Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the work that Council is undertaking to address issues around river safety, how it is working in partnership and requests the release of capital funding to support physical improvements to reduce the risks associated with the rivers in York.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree Option 1 to release funding from capital contingency to undertake the physical works arising from the recommendation from the RoSPA report as outlined in paragraph 7, of the report, under the headings Provision of Rescue Equipment and Public realm design, including edge protection and physical barrier.

Reason:     To ensure that the council’s river safety measures are up to date and reduce the potential for harm associated with river incidents.

Consideration was given to a report which provided Cabinet with an update on the work being undertaken to address the issues around river safety.

The Cabinet Member referred to the increase in fatalities associated with the rivers Ouse and Foss since 2011 and to the actions and interventions already taken. It had been agreed that further additional action was required which included the commissioning of a report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), on the physical issues associated with the rivers. The review had subsequently detailed a number of key actions for the Council, full details of which were set out in the report and it was noted that is was hoped to have these actions completed by Spring 2015.

The Chair welcomed the report and its recommendations and acknowledging the campaign work also being undertaken by the universities to ensure the safety of their students.

Members then considered the following options:

Option 1 – Approve the release of capital funding from contingency to undertake the physical works arising from the recommendation from the RoSPA report as outlined in Para 7 under the headings, Provision of Rescue Equipment and Public realm design, including edge protection, physical barriers .

Option 2 – Not release funding to undertake all or some of the works outlined in Para 7 under the headings, Provision of Rescue Equipment and Public realm design, including edge protection and physical barriers.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree Option 1 to release funding from capital contingency to undertake the physical works arising from the recommendation from the RoSPA report as outlined in paragraph 7, of the report, under the headings Provision of Rescue Equipment and Public realm design, including edge protection and physical barrier. ^1.

Reason:     To ensure that the council’s river safety measures are up to date and reduce the potential for harm associated with river incidents.