Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Michaela Gay  01225 394411

Items
No. Item

13.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

14.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

 

15.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Minutes:

Councillor Ian Gilchrist gave his apologies and was substituted by Councillor Rob Appleyard.

 

Councillor Alan Hale gave his apologies and was substituted by Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones.

 

The Cabinet Member for Community Services, Councillor Martin Veal gave his apologies.

16.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Minutes:

There were none.

17.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Minutes:

There was none.

18.

ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING

At the time of publication no notifications had been received.

 

Minutes:

The following people made statements to the Panel:

 

Jackie Withers, Shoscombe Parish Council made a statement to the Panel regarding 20mph limits. A copy of this statement is attached to these minutes and kept on the minute book for this Panel.

 

Following a question, Ms Withers stated that there was a need for a 20mph limit in all areas of the village, not just outside the school.

 

Councillor Appleyard asked if there is a register of requests for 20mph limiyd. Paul Garrod, Traffic Management and Network Manager, confirmed that there is a register (and confirmed after the meeting that Shoscombe’ s request is on the register)

 

Adam Reynolds made a statement to regarding 20mph limits. He stated that the report on this only looks at speed in terms of accidents and does not look at the health benefits of walking and cycling.

 

David Redgewell made a statement regarding transport, bus and rail issues. A copy of this statement is attached to these minutes and kept on the minute book for this Panel.

 

Following a question, Mr Redgewell explained that RTI (real time information) is being renewed as there are faults across the network.

 

Francis King made a statement to the Panel regarding 20mph limits. A copy of this statement is attached to these minutes and kept on the minute book for this Panel.

 

Andy Halliday made a statement to the Panel regarding Bath Library. He asked that the Council return the valuable resource of the exhibition room to the community for use for events such as the summer reading challenge.

 

Councillor Bull asked Mr Halliday to feed this into the consultation on libraries and stated that the Panel will consider the consultation responses at their September meeting.

 

Nicolette Boater made a statement regarding 20mph limits. A copy of this statement is attached to these minutes and kept on the minute book for this Panel.

 

Councillor Sarah Bevan made a statement on 20mph limits, regarding the Carlingcott region of Peasedown St John. She stated that, due to an administrative error, the signage at Carlingcott junction and Hillside view is missing and asked for it to be put in place. She stated that there had been 47 incidents and asked that the Cabinet Member give this his urgent attention. (Paul Garrod, Traffic Management and Network Manager, confirmed after the meeting that there is a register of requests and Carlingcott is on the register.)

 

Councillor Clarke made a statement on 20mph limits and urged caution with a blanket roll out as there are some drawbacks such as the 20mph limit outside Hayesfield School preventing the installation of a zebra crossing.

Public & Cllrs speakers' list pdf icon PDF 35 KB

Additional documents:

19.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Minutes:

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chairman.

20.

20mph Zones - Review pdf icon PDF 67 KB

A report is attached on ‘20mph Zones Review’. There will be a presentation on this item at the meeting.

 

This item was deferred from the last meeting of the Panel in May 2017.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Paul Garrod, Traffic Management and Network Manager, gave a presentation to the Panel on ‘Setting Local Speed Limits – A review of recent installations of 20mph area schemes (signage only)’ which covered the following:

 

·  Background

·  DfT Guidance

·  Types of roads and speed limits

·  Change in average traffic speed

·  Change in accident rate

·  Change in casualty rate and severity

·  Conclusions

 

The officer informed the Panel that the Department for Transport is conducting a study into the subject - outcomes are expected this year.

 

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

 

Councillor Samuel asked how the 1.3mph is calculated. The officer replied that he will report back on this point.

(This was reported after the meeting: “Page 7 of the report included a green and blue bar chart which illustrated changes in traffic speed since the 20mph limits were introduced. It also stated there has been an overall reduction of 1.3mph. Speed surveys were undertaken in 179 of the 1,499 streets where 20mph limits were introduced. They were undertaken before the speed limits came into effect and afterwards. In each of these streets, we were able to determine a mean ‘before’ speed and a mean ‘after’ speed, enabling us to calculate the change in mean speed. In most streets, this was a reduction in speed. We’ve totalled the average change in mean speeds and then divided that figure by 179 which produces the mean across all the sample streets of 1.3mph reduction”).

 

Councillor Turner asked if the officer could make a recommendation. The officer stated that the purpose of the report is for review and discussion and he felt the outcome of the DfT study was needed.

 

Councillor Butters asked if changing driver attitudes is taken into account. The officer responded that there has been no survey of driver behaviour/attitudes but the DfT research will have that type of analysis.

 

Councillor Anketell-Jones asked if sound recommendations can be made with such limited information. The officer stated that the information on vehicle speed is sound but 1 more year (3 in total) is needed for accident data.

 

Councillor Appleyard stated that schemes should be implemented if the community feels empowered and comforted, the cost is not high. The officer responded that the DfT research will be based on much more information so conclusions can be more informed.

 

Councillor Bull asked about police involvement in enforcement. The officer explained that some areas are self-enforcing but some are reliant on enforcement; police respond to complaints. Councillor Butters asked if there was a police view; the officer explained that the police are a consultee for transport proposals.

 

Councillor Samuel asked what the cost would be if the 20mph limits were reversed. The officer stated that the cost would be similar (slightly less) than the cost of the original 20mph initiative.

 

Councillor Samuel asked why RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) was not used to review the BANES scheme. The officer stated that there was no need to use an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Getting from A to B - Strategic Transport Review Update

There will be a presentation on this item at the meeting.

Minutes:

Chris Major, Group Manager Transport and Parking, gave a presentation to the Panel on ‘Getting from A to B – Strategic Transport Review’ which covered the following:

 

·  Outline of briefing

·  Overview

·  Review – Changes to application processes

·  HTST pass scanning pilot

·  HTST – Hazardous routes review

·  On-line self-assessment tool

·  Review of current hazardous classifications

·  Hazardous Routes improvements

·  School Travel Planning

·  SEND Personal budgets

·  Review – Fleet utilisation and back office

·  Review – Partnership working

·  Next Steps

 

 

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

 

Councillor Butters gave an example in Shoscombe where there was a proposal for a footpath. He asked if there is a compulsory power where child safety is concerned. The officer stated that work with the community is needed and sometimes alternative routes can be used. The officer confirmed that he is happy to look at the scheme in Shoscombe and will be in contact with Councillor Butters.

 

Councillor Samuel asked that, where transport is withdrawn, do parents switch to using cars. The officer stated that the changes are only being made now but it may happen that some use cars, it is about a package and if routes can be improved, other children will benefit.

 

Councillor Butters stated that there had been a huge mark up in the travel costs from Wellow to Ralph Allen School and that some people were now driving students to school. The officer stated that the fee may have risen in line with other authorities. In response to a query from Councillor Appleyard, the officer explained that he tries to use the least amount of vehicles and does sell empty seats.

 

Councillor Evans stated that excellent work had been done and asks where savings accrue. The officer explained that savings are recorded as part of the Strategic Review budget.

 

The Chairman thanked the officer and asked for another report back to the Panel in January 2018.

22.

Cabinet Member update

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Community Services, Councillor Martin Veal sent his apologies for the meeting and provided a briefing note on his portfolio area. A copy of this briefing note is attached to these minutes and on the minute book for this Panel.

 

The Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, Councillor Mark Shelford, answered questions and noted comments from the Panel on the following:

 

·  Regarding Widcombe Subway, the Cabinet Member responded to Councillor Butters query and stated he was still being briefed on this and would report back to the next meeting of the Panel.

·  Councillor Appleyard thanked the Cabinet members for agreeing to raise the 6/7 bus route with the new Metro Mayor.

·  Councillor Turner mentioned that Laura Place has become a designated drop off point for coaches and residents had not been informed and communication is very important. The Cabinet Member stated that he had referred this to the relevant officer.

·  Councillor Samuel asked when the Tram Feasibility Study was confirmed. Martin Shields, Divisional Director for Environmental Services explained that this was funded by the Highways budget so there was no single member decision.

23.

Panel Workplan pdf icon PDF 109 KB

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel. Any suggestions for further items or amendments to the current programme will be logged and scheduled in consultation with the Panel’s Chair and supporting senior officers.

Minutes:

The Panel noted the workplan and the following requests:

 

·  September – Air Quality Plan

·  January/March – Waste, review of changes to collection post implementation

·  Tram Feasibility Study – Terms of Reference

·  Litter

·  Strategic Transport Review – report back