Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Member was asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that he might have had in respect of business on the agenda. He declared that he had none.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2017.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last Decision Session held on 13 April 2017 be signed and approved by the Executive Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is Wednesday 10 May 2017 at 5:00pm. 

Members of the public may speak on an item on the agenda or an issue within the Executive Member’s remit.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast or audio recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts. or, if sound recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present. It can be viewed at

http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

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

Parish Councillor  Lawrence Mattinson, representing Strensall & Towthorpe Parish Council spoke in relation to Agenda Item 4 – York Road Strensall – proposed pedestrian crossings. He questioned the validity of the analysis of the findings from the feasibility study, and confirmed his view that the proposed crossing points would make it easier to cross Strensall Road but not safer.

It was noted that a written representation had also been received from the Chair of Strensall & Towthorpe Parish Council in regard to the same agenda item, clarifying the parish council’s views on the analysis of the council’s survey findings and the proposals within the officer report.

This report seeks approval to install a series of pedestrian crossing points on York Road Strensall, in order to improve pedestrian access to public transport and local amenities, and reduce traffic speeds.

Resolved:  That;

i.          New pedestrian crossing points be installed and existing crossings enhanced, along York Road in Strensall in line with Option 1 and as detailed on the plan at Annex A of the report. 

ii.         Funding be allocated from the speed management and pedestrian crossing budgets to supplement the ward funding that is allocated for provision of pedestrian facilities.

Reason: To improve pedestrian access to public transport and local amenities and to reduce traffic speeds.

The Executive Member considered a report which asked him to approve the installation of new pedestrian crossing points and the enhancement of existing crossings, along York Road in Strensall.  The report proposed funding the works from the speed management and pedestrian crossing budgets to supplement the ward funding that had been allocated for the provision of pedestrian facilities.

The Executive Member noted the representations received from members of Strensall & Towthorpe Parish Council, and considered the options detailed within the report i.e.:

Option 1:   To provide all of the proposed crossings with funding from the speed management and pedestrian crossing budgets and input from ward funding

Option 2:   To install the proposed crossings in priority order as detailed in paragraphs 10-12 of the report

Option 3:    To do nothing

The Executive Member noted that the proposals were in line with the council’s protocol for the placing of crossings and accepted that the proposed positioning of the new crossing took account of the surrounding environment  and infrastructure.

Resolved:  That;

i.          New pedestrian crossing points be installed and existing crossings enhanced, along York Road in Strensall in line with Option 1 and as detailed on the plan at Annex A of the report. 

ii.         Funding be allocated from the speed management and pedestrian crossing budgets to supplement the ward funding that is allocated for provision of pedestrian facilities.

Reason: To improve pedestrian access to public transport and local amenities and to reduce traffic speeds.

This report seeks approval to replace the existing triple speed-cushion arrangements at two sites on Haxby Road to the north of New Earswick. The replacement is proposed to be done on a trial basis with the results being brought back to a future meeting of the Executive Member.

Resolved:  That the proposed trial laid out in Option 1 of the report be undertaken for a three month period, in order to identify whether there is a more appropriate layout to that which is currently in-situ at the two sites on Haxby Road.

Reason:    To enable officers to evaluate the trial and report back on the results to a subsequent Decision session, and seek approval for the final replacement layout.

The Executive Member considered a report proposing the trial replacement of the existing triple speed-cushion arrangements at two sites on Haxby Road to the north of New Earswick.  In order to identify the most appropriate layout for each site, the report detailed two different layouts, both to be evaluated over a three-month period.

The Executive Member considered the four options detailed in the report i.e.:

Option 1: Undertake a 3-month trial replacement of the 3-cushion layouts with a different layout at each location.

Option 2: Undertake two separate 3-month trials to replace the 3-cushion layouts using a different type of layout for each trial.

Option 3: Retain the current 3-cushion layouts and investigate alternative methods to reduce vibration and reduce potential conflict between drivers and cyclists.

Option 4: Do nothing

Having noted that complaints had been received about the potential danger to cyclists from drivers negotiating the speed-cushions currently in place, the Executive Member accepted that the proposed trial of some alternative traffic calming layouts would lead to improvements for road users. 

Resolved: 

i)             That the proposed trial laid out in Option 1 of the report be undertaken in order to identify whether there is a more appropriate layout to that which is currently in-situ at the two sites on Haxby Road.

ii)            That trial be undertaken for three months and the findings reported back to a future Executive Member Decision Session

Reason:    To enable officers to evaluate and seek approval for the final replacement layout.