1.            That the Local Transport Plan (2025-2040) for consultation jointly with Devon County Council be approved.

2.            That the Director of Pride in Place be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Pride in Place, Transport and Parking, to approve minor editing alterations to the Local Transport Plan (2025-2040) for grammatical or presentation purposes ahead of the consultation, alongside the production of supporting consultation materials.

To allow Devon County Council and Torbay Council to undertake a consultation on the proposed Local Transport Plan (2025-2040), to develop the strategy document with policies that support the growth of Torbay and enhance the transport opportunities for the community, businesses and visitors.

An alternative option would be not to consult at this time and wait until further guidance was published by Government, but there is no information currently on whether or not further guidance will be forthcoming.  Devon County Council could choose to proceed separately with the plan, removing the linkages and joint sections with Torbay.  This would mean that the March 2025 date in the devolution agreement would challenging to meet and would likely lead to a disjointed plan for transport across the area, rather than the joined-up approach currently proposed.

A second alternative option would be to similarly pause the current work, and instead wait until the existing plan expires in 2026 and to review whether a separate Torbay or joint Devon and Torbay plan at that time was appropriate.  By 2026, an updated strategic plan for transport covering the area would be required.  There had previously been indications that updated Local Transport Plans would be used to guide funding awards to Council’s – with a longer-term plan there may be scope for longer term funding packages.

This decision will be implemented immediately.

Local Transport Plans are statutory documents, required under the Local Transport Act 2008, for the Local Transport Authorities such as Torbay Council to produce.  In 2011, Torbay worked in partnership with Devon County Council to adopt a joint Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan (2011-2026)

Local Transport Plan set out the overarching ambitions for the local transport network with policies for the promotion of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport, alongside proposals for the implementation of these policies. 

The updated Local Transport Plan sets out a clear vision and objectives for a place-based strategy from 2025-2040.

At the meeting Councillor Billings proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis seconded a motion that was agreed by the Cabinet, as set out above.

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