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 may have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Potter declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 3 (School Travel Plans and Safe Routes to School - Possible Review Topic) as a School Governor.

Councillor Scott declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 3 (School Travel Plans and Safe Routes to School - Possible Review Topic) as he lived close to a Primary School.  

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5pm on Friday 19 February 2010. Members of the public can speak on specific planning applications or on other agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.

It had been reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report asks Members to consider whether they wish to progress this topic to review. A presentation will be given on Safe Routes to School and School Travel Plans in order to inform Members’ decision.

Members received a presentation from Officers in the Transport Planning Unit on School Travel Plans and Safe Routes to Schools. The main themes of the presentation were as follows:

Ø      School Travel Plans

o     What are School Travel Plans

o     Role of the School Travel Advisor

o     Key Drivers

o     Key Initiatives

o     Mode of Travel

o     Looking Forward 2010-2011

o     School Safety Schemes

Ø      Safe Routes to Schools

o     School Safety Zones

o     School Cycle Parking

o     History of School Safety Schemes in York

o     School safety Programme

o     Safety Audit/Minor Works

o     Maintenance Issues

A School Travel Plan was a written document compiled by School Travel Plan Advisors in conjunction with individual schools. Plans are tailored to suit each school individually and aim to set out a package of measures to improve safety and sustainable travel choices. Officers expected there  to be only two schools in York without School Travel Plans by the end of March 2010.

School Travel Plans are produced in consultation with both parents and children at schools, by asking which mode of transport they usually use to travel to school. The plans often look at problems that occur with transport to school such as the percentage of children who travel to school by car and parking issues that arise from this.

Discussions regarding School Travel Plans raised the following points:

Ø      the percentage of children in secondary school in York travelling by car was between 7%-11%, and for children in primary school it was 30%. Parental income and location of the school affected these percentages.

Ø      20% of traffic around school nationally was produced by the school run.

Ø      Officers said that the method of monitoring the effectiveness of School Travel Plans was through reviews by the School Travel Plan Co-ordinator in conjunction with the school. This, of course, could only take place once a Travel Plan was in place

Ø      In some schools it was the responsibility of the School Governors to review Travel Plans annually

Ø      There was no legal responsibility for schools to have a Travel Plan although it was highly recommended and encouraged

Ø      Schools who use their Travel Plans effectively are often those who have members of the community willing  to assist in implementing them i.e. by volunteering to take charge of a walking bus, or by car sharing

Officers commented that one of the main difficulties encountered when discussing Safe Routes to School was that of the common perception that roads in the vicinity of schools are dangerous. Members were told how:

Ø      There had been eight reported slight or serious accidents specifically on the route to school.

Ø      There are currently twenty one operational school crossing patrols in York, although there are twenty seven registered sites.

Ø      There was a need for additional staff to man school crossing patrols and that this was being promoted through the “Look Again” campaign.

Members were informed by Officers that there had been improved safety around schools with a number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Members are asked to review the Committee’s work plan for 2009/10.

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for 2009/10 together with extracts from the Forward Plan related to the Committee’s remit.

The Scrutiny Officer updated Members on changes to the plan which included an amended start time of 3.00pm for the Newgate Market review meeting on 24 March and the July meeting moving from 6 to 13 July 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the work plan be amended to reflect the above changes.

REASON:                  To assist in the planning of work for this Committee.