Agenda and minutes

There were apologies for absence received on behalf of Joyce Richardson (see 12/27/PTWP).

Members are asked to declare at this stage any interests that they may have in an item shown on this agenda. If any member is unsure whether or not they should declare an interest on a particular matter, they should seek advice from the Head of Legal Services before the meeting. 

Councillor Brown declared a personal interest as a member of the Planning Committee that may be required to determine any application submitted in the future by the developer. 

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2012.

The unconfirmed minutes published prior to the meeting had not included the attendance of Georgie Deards, the copy signed by the Chair had been corrected in advance and were signed by the Chair as a correct record.  

(see information below)  

There were none. 

The Director of Resources introduced the report.  In particular the Working Party was advised of the works already approved (commencing in para 4.6 of the report). The Working Party was taken through the issues arising from the redesign, known as phase 2, (commencing para 4.15 of the report) affecting the walkway and external access door to the disabled toilet, including the conclusions and action plan of the new Equalities Impact Assessment.  The Working Party noted that the developer would be encouraged to work with the Council on communicating the short-term impact of any works and the improvements proposed for the public toilets.  This would help users being re-assured that the re-development would result in a re-configured and not closed up walkway, upon completion.

 

Members made the following points during debate:

 

-regarding the re-configured walkway, the developer should be  encouraged to look at appropriate lighting (which had been raised in the original EqIA and debated by the Working Party when looking at the alternative route from Fisher Square through to the Grand Arcade), to make the finish of the walls appealing (possibly with public art), and that the flooring should be of the same good standard proposed for the shopping arcade and tactile/non-slip where appropriate.

- it was understood that any temporary stopping up of the walkway whilst works were undertaken would be taken in the context of the overall re-design, which was ensuring that there was a permanent walkway from Lion Yard to Fisher Square

-to re-consider and report back on any consultation necessary bearing in mind the re-design proposed that the walkway, albeit re-configured, was retained

-to request that officers continue to advise the Working Party on any developments on this project between meetings (eg. planning applications being submitted)

-there was agreement that the Working Party had contributed to the re-design from the developer and which was much more in line with the Working Party’s preferred outcome.

 

The Working Party agreed to recommend to the Leader:

 

a)     that the revised design proposed by AAM be approved, and replace the current design (option 2a)

b)    that a report be brought back to a subsequent meeting of the Working Party outlining the requirements relating to consultation in light of the revised scheme.

The Working Party is requested to consider consultation that the Council should undertake in the light of the change to design proposals and any bringing forward of refurbishment to the public toilets.

 

The Director of Resources and Members of the Working Party had referred to consultation during discussion on the previous agenda item.

The Working Party agreed to cancel the meeting of 28 May and noted officers would be in touch to convene a further meeting once there is greater clarity on the timing of AAM’s next steps re planning and highway applications for consideration and approval.