Agenda item

To present the report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property Services.

The report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property incorporating the Isle of Anglesey’s proposed consultation response to the North Wales Regional Transport Plan was presented for the committee’s consideration and scrutiny.

Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property  presented the report setting out the Council’s proposed response to the consultation held by the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) on the draft North Wales Regional Transport Plan (RTP). The RTP establishes the priorities and interventions within the various parts of the transport system and sets the direction of travel for the next five years. The North Wales RTP will be managed and governed by the CJC which has a statutory duty to create both a Strategic Development Plan and a Regional Transport Plan. The CJC has established a Strategic Transport Planning Sub-Committee to carry out its statutory functions. The sub-committee has met and has conducted work to draft the RTP in accordance with Welsh Government guidelines. Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas urged everyone to participate in  the public consultation on the RTP before the closing date of 14 April 2025 highlighting that approximately 1,400 people had already taken part with over 500 having visited the virtual community hall. Additionally, two call-in sessions have been conducted in Holyhead and Llangefni as part of the consultation process.

The Head of Highways, Waste and Property explained that the RTP is a high level strategic document outlining the vision for the region. The Council’s proposed response to the RTP aims to balance the region’s strategic priorities with the unique needs of Anglesey as a rural area whose needs differ significantly from other parts of the region. The draft response will also  incorporate the views of elected members, town and community councils, service users and the general public. As the RTP is expected to align with the Welsh Government’s Llwybr Newydd – The Wales Transport Strategy 2021 (WTS), the Council must ensure that its aspirations are achievable within the parameters of Welsh Government policy. However the North Wales Transport Commission’s review and a review of the  resilience of the Menai crossings led by Lord Burns have provided a robust starting point. Ultimately, the success of the RTP depends on the availability of the resources and capacity to execute the Delivery Plan over the next five years. Therefore it is crucial that the Plan does not overly raise expectations.

In the subsequent discussion on the proposed response to the Regional Transport Plan, the following matters were raised by the committee –

·      Given the strategic importance of Holyhead Port in serving Wales, the wider UK and internationally to connect Ireland with mainland Europe, questions were asked about the timeline for fully reopening the port after it was damaged during Storm Daragh.

The committee was advised that subject to confirmation by Stena, the second damaged berth is expected to reopen by summer 2025. A task group which includes the Council Leader has been formed  by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales to examine the Port’s importance. The Head of Highways, Waste and Property noted that while railways and highways are excluded from the RTP, the Council’s draft response has taken advantage of the public consultation to highlight resilience concerns with the Menai crossings, the quality of the road network to Holyhead Port and lack of facilities for HGV drivers due to their significance to the Island.

·      The extent to which the public consultation process will influence the final version of the Regional Transport Plan and whether the council has any influence over the final version.

The committee was advised that the consultation responses will be collated and analysed by Arup consultancy group who will be implementing a You said, We did feedback approach. The consultation outcome will be reported to the Strategic Transport Planning Sub-Committee in June and to the CJC in July, 2025.

·      Enquiries were made about the relationship between the proposed Regional Transport Plan and the Wales Bus Services Bill and franchising proposals.

The committee was informed about the Bus Services (Wales) Bill  introduced by Welsh Government which reforms bus service  operations in Wales. The bill proposes moving services from commercial company control to public oversight using a regional franchising model across four regions – North Wales, Mid Wales, Southwest Wales and Southeast Wales with the changes beginning in Southwest Wales in 2027 and North Wales in 2028. While aligning with the Regional Transport Plan vision, the success of the bill depends on adequate  funding particularly to improve connectivity in rural areas where  services are limited. In response to questions about resourcing,  the Head of Highways, Waste and Property stressed the importance of giving due consideration to education transport, third sector funding, grants and community transport alongside main bus services when funding is allocated. Further integration of these aspects within future  arrangements will be key to creating a unified transport system. Responding to questions regarding the extent to which the RTP will create a seamless service, the Head of Service further explained that under franchising, local authorities will manage routes, timetables and fares leading to better co-ordination potentially enabling passengers to use a single ticket for their entire journey across different transport modes.

The Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property pointed out that the Council’s proposed response to the RTP highlights the lack of focus on interconnectivity which is crucial for developing an integrated transport system to address rural community needs. Instead the plan appears to concentrate on each of the transport  modes in isolation.

·      Concerns were raised that the draft RTP may not sufficiently address the needs of individuals living in rural communities who depend on public transport for work and business purposes. Questions were also asked regarding the availability and development of community transport schemes.

The committee was informed that the Council’s proposed response raises concerns about the extent to which the RTP addresses the unique challenges faced by rural communities whose needs differ significantly from those of towns and cities. It emphasises the necessity of focusing more on solutions tailored to overcome these challenges. The Council has trialled community transport initiatives in parts of the Island and is aware that other councils have explored different schemes. The Council plans to request that Transport for Wales and the Strategic Transport Planning Sub-Committee conduct studies to identify the most suitable model for rural areas  to ensure that an urban solution is not applied to a rural problem.

·      The committee questioned whether the Council’s proposed response adequately  emphasises the need for sufficient funding, noting that funding limitations are likely to hinder what the Council can achieve.

The committee was advised that funding concerns were addressed in the  original document to which the Council contributed, raising the points highlighted. Recent cabinet changes in the Welsh Government have indicated a shift in mindset raising hopes that future regional funding will offer greater flexibility for prioritising local needs. This would enable the Council to place a stronger focus on addressing the requirements of  rural communities and to implementing a plan tailored specifically to meet those needs.

·      Questions were asked whether the needs of individuals with disabilities have been sufficiently considered.

The committee was advised that a specific needs assessment  is conducted for each  individual scheme implemented. In its proposed response, the Council has raised a query whether the Integrated Wellbeing Appraisal will be applied to the overall programme or to individual projects.

·      The committee enquired whether the slow recovery of bus passenger numbers across  Wales  since the pandemic has been taken into account. Members also raised questions regarding the extent of the reduction in usage, specifically on Anglesey.

The committee was advised that obtaining accurate data on usage is challenging, as it is held by commercial operators. Generally, the recovery of bus passenger numbers has been slower in rural areas. On the Island, frequent timetable changes and a reduction in service frequency by operators have further complicated data collection. While the data was published yesterday incorporating it into the response to the RTP is difficult. The Head of Highways, Waste and Property suggested that addressing this matter  in the response to the Bus Services Bill, which is open to consultation until May 2025, might be more appropriate. This would allow time to scrutinise the data, using it to support the principle of franchising while emphasising the importance of delivering solutions that are realistic and do not raise expectations unnecessarily.

·      Questions were asked about plans to improve the resilience of the Menai crossings.

The committee was advised that the letters sent to the Welsh Government and North Wales Police, attached to the proposed RTP response, highlight the extensive  impacts that any disruption to either of the Menai crossings can have on the island. The Council maintains that the core issue is lack of resilience rather than capacity. Current studies are exploring potential solutions such as installing wind deflectors which could raise the threshold at which the bridges are closed due to wind. However, the effects such measures might have also have to be discussed with CADW and the work remains ongoing. The Council has expressed concerns about Welsh Government’s plans should such measures prove ineffective or unfeasible questioning whether the ultimate solution is the construction of a third crossing.

Following a comprehensive discussion, the committee concluded that  the proposed consultation response to the Regional Transport Plan is both robust and realistic, and that it  addresses the key issues relevant to Anglesey. Members expressed their gratitude to the Officers for their efforts in preparing the report. An additional request was made for members to receive an annual update on the progress and status of transport/ travel improvement schemes and works in their respective areas.

It was resolved that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee endorses the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s proposed consultation response to the North Wales Regional Transport Plan as set out in Appendix A to the report presented. (Councillor R. Llewelyn Jones abstained from voting)

Additional action agreed – Members to receive an annual update on the progress and status of transport/travel improvement schemes and works in their respective areas.