Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee considers the draft Forward Work Programme and approves/ amends as necessary;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c)       That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions

The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented the current Forward Work Programme and Action Tracking for consideration and the Chief Officer (Planning, Environment & Economy) gave brief updates on some of the items.

In response to requests from Councillors the Scrutiny Facilitator confirmed that reports on the Integrated Transport Strategy and Climate Change would be brought to the Committee when there was any further relevant information to present and confirmed that Planning Enforcement could be added.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) confirmed that a virtual meeting could be set up with the Management Team and Project Manager from Parc Adfer due to the site visit being deferred in the new year.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Owen Thomas the Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) confirmed that there were plans for a cycle path from Rhydymwyn to Mold which had been put forward and the route was being looked into by Officers with an option to use the old disused rail land but unfortunately a lot of that land was not owned by the Council.  It would need to be advertised as part of Network Map which would then fall into the bidding process for Welsh Government.  He added that it would be some years away as there was a lot of work involved in procuring the land and getting the support for the route from Welsh Government.

Councillor Evans asked what the timescale was for the Mold to Broughton cycle path.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) advised that there was a full set of plans for the route now and that he had been in conversation with Welsh Government about potential funding which they were willing to fund for the Mold to Buckley and Sandycroft to Airbus sections rather than the full length and he would share the plans at a future meeting.

Councillor Hutchinson was interested to know if the original route of the Mold to Broughton and Chester cycle path was still intended to be along the Alyn Valley through Llong and Penyffordd. He felt  this route would put cyclists off having to cycle up the Warren Hill or would it be  following the railway line along the Alyn Valley which is more or less flat to Broughton and beyond to Saltney and Chester.

The Chief Officer (Planning, Environment & Economy) advised that that would have been the preferred route but unfortunately the land is no longer in the ownership of the Council.  Discussions were taking place with the land owner to utilise sections of the railway line as it comes out of Mold through Wylfa where we have got issues getting a dedicated cycle lane. He referred to an alternative route which utilises the verges passed Padeswood Cement through to Dobshill.  This would be a dedicated cycle lane and not an on road cycle lane so it would be able to follow the railway for the full length.  Details would be shared at a future meeting.

Councillor Bithell stated that there were a series of consultations due to take place in March but were aborted due to the emergency situation in relation to the Mold to Broughton cycle path.  A portion of the old rail track along the Rhydymwyn to Mold cycle path was sold a number of years ago to a light railway group which was no longer in operation.  He added there might be an opportunity to enter into negotiations with them to get land back into public ownership and have the cycle way along that route.

The recommendations in the report were moved by Councillor Paul Shotton and seconded by Councillor David Evans.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee considers the draft Forward Work Programme and approves/ amends as necessary;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c)       That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions.