URL: https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=13345

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: A new Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan is being co-developed by the Combined Authority and Local Authority partners. This will be the new statutory Local Transport Plan for the region. The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet approval ahead of formal adoption, which is expected at the Combined Authority meeting on 19th March 2026.    Engagement and consultation   District officers have been engaged throughout the development of the draft document, consultation, policy wording and the final document. Including:   ·       LTP4 co-development group and Chief Highways Officers. Officers from Kirklees Council attended the fortnightly meetings with the Combined Authority and other West Yorkshire districts to review policy development and agree next steps. ·       WYCA Transport Committee and West Yorkshire Combined Authority Meetings. Transport Committee has helped shape the Plan throughout this process. At its meeting in April 2025 the Combined Authority approved a statutory twelve-week public and stakeholder consultation in summer 2025 on the proposed policy and interventions framework for the new Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan. The Combined Authority endorsed the proposed policies and implementation approach for consultation at its June 2025 meeting. Transport Committee received an update on 29 October following the close of the statutory consultation detailing the approach to consultation. ·       Member focussed events led by WYCA on LTP4. Online webinar for all WY ward councillors was held on 24th July 2025 ·       Kirklees specific resident drop-in sessions were held in Huddersfield on the 17th September and in Dewsbury on the 8th October 2025   Other activity has included 13 Focus Groups which had a total of 69 participants; and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) engagement which had 1,271 participants across 51 sessions.   The above activities were supported by a programme of 40 public events across West Yorkshire to reach into communities and encourage people to respond to the consultation. Together these events reached over 900 people.   The CA has undertaken thorough consultations per Department for Transport (DfT) guidance. Following the consideration of feedback and recommendations, the post-consultation draft of the Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport plan is being strengthened across a number of areas including: climate adaptation, accessible and inclusive transport, cross-boundary connections, and safety.    

Content: A new Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan is being co-developed by the Combined Authority and Local Authority partners. This will be the new statutory Local Transport Plan for the region. The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet approval ahead of formal adoption, which is expected at the Combined Authority meeting on 19th March 2026.    Engagement and consultation   District officers have been engaged throughout the development of the draft document, consultation, policy wording and the final document. Including:   ·       LTP4 co-development group and Chief Highways Officers. Officers from Kirklees Council attended the fortnightly meetings with the Combined Authority and other West Yorkshire districts to review policy development and agree next steps. ·       WYCA Transport Committee and West Yorkshire Combined Authority Meetings. Transport Committee has helped shape the Plan throughout this process. At its meeting in April 2025 the Combined Authority approved a statutory twelve-week public and stakeholder consultation in summer 2025 on the proposed policy and interventions framework for the new Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan. The Combined Authority endorsed the proposed policies and implementation approach for consultation at its June 2025 meeting. Transport Committee received an update on 29 October following the close of the statutory consultation detailing the approach to consultation. ·       Member focussed events led by WYCA on LTP4. Online webinar for all WY ward councillors was held on 24th July 2025 ·       Kirklees specific resident drop-in sessions were held in Huddersfield on the 17th September and in Dewsbury on the 8th October 2025   Other activity has included 13 Focus Groups which had a total of 69 participants; and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) engagement which had 1,271 participants across 51 sessions.   The above activities were supported by a programme of 40 public events across West Yorkshire to reach into communities and encourage people to respond to the consultation. Together these events reached over 900 people.   The CA has undertaken thorough consultations per Department for Transport (DfT) guidance. Following the consideration of feedback and recommendations, the post-consultation draft of the Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport plan is being strengthened across a number of areas including: climate adaptation, accessible and inclusive transport, cross-boundary connections, and safety.     RESOLVED –   1)    That the contents of this report, and the LTP4 document (Appendix A) and LTP4 Consultation report (Appendix B) be noted. 2)    That approval be given to LTP4, to support adoption by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.   

Date of Decision: February 10, 2026