Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Cabinet Member was asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests he may have in the business on the agenda, or disclose any pecuniary interests.

The Cabinet Member declared a personal non-prejudicial interest as an honorary member of the Cyclists’ Touring Club and as a member of the York Cycle Campaign.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st May 2012.

RESOLVED:                That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 21 May 2012 be approved and signed by the Cabinet Member as a correct record.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

There had been registrations to speak for some agenda items, details of which are included under the relevant minute item.

This report is in response to a petition from residents requesting that a bench be returned to its original location at the junction of Stockton Lane and Hempland Lane. It examines the background issues leading up to the removal of the bench and the views of the local community.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member requested that Officers relocate the bench to another location, subject to feasibility work and local consultation, in particular consultation with the residents of Field Court.

REASON:                     For the benefit of the local community.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which detailed a response to a petition from residents requesting that a bench be returned to its original location.

Paul Waites spoke in objection and advised that placing the bench next to a busy junction and a zebra crossing is irresponsible. He stated that in recent years there had been an increase in street furniture and that motorists have enough to look out for without the addition of the bench on the corner. He pointed out that the junction was a dangerous one with a history of accidents and that although residents had concerns about an increase in anti social behaviour, safety was their primary concern.

Lynne Terry spoke on behalf of residents to advise that contrary to reports in the local newspaper, there had been no arguments and that residents only wanted to find a solution to the matter. She understood that residents of Field House had now withdrawn their names from the petition and were happy to support the recommendation in the officers report to find a suitable alternative site for the bench.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged the safety concerns of the residents but also that of older residents who relied on the bench as a place to rest whilst out walking. He approved Option 2 to explore other potential locations and noted Councillor Ayres’ request to give consideration to location ‘C’ as identified at Annex A.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member requested that Officers relocate the bench to another location, subject to feasibility work and local consultation, in particular consultation with the residents of Field Court.

REASON:                     For the benefit of the local community.

This report presents a petition submitted by residents of Bishopthorpe Road, requesting the installation of gates on the alleyway between Bishopthorpe Road and Nunmill Street.

RESOLVED:                That the request to gate the alleyway at this time would not be progressed.

REASON:                     On current information, the proposed Gating Order does not appear to meet the legal expediency test, given the likely effect on adjacent businesses. Funding has also been cut for alley gates.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which presented a petition submitted by residents of Bishopthorpe Road, requesting the installation of gates on the alleyway between Bishopthorpe Road and Nunmill Street.

Catherine Worden, a local resident who had organised the petition spoke to advise that a number of properties had been burgled in the area and there had been issues with graffiti and anti social behaviour in the lane. A number of residents including business owners in the area were in support of the petition.

The Cabinet Member advised that he understood why residents had petitioned for the alley gate as the crime statistics show there is a problem in the area. Unfortunately the funding received for previous alley gates in York had now been cut so he could not authorise the request to gate the lane at this moment in time. He stated that the area would be given high consideration if funding does become available in the future.

RESOLVED:                That the request to gate the alleyway at this time would not be progressed.

REASON:                     On current information, the proposed Gating Order does not appear to meet the legal expediency test, given the likely effect on adjacent businesses. Funding has also been cut for alley gates.

The purpose of this report is to update the Cabinet Member on the trial parking arrangements in the Badger Hill area. These were introduced at the start of the year to alleviate parking problems associated with ongoing development at the University of York’s Heslington East Campus.

RESOLVED:                That the Cabinet Member agreed the following proposals to enhance the current trial:

a.   Additional junction protection markings at Field Lane’s junction with Sussex Road (no waiting at anytime restrictions).

b.   Extend the areas covered by the Residents Parking Scheme to include the cul-de-sacs of Hesketh Bank, Foxthorn Paddock, Pinewood Hill and Badger Wood Walk.

c.   Amend the through route of Deramore Drive, currently covered by a controlled zone, to be included within the zonal respark scheme.

d.   Extend the areas covered by the Residents Parking Zone to include the two through-routes; 140 metres of Deramore Drive and 100 metres of Yarburgh Way.

e.   Confirm the operational times of the Residents Parking Scheme and Controlled Parking Zone trials as 8.00am until 6.00pm for the continuation of the trial.

f.     Authorise Officers to enter into detailed discussions with the University of York aimed at developing a wider parking strategy that can be applied across the areas previously identified as part of the Planning Inspectors considerations.

REASON:                     To address parking issues that will arise from the planned development of the East Heslington Campus.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which provided an update on the trial parking arrangements in the Badger Hill area. These were introduced at the start of the year to alleviate parking problems associated with ongoing development at the University of York’s Heslington East Campus. The report also addressed concerns raised by residents as highlighted in two petitions recently received.

The Cabinet Member noted the report, in particular the outcome of the recent trial and consultation and approved the officers recommendations.

RESOLVED:               

That the Cabinet Member agreed the following proposals to enhance the current trial:

i.     Additional junction protection markings at Field Lane’s junction with Sussex Road (no waiting at anytime restrictions).

ii.    Extend the areas covered by the Residents Parking Scheme to include the cul-de-sacs of Hesketh Bank, Foxthorn Paddock, Pinewood Hill and Badger Wood Walk.

iii.   Amend the through route of Deramore Drive, currently covered by a controlled zone, to be included within the zonal respark scheme.

iv.  Extend the areas covered by the Residents Parking Zone to include the two through-routes; 140 metres of Deramore Drive and 100 metres of Yarburgh Way.

v.   Confirm the operational times of the Residents Parking Scheme and Controlled Parking Zone trials as 8.00am until 6.00pm for the continuation of the trial.

vi.  Authorise Officers to enter into detailed discussions with the University of York aimed at developing a wider parking strategy that can be applied across the areas previously identified as part of the Planning Inspectors considerations.

REASON:  To address parking issues that will arise from the planned development of the East Heslington Campus.

In response to a petition from residents, requesting the scrapping the proposed highway improvements to Field Lane and University Road, Heslington, this report examines the background issues and evaluates the requested actions.

RESOLVED:          a.   That the Cabinet Member noted the contents of the petition, but agreed that the University Road/Field Lane scheme is progressed.

b.   That further exploration of the location of a cycle track at Church Field be undertaken as part of further consultation, but the current proposals for the track (Annex D), should  not be precluded at this stage.

c.   That Officers write to the lead petitioner after the meeting.

REASON:       a.   To satisfy the requirements of the planning approval given to the University of York in respect to the East Campus Development, to provide essential cycle and pedestrian links between campuses, to provide improvements to traffic flows in sensitive areas adjacent to the school and church on Field Lane, and to achieve the desired environmental enhancement in the vicinity of Heslington Hall and Heslington Church to be undertaken.

                         b.  In response to written representations from the Ward Member and local residents.

                         c.  To inform petitioners of the Cabinet Members decision.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which detailed a response to a petition from residents requesting the scrapping of the proposed highway improvements to Field Lane and University Road, Heslington.

Officers outlined the report and advised that they had received written representations concerning the location of the cycle path at Church Field.

The Cabinet Member commented that he was conscious that the University is in the early stages of its planned development and that traffic levels currently are relatively low in terms of the forecasts for the East Campus. In light of that he agreed to approve the recommendations in the officers report, including putting  the proposals for the cycle track at Annex D out for consultation. In response to residents concerns, other options for the cycle track would also be considered alongside Annex D.

RESOLVED:          i.    That the Cabinet Member noted the contents of the petition, but agreed that the University Road/Field Lane scheme is progressed.

ii.    That further exploration of the location of a cycle track at Church Field be undertaken as part of further consultation, but the current proposals for the track (Annex D), should  not be precluded at this stage.

iii.   That Officers write to the lead petitioner after the meeting.

REASON:       i.     To satisfy the requirements of the planning approval given to the University of York in respect to the East Campus Development, to provide essential cycle and pedestrian links between campuses, to provide improvements to traffic flows in sensitive areas adjacent to the school and church on Field Lane, and to achieve the desired environmental enhancement in the vicinity of Heslington Hall and Heslington Church to be undertaken.

                         ii.   In response to written representations from the Ward Member and local residents.

                         iii.  To inform petitioners of the Cabinet Members decision.

This report provides details of the consultation exercise carried out for the highway works forming Phase 1 of the A59 bus corridor scheme (from Plantation Drive to Carr Lane) as shown in its wider context in the plan attached as Annex 1. The report also updates the Cabinet Member on the changes which have been made to address issues identified during consultation and the outline design period.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet Member agreed to:

Note the comments raised by the public, Councillors and interested organisations.

Note the Officer’s response to the comments and any proposed amendments to the design.

Approve the further design development of the scheme in line with the recommended improvements to the original consultation layout drawing (Annex 3) as set out in the drawing Annex 4 – to enable the project to be constructed during the present 2012/13 financial year.

That the cycle lane width be 1.5m as discussed at the meeting.

Authorise the advertisement of Traffic Regulation Orders for the new bus lane.

REASON: To update the Cabinet Member on the changes that   have been made to address issues identified during consultation and outline design period.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which provided details of a consultation exercise carried out for the highway works forming Phase 1 of the A59 bus corridor scheme (from Plantation Drive to Carr Lane).

The Cabinet Member referred to written comments made by Councillor D’Agorne in respect of the cycle lane width and advised that he shared the same concerns and that it was correct to achieve a width of 1.5m. He noted the loss of a cherry tree but hoped that this could be replaced in due course.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet Member agreed to:

i.     Note the comments raised by the public, Councillors and interested organisations.

ii.    Note the Officer’s response to the comments and any proposed amendments to the design.

iii.   Approve the further design development of the scheme in line with the recommended improvements to the original consultation layout drawing (Annex 3) as set out in the drawing Annex 4 – to enable the project to be constructed during the present 2012/13 financial year.

iv.  That the cycle lane width be 1.5m as discussed at the meeting.

v.   Authorise the advertisement of Traffic Regulation Orders for the new bus lane.

REASON: To update the Cabinet Member on the changes that   have been made to address issues identified during consultation and outline design period.