Issue - meetings

Public Question

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

 

1.    Councillor Bird raised the following points:

              i.          Raised concern at the loss of disabled parking spaces in the city centre.

            ii.          Took issue with details in the Officer’s report regarding demand for disabled spaces, plus the equality impact assessments.

         iii.          Suggested that people with sight impairments would have safety concerns regarding cycle racks as they could be obstacles (street clutter).

 

The Project Delivery & Environment Manager responded:

                i.          Parking spaces had not been removed to date. This decision was still to be taken by the Executive Councillor post scrutiny by Environment Committee.

               ii.          People could contact officers with questions or concerns regarding the committee report or equality impact assessment.

             iii.          Visually impaired people had responded positively to the bike rack consultation.

 

2.    Mr Hellawell raised the following points:

                i.          Agreed that there was a need for appropriate cycle ways and parking areas.

             ii.          Raised concerns that cyclists cycled in pedestrian areas and parked anywhere, not just in designated areas eg chaining bikes to lamp posts. This raised safety concerns for visually/mobility impaired people.

           iii.          Asked for street clutter (eg advert boards) to be removed from shopping areas and pavements.

           iv.          Called for a bike ban in the city centre.

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change said bicycles had been banned from the city centre in the past, but the ban had been revoked. The County Council could be petitioned to reinstate the ban.

 

Matter for Decision

The project aims to provide one thousand additional secure cycle parking spaces in the heart of the city centre. This is planned to be achieved through the provision of:

 

       i.          Localised on-street cycle parking throughout the city centre where space allows and the demand for cycle parking is high.

     ii.          A third undercover secure cycle park, similar to those at Park St and Grand Arcade car parks. This report provides an appraisal of the on-street element of the project. Feasibility work is currently underway to look at the options for a third undercover secure cycle park.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change

Financial Recommendation

      i.          Approved the commencement of the on-street cycle parking proposals, which is already included in the Council’s Capital & Revenue Project Plan. The total estimated cost of the on-street proposal is £235,000 funded from the City Centre Cycle Parking Project capital allocation SC549.

 

Procurement Recommendations

Approved the carrying out and completion of the procurement of:

   ii.            The construction of the proposed cycle parking locations as listed in table 1.0 and detailed in the package of drawings in Appendix C of the Officer’s report; subject to the following sites being deferred pending further information (ie equality impact assessments and commuted sum) being presented to a future Environment Committee for further consideration:

·       Pease Hill 014-018/000/102.

·       Guildhall Street 014-018/000/103.

·       Kings Parade 014-018/000/004.

·       Jesus Lane 014-018/000/008.

·       Wheeler Street.

   iii.          Consultation approved and the results to be presented to a future Environment Committee for the additional new sites included in table 1.0 namely:

·       St Mary’s Street.

·       East Road.

·       Peas Hill/Wheeler Street.

 

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%.

 

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 Project Delivery & Environment Manager.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

       i.          Expressed concern regarding the loss of city centre disabled parking spaces and the impact this would have on members of the public wishing to use them.

     ii.          Suggested the city centre had some existing access issues for people with mobility and visual impairments. For example, street clutter and cycling in pedestrian areas. Increasing cycle parking provision could exacerbate these issues.

   iii.          Expressed concern at the proposed increase of cycle parking provision in heritage areas.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Director of Environment and Project Delivery & Environment Manager said the following:

 

       i.          The needs of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists needed to be balanced.

     ii.          Various organisations had been included in the parking provision consultation, including Camsight.

   iii.          An old version of the equality impact assessment was included in the agenda pack. Details have since been updated. The new report could be circulated upon request.

   iv.          The impact of advert boards on thoroughfares could be reviewed.

    v.          Disabled parking bays could be kept on Peas Hill if cycle parking provision was reduced.

   vi.          Eden Street was erroneously referred to as Elm Street on P108 of the agenda pack.

 

Councillors requested a change to recommendation (ii). Councillors O’Reilly and Saunders formally proposed to amend the following recommendation from the Officer’s report (amendments shown as bold):

     ii.          (Procurement) The construction of the proposed cycle parking locations as listed in table 1.0 and detailed in the package of drawings in Appendix C of the Officer’s report; subject to the following sites being deferred pending further information (ie equality impact assessments and commuted sum) being presented to a future Environment Committee for further consideration:

·       Pease Hill 014-018/000/102.

·       Guildhall Street 014-018/000/103.

·       Kings Parade 014-018/000/004.

·       Jesus Lane 014-018/000/008.

·       Wheeler Street.

 

The Committee unanimously approved this amended recommendation.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations as amended.

 

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.