Councillor Pat Cleary moved and Councillor Allan Brame seconded the following Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 –

(1)  Council notes that existing Government policy, following on from the Paris Summit held in December 2017, includes steps to tackle climate change and emissions. This has been followed by the Zero Emission Vehicle Summit held in Birmingham in September 2018 and the signing of a declaration which set out the aim of...

'Building a smart infrastructure network, planning for the cities of the future today, embedding zero emission infrastructure into the fabric of our urban and rural communities, and enabling provision where consumers need it.’

(2)  Council believes that this ought to enable and encourage the development of new settlements where these principles are embedded and designed in from the outset.

(3)  Council also notes the proposals by Peel Holdings to incorporate a Streetcar light rail system as an integral part of creating a modern, sustainable transport scheme to support the wider aims of the Wirral Waters development and its belief that ...

“the Wirral Streetcar is a unique opportunity to provide a low cost, scaleable, sustainable, light rail service that could provide a ‘feeder’ service into the Mersey Rail network.”...

and

the existing support for the Streetcar concept from central Government and numerous other agencies.

(4)  Council believes the Streetcar proposals offer many potential benefits including:

·  creating a sustainable, low carbon transport infrastructure for Wirral Waters;

·  minimising car dependency and associated land use thereby freeing up more land for residential development and easing pressure on our precious green belt;

·  linking existing rail and ferry transport hubs, thereby creating an integrated public transport system that will support residential, commercial and tourism objectives.

(5)  Council therefore believes that progress on the Streetcar scheme is important if Wirral Waters is to achieve its full potential for the people of Wirral and that effective cooperation between all relevant parties including Peel Holdings, Wirral Council and Merseytravel is essential to its future success.

(6)  To that end, Council requests that the Leader of the Council writes to Merseytravel and Peel Holdings requesting a meeting to:

·  review progress on the Streetcar scheme

·  determine how best Wirral Council can practically support the delivery of the Streetcar scheme

and reports back to Council on the outcome of this meeting.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham moved and Councillor Phill Brightmore seconded the following amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) such that the Motion be approved subject to the deletion of all after paragraph (2) and the replacement with –

(3) Council believes that transport plays a vital role in the delivery of Wirral Waters and Council is keen that a well-designed transport strategy for the area supports economic growth and regeneration, as well as playing a key part in improving the health of our Borough and reducing the negative impacts on our environment of carbon emissions.

(4) Council notes that Wirral Waters presents numerous challenges in terms of transport infrastructure, in some parts of the site having:

·  Poor walking and cycling connectivity and facilities

·  Limited public transport penetration

·  Localised congestion (in particular when the bridges are raised)

·  Severance from the Kingsway Tunnel Approach Road

·  Poor quality and low capacity highway and junctions – particularly the main junctions surrounding the site itself on Dock Road, Tower Road, Corporation Road and Wallasey Bridge Road

(5) Council notes that, in partnership with Peel Holdings, Council has made significant progress over recent years to start to address these challenges, including a £1.7 million package of cycling and walking improvements funded via the Sustainable Transport Enhancement Programme that is currently being delivered on site, and more recently secured £3 million investment from the Department for Transport for a Civilised Street Project on Tower Road due to be completed by March 2020. Council is also awaiting outcomes of several other funding applications which if successful will secure approximately a further £1m in improvements for active travel users in the area.

(6) Council is keen to support people’s desire for mobility, to improve connectivity and enable access to opportunities such as employment and education, whilst still ensuring that we reduce carbon emissions, promote behavioural change and take advantage of innovation. Council believes It is essential that a flexible package of transport solutions for Wirral Waters are explored.

(7) Council also recognises the wider strategic transport context, as well as creating new communities at Wirral Waters there will be a new leisure destination at Eureka and regeneration plans for Birkenhead town centre.  Through these major projects, and as more developments come on stream, there will be the opportunity to take account and advantage of social and technological changes and develop a package of transport solutions which work now and for future years to ensure that the benefits for our communities are maximised. Given the scale of development coming forward in Wirral it is essential that any solution for the area is flexible to ensure that as new destinations are created, and further developments take place over time that any transport solution can adapt and accommodate the changing patterns of travel needs.

(8) Council is acutely aware that the travel habits of the younger generation are very different from previous generations; there is less desire for car ownership and increased use of mobile technology to support the use of flexible travel services such as Uber. Bus operators are looking at new ways to operate services with services such as Arriva Click being trialled in the City Region. 

(9) Council believes that any transport solution for the area needs to meet the ambitions of the Climate Change Strategy and advancements in technology now enable low carbon and zero emission vehicles to meet mobility demands but without having a negative impact on our local environment. 

As such Council recommends that the Leader of the Council 

a)  Recognises the opportunities presented though the development of Wirral Waters and the town centre and moves to look at a package of flexible transport solutions to enable and link the Council’s major investment areas and provide access for residents to the wide range of opportunities available across the sites.

b)  Instructs Officers to work with the Wirral Growth Company and Peel Holdings to explore a package of options for a transport solution that works for all parties across the investment areas, whilst considering opportunities presented by advancements in technology to support the Councils ambitions. As part of these options the Streetcar concept should be considered but it needs to be underpinned by a robust business case.

c)  Instructs officers to work with partners to seek appropriate funding sources on a local and national basis, taking into account opportunities available for new technology and zero emission solutions.

Having applied the guillotine the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment was put and carried (55:6) (One abstention).

The substantive motion, as amended, was put and carried (55:6) (One abstention).

Resolved (55:6) (One abstention) –

(1)  Council notes that existing Government policy, following on from the Paris Summit held in December 2017, includes steps to tackle climate change and emissions. This has been followed by the Zero Emission Vehicle Summit held in Birmingham in September 2018 and the signing of a declaration which set out the aim of...

'Building a smart infrastructure network, planning for the cities of the future today, embedding zero emission infrastructure into the fabric of our urban and rural communities, and enabling provision where consumers need it.’

(2)  Council believes that this ought to enable and encourage the development of new settlements where these principles are embedded and designed in from the outset.

(3)  Council believes that transport plays a vital role in the delivery of Wirral Waters and Council is keen that a well-designed transport strategy for the area supports economic growth and regeneration, as well as playing a key part in improving the health of our Borough and reducing the negative impacts on our environment of carbon emissions.

(4)  Council notes that Wirral Waters presents numerous challenges in terms of transport infrastructure, in some parts of the site having:

·  Poor walking and cycling connectivity and facilities

·  Limited public transport penetration

·  Localised congestion (in particular when the bridges are raised)

·  Severance from the Kingsway Tunnel Approach Road

·  Poor quality and low capacity highway and junctions – particularly the main junctions surrounding the site itself on Dock Road, Tower Road, Corporation Road and Wallasey Bridge Road

(5)  Council notes that, in partnership with Peel Holdings, Council has made significant progress over recent years to start to address these challenges, including a £1.7 million package of cycling and walking improvements funded via the Sustainable Transport Enhancement Programme that is currently being delivered on site, and more recently secured £3 million investment from the Department for Transport for a Civilised Street Project on Tower Road due to be completed by March 2020. Council is also awaiting outcomes of several other funding applications which if successful will secure approximately a further £1m in improvements for active travel users in the area.

(6)  Council is keen to support people’s desire for mobility, to improve connectivity and enable access to opportunities such as employment and education, whilst still ensuring that we reduce carbon emissions, promote behavioural change and take advantage of innovation. Council believes it is essential that a flexible package of transport solutions for Wirral Waters are explored.

(7)  Council also recognises the wider strategic transport context, as well as creating new communities at Wirral Waters there will be a new leisure destination at Eureka and regeneration plans for Birkenhead town centre. Through these major projects, and as more developments come on stream, there will be the opportunity to take account and advantage of social and technological changes and develop a package of transport solutions which work now and for future years to ensure that the benefits for our communities are maximised. Given the scale of development coming forward in Wirral it is essential that any solution for the area is flexible to ensure that as new destinations are created, and further developments take place over time that any transport solution can adapt and accommodate the changing patterns of travel needs.

(8)  Council is acutely aware that the travel habits of the younger generation are very different from previous generations; there is less desire for car ownership and increased use of mobile technology to support the use of flexible travel services such as Uber. Bus operators are looking at new ways to operate services with services such as Arriva Click being trialled in the City Region. 

(9)  Council believes that any transport solution for the area needs to meet the ambitions of the Climate Change Strategy and advancements in technology now enable low carbon and zero emission vehicles to meet mobility demands but without having a negative impact on our local environment. 

As such Council recommends that the Leader of the Council 

(a)  Recognises the opportunities presented though the development of Wirral Waters and the town centre and moves to look at a package of flexible transport solutions to enable and link the Council’s major investment areas and provide access for residents to the wide range of opportunities available across the sites.

(b)  Instructs Officers to work with the Wirral Growth Company and Peel Holdings to explore a package of options for a transport solution that works for all parties across the investment areas, whilst considering opportunities presented by advancements in technology to support the Councils ambitions. As part of these options the Streetcar concept should be considered but it needs to be underpinned by a robust business case.

(c)  Instructs officers to work with partners to seek appropriate funding sources on a local and national basis, taking into account opportunities available for new technology and zero emission solutions.