Agenda item

This report seeks a decision to approve the proposed project outlines, such that officers can proceed with confidence, reducing abortive work and supporting a more expeditious delivery of schemes.

Resolved:

                      i.         Approved the project outlines including the extension of the Acomb Road scheme to include the section from Beckfield Lane to Hebden Rise, with a number of individual changes to the documents detailed in the minutes. To delegate to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning in consultation with the Executive Member further amendments to the outlines of the projects.

Reason:     To enable officers to progress projects effectively within the Active Travel Programme.

                     ii.         Agreed to delegate to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning in consultation with Director of Governance and Chief Finance Officer the procurement of design resource for the ‘A19 Cycle Scheme’ and the A1237 section over the River Ouse’ scheme.

Reason:     To support progress of the identified projects.

                    iii.        Confirmed and approved the proposed prioritisation of projects within the programme.

Reason:     To support the creation of more accurate programme timescales and allow more effective assignment of resource.

                   iv.        Confirmed and approved the budget allocation follows the above prioritisation in decision iii. This approach being one that assigns funding to projects as and when the necessary feasibility information becomes available, rather than waiting for information on all projects within the programme.

Reason:     To ensure an appropriate balance is reached between obtaining value for money and the expeditious delivery of schemes.

The Executive Member considered the report and noted the need for the Council to get the scope correct for its list of Active Travel Programme. It was clarified that the report was looking at the scope for the different proposed programmes before design work was undertaken. It was therefore confirmed that schemes would still go out to public consultation when individual schemes were being advertised.

Several of the individual schemes were discussed by the Executive Member. He also noted the comments made during public participation and from the written representatives, and added that he had had discussion with Ward Councillors about schemes such as Acomb Road. Following discussions with officers he also recommended the changes outlined in the resolved below to the following schemes, amended additional text highlighted in yellow.

Resolved:

                      i.         Approved the project outlines including the extension of the Acomb Road scheme to include the section from Beckfield Lane to Hebden Rise, with a number of individual changes to the documents detailed below to the Active Travel Programme – Project Scope:

Annex 2 - A19 Cycle Scheme the objectives be revised to state: “Improve junctions for cyclists (without detriment to pedestrians) – Make changes to the junctions of Clifton Green / Water End and Rawcliffe Lane / Shipton Road to improve the amenity for cycling (and where possible for walking)”. That the scope be revised to state “Consideration of solutions to enable safe pedestrian access to, and use of, existing bus stops (including meeting needs of disabled passengers).”

Annex 3 – Acomb Road Cycle Scheme the geographical scope of the project be amended and now reaches “between Beckfield Lane and the Fox junction”. It was confirmed that design work for the scheme could commence on the entire geographical scope, however, construction work west of Hebden Rise may occur in a later phase than the other elements, dependent upon consultation outcome and interactions with the Acomb Regeneration scheme.

Annex 6 -  A1237 Section over the River Ouse it was decided that a reduction in speed limit can be considered to achieve the project objectives. This can include consideration of a reduction in speed limits in the adjacent location of Great North Way. It was noted that the scoping document would not require changes to project outline required, consideration of speed limit reduction was already identified within the document.

Annex 7 - City Centre North South Cycle Route that the project description be revised to state: “Create a clear, legible, attractive alternative route for cyclists instead of the footstreets or the inner ring road.” Also that the scope be revised to: “Consideration of LTN 1/20. Green scoring solutions are preferred, however non green scoring solutions can be considered if they achieve the stated objectives. This includes the location of Ogleforth / Aldwalk junction”

Annex 8 – City Centre Bridges that the scope revised to state “Consideration of solutions that require changes to traffic regulation orders, including lower speed limits.” Also to revise the scope to state “Consideration of solutions that impact loading / bus stop arrangements, where relevant.”

Annex 15 – Fishergate Gyratory P&C Scheme that several  addition be made to the scope:

-      “Consideration of alterations to the pedestrian route crossing Cemetery Road junction on the East side of Fulford Road. This can include consideration of signalised solutions.”

-      “Consideration of changes to the pedestrian route at the Western end of Kent St. This can include consideration signalised solutions.

-      “Consideration of changes to speed limits, where required to achieve project objectives.”

-      “Changes to existing traffic signals or introduction of new traffic signals, except in those 2 locations defined above.”

Annex 17 – St Georges Field Crossing that an additional be made to the scope: “Consideration of both single-stage and multi-stage pedestrian crossing solutions.”

Annex 18 – Rougier St Tanners Moat Gap that an additional be made to the scope: “Consideration of changes to kerbs and other civil constructions, where required to achieve the project objectives.”

Annex 19 – Skeldergate Cycle Improvements that an additional be made to the scope: “Consideration of adapted cycles / tricycles.”

                     ii.         To delegate to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning in consultation with the Executive Member further amendments to the outlines of the projects.

Reason:     To enable officers to progress projects effectively within the Active Travel Programme.

                    iii.        Agreed to delegate to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning in consultation with Director of Governance and Chief Finance Officer the procurement of design resource for the ‘A19 Cycle Scheme’ and the A1237 section over the River Ouse’ scheme.

Reason:     To support progress of the identified projects.

                   iv.        Confirmed and approved the proposed prioritisation of projects within the programme.

Reason:     To support the creation of more accurate programme timescales and allow more effective assignment of resource.

                     v.        Confirmed and approved the budget allocation follows the above prioritisation in decision iii. This approach being one that assigns funding to projects as and when the necessary feasibility information becomes available, rather than waiting for information on all projects within the programme.

Reason:     To ensure an appropriate balance is reached between obtaining value for money and the expeditious delivery of schemes.