Agenda item

This report asks Members to consider a Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) submitted by Councillors D’Agorne and Taylor in relation to maintenance, parking and safety issues at Broadway shops in Fishergate Ward.

Consideration was given to a report which asked Members to consider a Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) submitted by Councillors D’Agorne and Taylor in relation to maintenance, parking and safety issues at Broadway shops in Fishergate Ward. A copy of the registration form had been attached to the report at Annex A.

Details of work undertaken in an effort to resolve the safety issues being experienced at the shops was also set out in the report.  Officers confirmed that they had been aware of problems in the area since 2004. They stated that improvements for public safety were difficult due to the fact that the shop forecourts and access road were on private land. The only works that the Local Authority could therefore undertake were emergency works.

Councillor D’Agorne pointed out that it was important that the authority encouraged the engagement of all parties and arranged a collective meeting with all shopkeepers. He confirmed that this was a safety issue on private land which was in a number of different ownerships although some shop owners displayed A boards and planters in front of their premises to provide a clear path for pedestrians.

The Scrutiny Officer circulated photographs, provided by BAGNARA, which illustrated the problems being experienced.

Members considered the following options that were open to them:

Option A          Proceed with the CCfA and progress this topic to review

Option B         Suggest alternative avenues that could be explored by the Ward Councillors to assist with resolving the current issues i.e. a round table discussion between all parties

                           Option C          Do not progress the topic to review

Members stated that it appeared all reasonable options had been exhausted and that the Committee should lend their support to arranging a meeting with all parties in an effort to resolve the current issues. It was also suggested that a timescale should be included but that proceeding with the CCfA and progressing the topic to review would still be an option should no suitable resolution be found.

RESOLVED:             That, in the first instance, and in order to offer some support from Scrutiny, Members of the Committee agree to proceed with Option B of the report, and arrange to facilitate a round table discussion between all willing parties with a report back to the Committee in March 2010. ^1.

REASON:                  To address the concerns raised in this CCfA in light of the difficulties pertaining to private land ownership and the Council’s legal status in relation to this.