Report of Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport regarding the governance arrangements and work of the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) (schedule 4 to the signed minutes).
The SSRP was established in 2011 with the aim of increasing collaboration between partner organisations including:- (i) Staffordshire County Council; (ii) Stoke-on-Trent City Council; (iii) Staffordshire Police; (iv) Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and; (v) Highways England, in order to reduce road casualties in the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent areas. Their vision was, “Working Together to Improve Road Safety in Partnership with our Communities” supporting which were the following Strategic Objectives:- (i) To achieve long term sustained reductions in road traffic collisions across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent; (ii) To ensue education and training initiatives are used effectively to reduce the risk of being involved in a road traffic collision; (iii) To agree a considered approach to engineering and enforcement based on evidence and making best use of sustainable but limited resources; (iv) To engage and support our communities to take responsibility for improving road safety and; (v) To improve public confidence in the safety of Staffordshire’s and Stoke-on-Trent’s roads.
In 2016, The Partnership agreed to strengthen their governance structure so as to ensure their work continued to receive appropriate direction and scrutiny. Therefore, they established:- (i) a Strategic Board to oversee strategy and take responsibility for key financial decisions and scrutiny and; (ii) an Operational Board to review current local road safety issues and make recommendations to the Strategic Board.
Members heard that overall, recorded road traffic casualties in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent had seen a significant decline over recent years. However, changes in the method of recording incidents had resulted in a degree of fluctuation eg a small increase in the Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) Category in 2016 compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, Staffordshire was currently ranked fourth out of 43 Police Force areas based on the 2019 KSI casualty rate, by population.
Whilst the Partnership had adopted a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to KSIs, in real terms they were working towards achieving a long-term sustained reduction in collisions both in terms of frequency and severity. Their intension was to remain in the top 25% best performing areas in the Country.
Work by the Partnership’s Insight and Intelligence Officer had confirmed the need to continue to focus efforts on targeting children, young drivers and motorcyclists. In addition, their was evidence to support the development of initiatives aimed at cyclists, older drivers and drivers of commercial vehicles.
Current key initiatives included:- (i) the funding of road safety education in priority schools within the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent areas; (ii) funding for the Staffordshire Road Safety Grant fund for community led road safety projects; (iii) the commissioning of support from the County Council to develop road safety information and education through various communication and media channels and; (iv) the upgrade of older fixed enforcement camera sites.
NOTE BY CLERK – Discussion on this item took place under Agenda Item No. 5 – “Proposal for Scrutiny Review – 20 MPH Speed Limits” (minute No. 18) above.
RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted.
(b) That the work of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Road Safety Partnership in reducing road accident casualties be welcomed.
(c) That the governance structure and operating model of the Partnership, as outlined in the report, be supported.
(d) That the on-going performance of the Partnership be monitored closely and further updates be brought to the Committee, as required.
Supporting documents: