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Report to:
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Place Scrutiny Committee |
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Date of meeting:
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28 November 2024 |
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By:
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Chair of the Review Board |
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Title:
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Scrutiny Review of Local Speed Limit Policy |
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Purpose:
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To present the outcomes of the scrutiny review and make recommendations. |
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RECOMMENDATION: That the Committee considers and endorses the report of the Review Board, and makes recommendations to Cabinet for comment, and County Council for approval. |
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1. Background
1.1 The Place Scrutiny committee has observed that after potholes, speed limits and road safety issues are the most frequently raised issues with local Councillors as part of their constituency work. Also, in July 2023 a Notice of Motion was debated at Full Council regarding reviewing and updating Policy PS05/02 on Local Speed Limits. During the debate it was suggested that the Place Scrutiny committee could look at the issues raised by the Motion as part of a scrutiny review.
1.2 The Committee agreed as part of its work programme priorities to hold a scoping meeting to explore in more detail what the focus of a potential scrutiny review could be. At the Place Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 12 July 2024 the Committee agreed to proceed with a Scrutiny Review of Local Speed Limit Policy.
1.3 The scope of the review included:
· Consideration of the purpose of a local speed limit policy and examining how local speed limits are reviewed, assessed and delivered by East Sussex County Council (ESCC).
· Examining whether the ESCC local speed limit policy PS05/02 is in line with national Department for Transport (DfT) guidance.
· Reviewing examples of other local authority speed limit policies (e.g. our nearest neighbours and those with similar road networks to ESCC).
· Reviewing national and local evidence on the impact and effectiveness of lower speed limits and zones (including 20mph limits).
· Exploring other measures local authorities and developments are bringing forward to deliver low speed environments in both urban and rural areas.
· Exploring how ESCC currently communicates the local speed limit policy and wider policy context to residents and considers potential improvements.
· Reviewing the amount of officer time spent carrying out assessments of road safety concerns and preparing petition reports.
1.4 The Review Board has heard evidence for the review over six meetings held with officers who are involved in delivering the service and Sussex Police. The Board examined evidence on the approach other local authorities are taking to local speed limits, the Department for Transport Circular 1/2013 Guidance: Setting Local Speed Limits (updated March 2024), and national studies undertaken on the impact of setting lower speed limits. It also considered other measures the Council takes to implement low speed environments through local transport schemes, the Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) and the planning system.
2. Summary
2.1 The members of the Review Board are Councillors Matthew Beaver, Julia Hilton, Ian Hollidge (Chair), Eleanor Kirby-Green, Philip Lunn, Steve Murphy, Paul Redstone and Brett Wright.
2.2 The Board has made seven recommendations which it believes will help further develop the Council’s processes and approach to setting local speed limits, and to better communicate the policy approach to residents and community groups. Overall, the Board considered that ESCC’s Local Speed Limit Policy and approach to setting speed limits is in line with the current DfT guidance and is broadly similar to the approach taken by other local authorities.
2.4 The attached report (appendix 1) contains the findings and recommendations of the Review Board. Copies of evidence papers listed in the report and other support documentation are available on request from the contact officer.
2.5 The Committee is recommended to receive and endorse the Review Board’s report for submission to Cabinet and County Council on 28 January 2025 and 11 February or 25 March 2025 respectively.
3.1 The Committee is requested to consider and endorse the report of the Review Board and make recommendations to Cabinet for commments and Full Council for approval.
Contact Officer: Martin Jenks, Senior Scrutiny Adviser
Tel No. 01273 481327
Email: martin.jenks@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL MEMBERS: All.