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 an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Friday 22 January 2010.

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

Alan Wells, made representations as a resident of Westminster Road in support of point closure. He stated that the atrocious traffic situation involving these roads being used as a cut through had alarmed residents, particularly the number of near accidents. Residents noted that, since the changes at Water End problems had arisen, mainly due to impatient drivers overtaking stationery queued traffic to make a right turn into Westminster Road. He went onto to point out that residents felt that if no changes were made there were dangers at the junction for residents, drivers and cyclists.

With the consent of the Chair, Cllr Pierce addressed the meeting as one member of the Scrutiny Task Group. He confirmed that on the basis of information received he had no views either way on the proposed 20mph limit on this road. He stated that the volume of traffic was the main issue and he felt the problems encountered by residents had arisen following alterations to the junction at Water End. He asked that Officers should be requested to examine this junction to see how it could be altered to cope with the additional traffic to enable a point closure to be undertaken at Westminster Road/The Avenue.     

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 7 December 2009.

RESOLVED:                         That the minutes of the last meeting of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) meeting held on 7 December 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider the decisions taken by the Executive Member for City Strategy on 5 January 2010 on the above item, which have been called in by Councillors Scott, Douglas and King in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Constitution. A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for the call-in and the remit and powers of the call-in procedure, together with the original report to and decisions of the Executive Member.

Members received a report, which asked them to consider the decisions made by the Executive Member for City Strategy at his meeting on 5 January 2010. The decisions related to the vehicle surveys and questionnaire carried out in relation to the through traffic in the Westminster Road area, following the introduction of the Water End cycle scheme.

Details of the Executive Member’s decisions were attached as Annex A to the report. The original report to the Executive Member was attached as Annex B. The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Scott, Douglas and King on the grounds that:

“That the Executive Member misdirected himself by:-

• Failing to listen to the representations of residents;
• Failing to listen to the representations of ward councillors;
• Failing to recognise and correct the deficiencies in the   consultation process;
• Failing to act so as to alleviate the increased traffic volumes and flow on Westminster Road and The Avenue;
• Failing to comply with the council's own highway design guide; and
• Failing to honour his commitment on the issue given at an EMAP meeting in 2009.”

Members were invited to decide whether to confirm the decisions of the Executive Member (Option A) or refer them back for reconsideration (Option B).

Cllr King, addressed the meeting on behalf of the Calling-In Members, he stated that he was disappointed at the reports approach and analysis of comments. He confirmed that Greenfield Road residents had been included in the consultation and that the majority supported road closure. He pointed out that there had been no survey of traffic before and after the changes at the Water End junction. He stated that the increase in through traffic of between 80% and 90% could not be allowed to continue and he asked Members to listen to local residents and refer these decisions back to the Executive Member with a recommendation for closure of Westminster Road/The Avenue.

In response to Members’ comments and questions, Officers confirmed that no reference had been made in the original report to the possible reinstatement of Water End as this had not been part of the reports remit. He confirmed that the Water End scheme would not be reviewed until it had been in place for 12 months.

After a full debate, Cllr Orrell moved, and Cllr Hyman seconded, that Option A be approved and the original decisions of the Executive Member be confirmed. Four Members voted in favour of this motion and four voted against. The Chair then used his casting vote in favour of the motion and it was therefore 

RESOLVED:             That Option A be approved and the original decisions of the Executive Member in this matter be confirmed.

REASON:                  In accordance with the procedures set out in the Council’s Constitution for dealing with called-in decisions, and in accordance with the reasons given by the Executive Member for his decisions.