The EAP Sustainable Communities meeting on 04 December 2024 was scheduled to involve discussions about the progress made on the creation of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP) for Wellingborough, Rushden, and surrounding areas. Councillors were also scheduled to receive an update on the results of the public consultation on the draft Climate Change Strategy.

Wellingborough & Rushden Area LCWIP

The meeting was scheduled to include a presentation of the draft Wellingborough & Rushden Area LCWIP, which was produced by engineering consultancy Pell Frischmann in August 2024. Councillors were scheduled to hear that the plan identifies 31 routes that would cost an estimated £110m to deliver, and prioritises the delivery of 15 of these routes. The presentation was also scheduled to explain the results of the public consultations on the plan.

The first public consultation took place in May 2024 and received 157 responses. It found that 63% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the plan's proposals. The consultation proposed the creation of a Core Walking Zone for Irthlingborough that 32% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with, leading to it being removed from the plan.

A second consultation on the draft report was held between September and October 2024 using the council's Citizen Space platform. The consultation received 44 responses through Citizen Space and a further 5 emails. This consultation found that 74% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals, with 22% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

The plan identifies links with the neighbouring West Northamptonshire Council area as a priority.

Route A3 & A4 should be extended west of Ecton to the West Northamptonshire boundary to connect to Northampton LCWIP route proposals. LCWIP shows the route extending to Ecton and a note stating that the route is to connect to Northampton as part of Northampton LCWIP. This approach agreed with WNC.

The report also acknowledges that the plan does not include cycle parking, which it acknowledges is an important issue but says is outside of the scope of the plan.

More cycle parking and storage is required. This is accepted and will be examined separately. The purpose of LCWIPs is to identify routes.

Following the meeting the plan is scheduled to be considered by the Place and Economy Scrutiny Committee on 29 January 2025, and by the Council's Executive Committee on 13 March 2025.

The meeting was also scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the Kettering and Corby LCWIPs, both of which have already been approved. The update explains that both plans have been reviewed and that individual sections of routes have been identified and prioritised.

The update concludes by explaining that North Northamptonshire Council does not currently have a budget to deliver on any of the proposals in the LCWIPs, and that it will instead focus on seeking external funding from sources such as Active Travel England, and from developers.

Climate Change Strategy Consultation Update

Councillors were scheduled to be presented with an update on the public consultation on the draft Climate Change Strategy.

The consultation asked members of the public for their opinions on the actions proposed by the council to address the risks posed by climate change in six areas:

• Homes & the Built Environment
• Energy
• Transport
• Nature, Food & Farming
• The Green Economy
• Waste

The consultation received 358 responses across two surveys: one about the Climate Change Framework, which received 94 responses, and one about climate change attitudes and behaviours, which received 264 responses.

The update quotes several of the responses it received, and describes the changes made to the strategy in response to the feedback it received. It concludes by explaining that the strategy will be considered by The Place & Environment Scrutiny Committee on 29 January 2025, and by the Council's Executive Committee on 13 February 2025.