Agenda item

To consider the decisions taken by the Executive Member for City Strategy on the above item, which have been called in by Cllrs Douglas, King and Scott 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 Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) in relation to 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 a Decision Session held on 1 September 2009, in relation to two petitions received regarding the change in traffic conditions due to works carried out on Water End earlier in the year.

Details of the Executive Member’s decisions were attached as Annex 1 to the report.  The original report to the Decision Session was attached as Annex 2.  The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Douglas, King and Scott for the following reasons:

“The Executive Member misdirected himself in:

·        failing to follow the representations of local councillors

·        failing to follow the representations of the residents of Westminster Road

·        not deciding on Option G - Point Closure of the street.”

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

Cllr King addressed the meeting on behalf of the Calling-in Members.  He emphasised the importance of the views of residents in this matter and stated that the increase in traffic on Westminster Road and The Avenue following the works at Water End was far higher than suggested in the report to the Executive Member.  Existing traffic humps had not deterred drivers from using these streets as a short cut, so measures such as creating a 20 mph zone would not solve the problem.  He urged Members to refer the matter back with a recommendation that Option G in the original report (point closure along Westminster Road or The Avenue) be approved.

Members were reminded of the potential impact of their decision on the Councillor Call for Action that had been submitted in respect of the traffic issues in this area.

Following questions to the reporting Officer and a full debate, it was

RESOLVED: That Option B be approved and the Executive Member’s decisions be referred back to the Executive (Calling In) for reconsideration, with a recommendation that they be amended to:

                        (a)       Include a further sub-paragraph c) under resolution (i) to read as follows:

                        “Approval of Option H and consultation to be carried out with residents, with the aim of reporting the results to the Executive Member on 1 December, or at the same time as the results of the further surveys.”

                        (b)       Replace the words “Options G and H” in resolution (ii) with the words “Option G”.

REASON:      In accordance with the procedures set out in the Council’s Constitution for dealing with called-in decisions, and to ensure that the problems faced by residents in this area as a consequence of works carried out by the Council can be addressed as soon as possible, with residents’ views being taken properly into account.