Questions
must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services, democratic.services@npt.gov.uk
no later than noon two working days prior to the meeting. Questions must relate to items on the agenda.
Questions will be dealt with in a 10
minute period.
Minutes:
There
had been one question submitted to Council.
Mr
Dewitt was welcomed and asked the following questions to Council:
1.
In some recent
years, Neath Port Talbot Council has not submitted bids to the active travel
fund at all and more recently when it has, it has been unsuccessful. I would
hope to see some new strategies to improve this but it
is unclear what these are. NPT is now unquestionably the worst performing local
authority in this area and I would like to see some specific goals that can
start the process of improving.
2. Other local authorities have tried to build significant signature projects and these are getting funding, Monmouth is building
a bridge over the Wye, Newport built a huge pedestrian and cycleway over a
train line connecting people in ways they could not before. Swansea has several
signature pieces of infrastructure connecting people in ways other than via
cars. Where is NPTs ambition to do the same, why can't we add some significant
visible infrastructure providing a pedestrian and cycle front door into our
destinations. It can and should be bigger than this as it is in our
neighbouring local authorities.
Cabinet Member for Strategic
Planning, Transport and Connectivity thanked Mr Dewitt for his questions and
responded to the Committee. Since 2014, Neath Port Talbot have submitted
applications to the Welsh Government for Active Travel improvements for over
£13,000,000 and have been successful in securing over £6,000,000. Applications
for funding have been submitted every year since 2014.
With regards to unsuccessful
bids, the Active Travel Fund is always oversubscribed by bids from over 22
Welsh Local Authorities.
Section 5 in the Active
Travel Delivery Plan details proposed improvements, the plan contains 29
actions and the subject to funding would see the delivery of improvements in a number of areas, including Neath Town Centre, Aberafan, Port Talbot, Cimla to
Neath Town Centre, Neath Canal to Briton Ferry Bridge. Within Neath Port
Talbot, there are 400 future routes, these proposed improvements will be
subject to funding. This will improve 35% of the future routes on the Neath
Port Talbot future Active Travel Network Map.
Mr
Dewitt was thanked for the questions, and joining Members
and Officers at the Cabinet meeting.