduction in resources since the late 2000s.  He offered to Mr Borcherds a place on the soon to be established SBC Climate Change Reference Panel for specialist and interested parties in environmental/climate change issues, and on a smaller sub-group to tackle Active Travel matters.  He also urged everyone to read the Climate Change Strategy on the Council’s website.

(B)       Question from Mr Paul Dawson

The Council noted that a response to the question submitted by Mr Paul Dawson regarding 20mph speed limits in Stevenage had been published in the supplementary agenda for the meeting.

Mr Dawson was present at the meeting and asked the following supplementary question:

“Could a meeting by arranged with members of 20 is Plenty for Hertfordshire to help with the process of identifying local areas in Stevenage that would benefit from 20mph Zones by working with local residents?”

The Portfolio Holder for Environment & Climate Change replied that many councillors were supportive of the 20 is Plenty campaign, but considered that the most appropriate forum for handling 20mph speed limits was the Highway Authority (Hertfordshire County Council).  He envisaged 20mph Zones being introduced in a manner proportionate to the individual issues of certain areas, rather than as a blanket restriction across the Borough.  As with the previous questioner, he extended an invitation to Mr Dawson to become part of his Climate Change Reference Panel, and further agreed to meet with him and hid group to see how a practical solution could be developed.