Issue - meetings

This report considers a request to adopt a section of the above alleyway as a public highway, maintainable at public expense.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                 That the report to request the adoption of the alleyway as a public highway, maintainable at Public Expense, be noted;

(ii)               That the immediate addition of the path to the List of Streets Maintainable at the Public Expense be authorised.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the Advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To enable the alleyway to be maintained to a standard commensurate with its use.

Members considered a report, which asked them to consider a request to adopt a section of the alleyway between Scarcroft Hill and Mill Mount as a public highway, maintainable at public expense.

The Assistant Director (Maintenance Services) introduced the report and explained that the route had been incorporated into the 2008-09 Safe Routes to School Programme.  It was stated that the cost of repairing the alleyway would be funded from the existing Highways Infrastructure Budget, with the cost of full repair estimated at £10,000.

Members then raised various concerns and questions to which Officers responded. It was understood that Ward councillors were positive to the proposal, but that they had not responded officially. Members, who had visited the alleyway, agreed that parts were in urgent need of repair.

One Member had raised concern over the removal of the heritage paving/sets and felt that they should be replaced and repaired and would not support any recommendation for taking up the heritage paving. However, officers explained that funding was only available for the pulling up of the paving and the laying of tarmac, not for the cost of the replacement of the heritage paving, which would be much higher and that there was no additional money in the Highways budget for this.

It was noted that where tarmac had been laid in other alleyways, that residents had been happy with this, but that residents had been less happy when there had been a patchwork of repairs. Most Members were in agreement that it was sad to lose any of the City’s heritage, but that Members needed to be realistic in terms of what could be afforded in terms of repair to the alleyway. It was agreed that any consideration with regard to how the repairs to the alleyway would to be undertaken should be brought back to the Panel together with details of any additional costs.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                 That the report to request the adoption of the alleyway as a public highway, maintainable at public expense, be noted;

(ii)               That the immediate addition of the path to the List of Streets Maintainable at the Public Expense be authorised.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the Advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To enable the alleyway to be maintained to a standard commensurate with its use.