Agenda item

This report sets out the final steps required for this committee in relation to their review on City Centre Access.

Members considered a report that set out the final steps required for the committee in relation to their review on City Centre Access. 

It was noted that a report had been submitted to Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee on 12 November 2012 with an overview of the committee’s findings and some concerns over process and the support received during the course of the review.  The Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee had agreed that there was no further role for this committee but had felt that one further meeting should be convened in order to collate a full summary of the committee’s findings for submission to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainability prior to any further decisions in respect of the City Centre Footstreets Review.

Members agreed that it would be appropriate to present to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainability the report that had been considered by the Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee (Annex A to the agenda papers).  In considering whether they wished to add further comments to the report, discussion took place around the following issues:

(i)           Experimental Traffic Regulation Order

An experimental Traffic Regulation Order was to be put in place for an eighteen month period and would then be reviewed.  The measures included:

·        Extending footstreet hours to operate from 10.30am to 5.00pm seven days a week.

·        Closing Davygate to traffic at its junction with St Helen’s Square using bollards during the footstreet hours.

·        Reversing the one way traffic flow around St Sampson’s Square so that access would only be from Davygate rather than from Church Street.

·        Access into St Sampson’s Square area  for Green Permit holders during the footstreeet hours will only be from the Goodramgate direction.

(ii)          Other measures under consideration

In addition to the experimental Traffic Order Regulation, Members were informed of other measures that were under consideration as part of the improvements to the city centre.  These included:

·        The possibility of additional cycle storage at Piccadilly

·        Changes in respect of disabled parking spaces.

·        Decluttering in respect of signage

·        Details were given of the work that was planned in respect of Coppergate which would effectively make it into a two way bus lane during peak hours.  Taxis, both hackney carriages and private, would also be permitted    The proposals were modelled on an arrangement that had been successfully introduced in Oxford.  Members commented on the need to ensure that the signage made it clear that only local buses were permitted.   

Members commented on the level of public interest in the proposals and of the need to ensure that the measures that were put into place worked effectively.

Members questioned officers as to the enforcement arrangements that would be in place.  It was noted that only the Police had powers to stop moving traffic and that enforcement would not be a high priority for the Police outside of core hours.  They were, however, assured that the signage and arrangements that were in place would be sufficient to ensure that appropriate enforcement action could be taken.  Details were also given of the camera arrangements that would be in place.  Members expressed concern at the implications of removing a dedicated city centre enforcement team and combining it with other areas of the city.

Members expressed their regret that the committee had not been made aware of the developments that were taking place.   Nevertheless, the committee had been able to carry out some useful work.   It was agreed that, whilst the committee would formally come to an end, Members would welcome the opportunity to contribute to any review in respect of the Coppergate arrangements.

The Chair expressed his appreciation of the contribution made by members of the committee and thanked officers for their input. 

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report to the Corporate and

Scrutiny Management Committee (Appendix A) be formally submitted to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainability.

(ii)          That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainability also be requested to take the following recommendations of the committee into account:

·        Committee members would wish to be included in any review of the arrangements in respect of Coppergate (this could be via email and would not necessitate the continuation of the committee).

·        It was the view of the committee that cycling should not be permitted in designated pedestrian areas.

·        Consideration should be given to the removal of the cycle storage in Parliament Street, as this was not appropriate in a pedestrianised area. 

·        The committee was concerned about enforcement of the regulations within the city centre, particularly the implications of removing a dedicated city centre enforcement team as part of the budget proposals.

(Approval of the final wording of the additional recommendations to be delegated to the Chair).

REASON:  In order that the Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee’s views are taken into consideration when decisions on the ongoing Footstreets Review are taken.