To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Development.

The Committee welcomed Zoe Whiteside, Service Lead - Spatial Planning to present the Second Monitoring Report.

A recommendation was to establish a cycling task group. It was proposed that instead of a Task Group, a project of work was undertaken to achieve key objectives and to gain a wider understanding of cycling within the borough.

Through the use of social media, awareness of cycling was to be raised, and information shared including updates to the highway code while encouraging cycling for all ages.

Lancashire County Council was the responsible body for cycling, the Council aimed to engage to gain a greater understanding of their plans, schemes and improvements and lobby for Chorley to receive funding and focus.

As part of the creation of the new Local Plan, active travel and cycling were to have an emphasis.

The Committee welcomed Andy Hunter-Rossall, invited to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following his public question related to cycling at Council 22 February 2022.

It was clarified that the cycling project would be Officer led, however, progress could be reported at the Climate Change Working Group, providing Member input and oversight, however, as a Working Group, it was not open to members of the public.

If the project was endorsed, the consultation for cycling would begin in the summer to prevent any overlap with the current Climate Change consultation.

Members raised the potential of utilising the concept of a scrutiny rapporteur to enable a proactive, deep dive, Member led approach to a scrutiny topic.

The County Council felt strongly that the franchising and regulation of buses would remain a County power. Andrew Varley, Lancashire County Council’s Public Transport Manager explained that the County felt that as Chorley Council was not a combined Authority, it would not be appropriate to consider franchising and felt that the Enhanced Partnership was the way forward.

Chorley Liaison received a presentation by Tracy Keating from Dial a Ride. It was explained that the service faced financial limitations, and that the capacity at present was for booked rides into town, supermarkets or appointments. The greatest issue they faced was the shortage of volunteers. Every parish council was encouraged to promote the service to raise awareness and source volunteers. It was noted that Adlington Town Council were already working with Dial a Ride.

In response to the reason car sharing required an HR review, Zoe Whiteside would seek clarity and report back.

Cycle pods had been ordered for Bengal Street, it was uncertain if they had arrived and been installed.

Decision: The report was noted.