Issue - meetings

Public Questions

Members of the public asked a number of questions, as set out below.

 

1.    Mr Taylor raised the following points:

                          i.          Asked for details about 20 mph enforcement.

                        ii.          Noted a summary of responses was included in the Officer’s report, rather than responses in full.

                     iii.          Queried why the Chesterton Lane area would not be made 20 mph.

 

The Cambridge 20 mph Project Officer said that the Association of Chief Police Officer guidance on 20 mph enforcement was being revised. Speed awareness courses may be a new option instead of points or a fine. Further details on the scheme were pending.

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change said:

                           i.          Signage was designed in consultation with the Police.

                         ii.          The Minister, Police & Crime Commissioner plus Police all agreed that 20 mph speed limited should be enforced as per other limits such as 30 mph.

                       iii.          Chesterton Road and Chesterton Lane residents had not responded to the 20 mph consultation in the same way as Victoria Road residents, so there was clearly not the same demand to be treated as a special case despite being an A road..

 

2.    Mr Hall raised the following points:

                i.          The Cambridge Cycle Campaign supported the 20 mph project and enforcement of this speed limit.

              ii.          Expressed concern for the safety of cyclists using the road, plus pedestrians when cyclists were forced to ride on the pavement.

           iii.          Took issue with lack of police enforcement of the 20 mph limit.

 

Councillor Kightley said the 20 mph project was a reoccurring theme at West/Central Area Committee. He hoped that Area Committees would update residents as 20 mph schemes came into force.

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change said the 20 mph project should help with bike safety issues.

 

Matter for Decision

To provide infrastructure (signs and lines) for a new 20 mph speed limit on the public highway in the north area of the city, and to undertake public consultation activities for a proposed similar limit in the east area of the city. The new 20mph infrastructure would include repeater signs mounted on existing lamp columns, and white coloured 20 mph roundel road markings. Entry into new 20mph limits would be via entry points highlighted by larger 20mph terminal signs, roundel road markings and on more main roads, patches of coloured road surface material.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change

Financial recommendation

       i.          Approved the commencement of phase 1 of this scheme, which is already included in the Council’s Capital & Revenue Project Plan. The total cost of phase 1 is £158,700 funded from the 20mph project capital allocation SC532.

 

Procurement recommendations 

     ii.          Approved the carrying out and completion of the procurement of:

·       Phase 1 Safety Audit - £4000.

·       Phase 1 traffic order making process including street notices - £8000.

·       Implementation of Phase 1 (in line with the roads recommended for inclusion by North Area Committee on 01/08/13, see list below) - £131,500.

·       Phase 1 post implementation automatic traffic count (ATC) monitoring - £3,700.

·       Phase 2 pre-consultation ATC monitoring - £3,500.

·       Phase 2 consultation and public engagement including exhibitions - £8,000.

   iii.          Subject to:

·       The permission of the Director of Resources being sought prior to proceeding if the quotation or tender sum exceeds the estimated contract.

·       The permission from the Executive Councillor being sought before proceeding if the value exceeds the estimated contract by more than 15%.

 

Recommendations from North Area Committee

   iv.          Inclusion of all unclassified roads in the north phase area.

    v.          Inclusion of the following C class roads: Chesterton High Street, Green End Road, Arbury Road.

   vi.          Exclusion of the following C class roads: Kings Hedges Road, Gilbert Road - For the provision of 20mph on Victoria Road (an A class road) to be investigated and progressed.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Cambridge 20 mph Project Officer.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Cambridge 20 mph Project Officer said the following:

 

       i.          Cost figures in the report were estimates. These could be revised once quotes on actual costs were received. It was anticipated that cost estimates were higher in the report than the final figures would be.

     ii.          The north area was likely to be the most expensive phase of the project.

   iii.          City and County Officers regularly liaised about the 20 mph project. The County Council were the Highways Authority, so the project would have to go to Cabinet to start the statutory process in October 2013.

   iv.          The Cambridge 20 mph Project Officer had liaised with Brighton & Hove Officers to learn from their experience. He would also liaise with Islington BC officers at Councillor Tunnicliffe’s suggestion.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.