Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fonseca, Councillor Singh Johal and Councillor Valand.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed on the agenda.

There were no declarations.

The minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 13 October 2021 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as correct record.

AGREED:

The minutes of the meeting of the Economic development, Transportation and Climate Emergency from 13^th October 2021 were confirmed as a correct record.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any questions, representations and statements of case received in accordance with Council procedures.

None received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures.

None received.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report to Members of the Commission on the process for dealing with unresolved objections to Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s).

Members of the Commission are recommended to note the report.

The City Highways Director for Planning, Development and Transportation presented a report to brief the Commission on revised arrangements for the consideration of unresolved objections to Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s). Members were recommended to note and make any comments on the report.

It was noted that the report set out the background to the consideration of unresolved objections to Traffic Regulation Orders, which was originally the responsibility of the Planning, Development and Control Committee (PDCC) to review and comment on, prior to referral to Andrew Smith, the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation to determine the TROs’.

The report detailed the reasons for the changes in arrangements and the potential resolutions for consideration by the EDTCE Scrutiny Commission.

The City Highways Director invited the Commission to comment on the report.

Members questioned the rationale behind the transfer of TRO’s to EDTCE from PDCC, to which it was noted that EDTCE Scrutiny Commission was an appropriate review body given the related focus of the commission and had available capacity.

The Chair thanked the City Highways Director for the report.

AGREED:

                        That the contents of the report be noted.

The Director of Planning Development and Transportation submits a report.

Members of the Commission are recommended to consider the unresolved objections to the Traffic Regulation Order and pass their comments to the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submitted a report which considered unresolved objections to the Clarendon Park Area, Experimental Short Term [Residents Only Parking] Permit Scheme Traffic Regulation Order 2021 and invited views to be passed to the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation, who would take them into account when reaching a decision on whether or not to make the provisions of the experimental scheme permanent.

The City Highways Director presented the report. A  pilot Residents’ Only Parking scheme was currently underway in the Clarendon Park area, operating between 9.30am and 10.30am, Monday to Friday. Phase 1 of the pilot began in February 2021, which had since received 12 objections, recorded in Appendix D to the report, further summarised with responses in Appendix E.

Subsequently, the scheme has been extended to cover a broader area of Clarendon Park (Phase 2) under a separate experimental TRO.

It was noted that Phase 2 has extended the area covered by the scheme and was brought in  due to the overall success of the Phase 1 scheme in delivering more on-street parking spaces to over 900 residential properties and businesses, effectively tackling the issue of commuter parking.

Letters had been sent out in August 2021 notifying residents of the Phase 1scheme that the experimental phase was coming to an end and inviting any further feedback prior to the council deciding on whether to make the scheme permanent or not. There had been engagement exercises taking place with the public and local ward Councillors.

The City Highways Director recommended that the trial Phase 1 TRO scheme be made permanent due to the project’s success.

Councillor Myers and Councillor Kitterick, ward councillors for the trial TRO area were present and noted the following:

·         The scheme in effect had been efficient and flexible in implementation in the local area.

·         Both Councillors initiated a consultation with residents, with only one objection received and overall, was highly supported.

·         Further feedback was sought over private Facebook groups, with overwhelming approval for the scheme.

·         Local residents appreciated the one-hour day scheme over the prior recommended 24/7 blanket scheme, during the key time period of 9am and 10am.

·         The current scheme supported local businesses and places of worship.

·         The only objection requested more parking spaces be built instead of the application of a TRO scheme, which was noted to be costly and ineffective at tackling the issue.

·         The current charge for the scheme was £25 per year.

·         The most concerned group that raised issues were parents with young children, who may have had to park farther away from the location they wished to shop.

Members raised concerns over the cost of the scheme in return for smaller allotted hours of use. It was noted that the scheme amounted to around 10p a day and was the same cost as similar schemes elsewhere.

Members also discussed the potential of the Elected Members holding legal power to make decisions on TROs in place of Officers. It was noted that delegating decisions to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a presentation updating the Member of the Commission on the Transforming Cities Fund.

Members of the Commission are recommended to note the presentation and pass any comments to the Director of Planning Development and Transportation.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submitted a presentation updating the Commission on the Transforming Cities Fund. Members of the Commission were recommended to note the presentation and pass any comments to the Director of Planning Development and Transportation.

John Dowson, Major Transport Projects Manager for Planning, Development and Transportation directed the presentation.

Saffron Lane

The project intended to construct a four-section pedestrian and cycle route between the following areas:

1.    Putney Road and Hawkins Road

2.    Hawkins Road to Knighton Lane East

3.    Aylestone Recreational Ground

4.    Copinger Road to Heathcott Road

It was noted that schemes 1 and 3 above are to be funded by Transforming Cities Fund from the Government’s Department for Transport (DfT). A decision was awaited on Active Travel DfT funding for sections 2 and 4 above.

All proposed areas would see an improvement in resurfacing and curbing, alongside potential installation of proposed 2-3-metre-wide walkways and cycle routes, and amendments to road junctions. The proposed construction project expected to see an increase in pedestrian and cyclist usage.

Of some concern was the potential impact on trees and wildlife; however, it was noted that the project was working closely with Woodlands colleagues to resolve this issue.

It was noted that consultation had been carried out with local ward councillors in November with overall support. Proposals for the construction for sections 1 and 3 are expected to commence in January 2022, subject to approval.

The Major Transport Projects Manager invited Members to comment.

Upon Member enquiry about the difference between the two fund types, it was noted that the Transforming Cities Leicester fund covers a range of sustainable transport activities, whereas the Government’s Active Travel Fund specifically targeted physically active methods of transport such as walking or cycling.

Members suggested that seeking public engagement and feedback solely through digital means risked the danger of excluding members of the public who do not have virtual media access, and that more inclusive methods should be considered.

Members raised concerns that more emphasis was placed on the cycling aspects rather than pedestrian travel. Further discussion into lighting in the intended construction areas arose, as well as how the project would ensure pedestrians felt safe walking at night.

The Major Transport Projects Manager clarified that the project would not be installing new lighting aside from what lighting already existed. It was noted that LED lighting had already been introduced in the proposed areas, improving visibility. The proposed wider footpaths would further increase visibility overall and ensure that issues around pedestrians being ‘invisible’ at junctions were resolved. Construction expected to improve sight lines for both pedestrians and cyclists, which would help in making the path users feel more comfortable and safer.

Members were concerned about the impact of construction on the busy junction between Saffron Lane and Knighton Lane East, which has been known as an especially prolific area for accidents and fatalities. It was noted that an opportunity was available within the Active Travel Fund to look into the junction,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

For Members’ consideration, the work programme for the Commission is attached.

AGREED:

                     That the Work Programme be noted.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 7.20pm.