Decision details

Purpose of Report:
This report will re-consider the arrangements for City Centre Access and the restoration of access through the Hostile Vehicle Measures for blue badge holders.

The report will consider the options and the impacts on the wider community including residents, businesses and visitors in terms of equality impacts, human rights impacts and economic impacts. The report will consider how these impacts can be mitigated including through further consultation with affected communities.

The Executive will be asked to make a decision on the future arrangements for the City Centre subject to any formal advertising and consultation.

Resolved:

                         i.         Noted the revised policy position of a new council plan, and how this changes decision making;

                        ii.         Noted the updated Our City Centre Strategy (to be considered at the same meeting);

                      iii.         Noted the advice of Counter Terrorism Policing contained within Annexes A and B attached to this report. At Economy, Place, Access and Transport Scrutiny Committee on the 26th of September, Counter Terrorism Policing Northeast confirmed their advice contained within Annex B remained their advice. The Executive have had a private briefing by Counter Terrorism Policing before making this decision and the information provided should also be considered;

                      iv.         Noted the responses to the consultation on the principles for restoring Blue Badge access to Blake Street, Lendal, St. Helen’s Square, Goodramgate (between Deangate and King’s Square), Church Street, King Square, and Colliergate during pedestrianised hours, contained with Annex C attached to this report.

                       v.         Acknowledged the positive impact of restoring Blue Badge access for disabled people.

                      vi.         Noted the impacts of increased risk of accidents between pedestrians and vehicles linked to additional vehicles within the pedestrianised streets, (including the potential negative impacts on some groups with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010) and the technical and practical challenges in administering an access regime;

                    vii.         Agreed to implement Option 3, contained within the report, that the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Measures will continue to operate but that Blue Badge access will be permitted to Blake Street, Lendal, St. Helen’s Square, Goodramgate (between Deangate and King’s Square), Church Street, Kings’ Square and Colliergate through the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Measures during pedestrianised hours as shown in Annex H to this report from January 2024. To start the process and consultation of developing an Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order and some events may mean access is restricted for the event;

                   viii.         Agreed that any additional ongoing costs, currently estimated at £200k, will need to be classed as priority growth as part of the 2024/25 budget process.

Reason:     Executive are required to consider if the option to restore Blue Badge access is reasonable and proportionate having fully considered the Equalities Impact Assessment. Executive therefore need to weigh up the equalities and human rights benefits to Blue Badge holders of restoring access and if the proposed mitigation of introducing an Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order balances the wider public interest, including the right to life, the duty to protect life, and the potential negative impact that additional vehicular traffic in the pedestrianised area could have on some groups with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.