Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. No interests were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or a matter within the Executive’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Monday 20 December 2010.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Representations were received from a resident of Westminster Road who referred to the length of time spent by both members and officers on the Water End scheme and subsequent traffic issues on Westminster Road/The Avenue. He requested Members to agree to the reinstatement of the left hand lane to alleviate the 97% increase in traffic on Westminster Road/The Avenue. He reiterated that the existing scheme went against highway guidance and he suggested that an examination should be made of alternative measures to slow through traffic on these residential roads.

Cllr Galvin, addressed the meeting as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee. He confirmed that the Committee’s deliberations had centred on three issues. The first being that the removal of the left hand filter lane had increased congestion at the Water End junction, secondly the increase in traffic on Westminster Road/The Avenue and finally that the new layout had not resulted in improved safety for cyclists.

To reconsider the decisions taken by the Executive Member for City Strategy on 7 December 2010 regarding the above item, if requested to do so by the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) meeting on 20 December 2010.

The report on this item was published as part of the agenda for the           Executive Member Decision Session held on 7 December 2010 and the agenda for the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) to be held on       20 December 2010.  The links to those agendas on the Council’s website are provided below:

http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=672&MId=5363&Ver=4

http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=602&MId=5570&Ver=4

Members reconsidered the decisions taken by the Executive Member for City Strategy on 7 December 2010 in relation the possible reinstatement of a left turn lane on the Water End approach to the Clifton Green traffic signals, whilst retaining a dedicated cycle lane. The report also set out details of the responses received to the proposal to take forward a chicane trial along Westminster Road and The Avenue.

The Executive Member’s decisions on this item had been called in by Cllrs Gillies, Douglas, Hudson, King, Scott and Watt and subsequently considered by the Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC) (Calling In) at a meeting on 20 December 2010. The SMC (Calling In) had resolved:

“That Option B be approved and resolutions 4 i) and ii) be referred back to the Executive with a recommendation that they request the Executive Member to:

Reinstate the left hand lane with or without a cycle lane on the basis of:

i)          increased traffic levels and congestion caused by not having a left turn lane, and

ii)                 the impact of extra traffic on Westminster Road.”

In response to Cllr Galvin’s comments, the Executive Member for City Strategy explained that the Officer’s report to the Decision Session had been based on the recommendations of the Scrutiny Task Group. He pointed out that the report had taken into account the views of officers, cycling organisations, the Police and Ambulance Service and the results of the Road Safety Audit

Having heard the comments of the Chair of the Scrutiny Management Committee and the Executive Member for City Strategy and having considered the decisions in the light of the advice offered by the SMC (Calling In), it was

RESOLVED:             That Officers be requested to prepare a report for consideration by the Executive Member for City Strategy at a future Decision Session on the consequences of reinstating the left turn lane, without cycle lane, at the Water End/Clifton Green junction

REASON:                  In accordance with the calling-in procedure and to take account of the advice offered by the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In).