Agenda item

The Committee considered a presentation by the Director of Environment and Transport, which provided an update on the development of the Council’s draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan for 2025-2035. The report sought the Committee’s views on the Plan and the actions identified, as part of the public consultation process to manage and improve Leicestershire’s rights of way network for its current and future users. A copy of the presentation marked ‘Agenda Item 12’ is filed with these minutes.

Arising from the discussion, the following points were made:

(i)             It was highlighted that, of those that said they used the rights of way network, over 85% said this was for health and fitness purposes. Members suggested that the Authority should be encouraging local residents to make use of this resource.

(ii)            It was noted that the Local Transport Fund had been allocated for one year and would deliver some of the maintenance work required on the network. Although a very small budget, this was considered a local priority and a shared asset. It was recognised that local people were keen on supporting this based on the noticeable improvement work already carried out so far.   

(iii)          Members supported the idea of community activities being held to support the delivery of improvement plans. It was suggested that there were communities within rural areas that would and could support these initiatives. However, it was also noted that this was a complex situation, the Council having legal duties and only a small budget which would not support the entire network.

(iv)          It was noted that, as with cutting grass verges, the Authority, would always provide the core service to keep rights of way accessible. However, there were communities that had the capacity to maintain these over and above what the Council was able to provide. The Director emphasised that there were practical constraints on what the Council could enable and encourage the public to do.

(v)           A Member suggested that maintenance of the rights of way network could be delivered by those sentenced to community service orders and that this might be a better use of their time. It was suggested that this option could be explored but that this would come with associated costs.

(vi)          Members acknowledged the importance of maintaining historic footpaths across the County but raised concerns about the increase in byways open to all traffic which were being abused and left impassable. It was suggested that this was due to the behaviours of some and although there were sensitive issues and strong feelings by different parties, the overall impact on the Highways Authority responsible for maintaining the byways was becoming problematic. 

(vii)         Members shared their frustrations with signage being left behind upon the completion of road work carried out in the highway, noting that this often ended up in hedge rows and waterways. It was noted that the Council shared in residents’ frustrations and the Director highlighted the difficulties faced by the Council in being able to address this. It was noted that companies carrying out works on the highway now used multiple contractors each carrying out specific works and who were responsible for putting up and taking down all signage.  The Authority could seek to encourage the behaviour of companies to act on this more quickly and the Director asked that any signage left behind after completed works be reported to the Department. 

RESOLVED:

a.    That the report on the Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan be noted;

b.    That the comments made by the Committee be considered as part of the consultation process and presented to the Cabinet for consideration in due course;

c.     That the Director of Environment and Transport be requested to investigate concerns raised by a Member regarding the footpath running alongside Gartree prison which was severely overgrown.