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, other than the standing declarations, that they might have in the business on the agenda.

None were declared.

a)         To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 22 February, 9 March and 24 March 2010.

b)         To approve and sign the minutes of the final meeting of the Water End Councillor Call for Action Task Group, held on 14 April 2010, as the parent committee of this Task Group.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the minutes of the meetings of the Economic and City Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on  22 February, 9 March and 24 March 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as correct records.  

(ii) That the minutes of the meeting of the Water End Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) Task Group held on 14 April 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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 Friday 14 May 2010 at 5.00 pm.

Members of the public can speak on 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 two  registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Representations were heard from Mr Andrew Pringle, a resident of Westminster Road, in relation to Agenda Item 4 (Water End Councillor Call for Action(CCfA)-Final Report). He spoke about how he was pleased with the conclusion of the report, but that he was disappointed that point closure of Westminster Road and The Avenue was not included because he felt that the situation at the junction had been shown to be exceptional.

Further representations were heard from Mr Alan Wells, another resident of Westminster Road in relation to Agenda Item 4. He told Members that he felt that the situation with excessive traffic in the area was worsening and suggested that all through traffic should be stopped from using the roads.

 He felt that there were two possible solutions;

Ø      The return of the left hand filter lane by widening the road which could be done by the removal of the cobbles(which were currently unsafe for pedestrians), or to raise or fill this area to the level of the road, in order to retain the cycle lane.

Ø      Point closure on Westminster Road and The Avenue.

This report presents Members of the Committee with the draft final report of the Water End Task Group (Appendix 1 refers) and asks them to approve the recommendations arising from the Water End Councillor Call for Action (CCfA).

Members received a Draft Final Report on the Water End Councillor Call for Action(CCfA) to resolve traffic issues at the junction of Water End, Clifton Green, Westminster Road, The Avenue and Clifton Green.

Members commented that it was clear from the representations heard that the traffic problems in the area were not being resolved and were getting worse. They added that the left hand turn lane was the stumbling block but the solution to easing the problems  would be to compromise by either closing off Westminster Road to through traffic or to change the junction dramatically to ease congestion.

Some Members supported point closure, as part of the junction improvements as suggested in the first recommendation, was the only sensible way forward to improve the junction and reduce traffic flows.

Other Members expressed concern at the first recommendation in its suggestion of allowing Officers to develop new proposals for the junction. They stated that they felt that a point closure on a temporary basis would be a solution to the congestion faced at the junction.

RESOLVED:    (i) That the final report be noted.

                         (ii) That new, comprehensive proposals be developed for the Water End junctions to improve the current junction and reduce traffic flows in Westminster Road/The Avenue.

(ii)          That the Council should, in future, use traffic models which incorporate side streets when assessing and designing junction improvements.

(iii)             That the present policy of reviewing new highway schemes only after a period twelve months should be modified in enable to a review after three months when unforeseen consequences have arisen and when Ward Members request.

REASON:                  To address the concerns raised in the Councillor Call for Action.

This Interim Report presents Members with information collated in relation to the review that is being conducted on Newgate Market.

Members received an interim report which provided them with information that had been collated in relation to the review being conducted on Newgate Market.

Discussion between Members and Officers focused around the following issues;

• The possible reduction of the days of the operation of the market to promote maintenance and bring in additional income.
• The physical constraints of the space; in particular the need to maintain the four entrances into the market to a high standard to appear welcoming, the need to move away from ‘cramming in’ stalls, and security issues from businesses backing on to the market.
• The poor physical state of frontages that backed on to the market.
• The possible introduction of  more rigid times for loading vehicles to enter the space, to appear more welcoming to visitors.
• Niche and boutique style markets as opposed to traditional style markets.

In response to queries Officers told Members that;

• The possible use of market space at night for car parking was under investigation.
• Annex B should be viewed only as suggestions for alternative and additional uses of the market, not recommendations for approval or dismissal.
• That further consultation would have to take place with market traders before suggestions from Members could be put into action.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted

(ii)               That an additional informal brainstorming session be arranged in order to receive further consultation from Officers in order to  formulate recommendations to be included in the draft final report.

REASON:                              In order to progress this review.

In August 2009 Councillors D’Agorne and Taylor, Ward Members for Fishergate, submitted a Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) in relation to maintenance, parking and safety issues at Broadway Shops.  In response to this the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee agreed to facilitate round table discussion between all willing parties in an attempt to resolve the problems being experienced.

This report provides Members with an update on the outcome of the facilitated discussion that took place on Tuesday 20^th April 2010.

Members received an update report on the Councillor Call for Action in relation to maintenance, parking and safety issues at Broadway Shops. This report collated information gathered at a facilitated discussion held on Tuesday 20 April 2010.

The Scrutiny Officer informed Members that a ‘marking out’ date, to arrange where retailers would like hoops, cycle stands and white lining to be placed, was in development.

RESOLVED:                         That the report be noted and a further progress report be presented to the Committee after the next facilitated discussion.

REASON:                              To address the concerns raised in this CCfA.

Members are asked to review the Committee’s Work Plan for 2010.  Extracts from the Forward Plan are included for Members’ information.

Members considered the Committee’s work plan for 2010/11 together with extracts from the Forward Plan related to the Committee’s remit.

RESOLVED:             That the work plan and Forward Plan extracts be noted.

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