Issue - meetings

ORDERED That Executive approve the updated Integrated Transport Strategy.

The Executive Member for Environment submitted a report for Executive consideration, the purpose of which was to re-fresh the Integrated Transport Strategy which had been aligned with the updated policy and government strategy. The report and its recommendations supported the wider economic growth of Middlesbrough and the pursuit of external funding to enable delivery.

The Council adopted the Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) on 12th December 2018 as part of the Strategic Transport Strategy Executive Report.

Since this time, several national policies and technical guidance from Central Government had been formulated and amended, and the Council had undertaken refreshed traffic modelling works. This had been incorporated into the updated ITS document as a refresh to ensure it was relevant. It was recommended that the Council approves the updated strategy document to ensure that the Council could deliver its objectives in a prudent manner, as set out within the strategy.

ORDERED That Executive approve the updated Integrated Transport Strategy.

OPTIONS

Do nothing.  If the Council did not approve and endorse the updated ITS, this would have resulted in a significant challenge to delivering future sustainable transport programmes across Middlesbrough, due to an approved strategy not being in place.

Not having an approved strategy in place, could indicate that the Council had not considered mitigation measures to support new transport and housing schemes across the town. This would result in a disjointed approach between local, regional and national approaches to facilitate economic growth; presenting a weaker methodology for seeking funding from future external funding sources.

REASONS

The approval would reference changes to Government policy and strategy since the formation of the approved strategy in 2018; allowing the Council to deliver and develop infrastructure that better met the needs of Middlesbrough.

This would support the wider economic growth of Middlesbrough, and the pursuit of external funding to enable delivery.