Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Local Development Framework Members’ Steering Group held on 19^th November, 2010.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the RMBC Transport Liaison Group held on 22^nd November, 2010.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

Resolved:-  That the action of the Cabinet Member on 23^rd November, 2010 in opening the following e-tenders be recorded:-

-           Street furniture – Environment and Development Services

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Sustainability Partnership held on 24^th November, 2010.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

Nigel Hancock, Planning Delivery Manager, to report.

-  to report the response to the Government’s recently published consultation paper on Planning for Schools Development noting the deadline for submission of responses was 10^th December 2010.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Planning Delivery Manager, stating that, due to the submission deadline for comments to be received by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by 10^th December, 2010, prior consultation had taken place with the Cabinet Member on 30^th November, 2010 and approval had been given for the comments to be forwarded.

It was explained that  the consultation looked at the changes proposed to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended), which were aimed at freeing-up the planning system in relation to schools development.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government made a statement to the House of Commons on 26 July 2010 outlining the importance of establishing new free schools and making clear that in considering applications for schools development, significant weight should be given to the desirability of establishing the school. He also outlined his intention to consult on changes to the Use Classes Order to reduce unnecessary regulation and make it easier for buildings currently in other uses to be converted to schools.

The consultation addressed that commitment to consult.  It proposed changes that would apply to all schools. These changes would affect only those developments that involve purely converting non-school buildings for school use.  Where a school’s development required any additional work to change the exterior of an existing building or was a new build development, planning permission would be required in the normal way.

The consultation paper sought views on four possible options:-

Option 1: Retain the current planning framework and make no changes to the planning system

Option 2: Give a permitted development right for some uses to convert to school use

Option 3: Give a permitted development right for all uses to convert to a school use

Option 4: Give a permitted development right, with attached conditions, to all uses to convert to a school use

The consultation consisted of 10 questions around the issues raised from each of the above options.   Reference was made in particular to the response regarding Question 4 which was set out in the submitted report.

Members present referred to:-

-          appeals and funding of cost of appeals

-          support for the retention of the current planning framework

-          role of Building Control

Resolved:-  That the contents of the report be noted.

Andy Newton, Project Officer, Development Team, to report.

-  to report on proposals for environmental improvement works throughout the Laughton Common/Monksbridge corridors, including Monksbridge Roundabout.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Project Officer, detailing proposals for environmental improvement works throughout the Laughton Common/Monksbridge corridors, including Monksbridge Roundabout.

It was explained that the proposals included:-

-          provision of enhanced landscaping works along Station Road and Outgang Lane, Laughton Common between the railway bridge at the north-west end of Laughton Common and Monksbridge Roundabout at the south-east end;

-          provision of enhanced landscaping works to Monksbridge Roundabout incorporating two mounds which acknowledge Dinnington’s Neolithic past, mature tree planting, wildflower and bulb planting;

-          provision of high quality enhanced works along Monksbridge Road, Dinnington between Monksbridge Roundabout at the north-east end of the corridor and the junction of Monksbridge Road with Rotherham Road at the south-west end.

The proposals were detailed on the plans accompanying the submitted report.

Details of the estimated costs and funding for each part of the works were set out in the submitted report and it was confirmed that Streetpride would be able to absorb the ongoing maintenance of these improvements into their future maintenance programme.

Resolved:-  That the proposed works be approved and the funding arrangements noted.

Andrew Shearer, Transportation Planner, to report.

-  to seek approval to convert the existing pedestrian footways surrounding Mushroom Roundabout to shared used pedestrian and cycle routes.

Further to Minutes Nos. G15 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transporatation held on 22^nd June, 2010 and G44 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment held on 6^th September, 2010, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, seeking approval to convert the existing pedestrian footways surrounding Mushroom Roundabout to shared use pedestrian and cycle routes.

It was explained that the proposals would form part of the scheme to introduce traffic light control to Mushroom Roundabout.  The proposals were illustrated in detail on Drawing Number 126/17/TT127 attached to the submitted report.

Details of the estimated cost of the scheme were set out in the submitted report, and it was noted that these works would form part of the A630 Rotherham to Thrybergh Smart Route proposed Improvements that had been included in the Local Transport Plan strategic fund programme for 2010/11 and provisionally for 2011/12 depending on the LTP settlement.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the footways shown in blue on Drawing Number 126/17/TT127, attached to the report now submitted, be removed under the power conferred by section 66 (4) of the Highways Act 1980 and constructed as a shared use pedestrian and cycle path under the power conferred by section 65 (1) of the same act.

(2)  That the detailed design be included in the design for the signalisation of Mushroom roundabout and implemented as part of those works.

Peter Henchley, Engineer Technician, to report.

-           to report the results of consultation re: proposed traffic calming on Flash Lane, Bramley.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, setting out the results of the consultation process regarding the proposed traffic calming scheme on Flash Lane, Bramley.

It was reported that 23 letters of objections, and a petition containing 69 signatures also objecting to the proposed traffic calming scheme had been received.

A summary was provided of the background to the proposed traffic calming scheme and developer contribution.

Details of the main comments raised by the objectors were set out in the submitted report.

It was explained that following various surveys and measurements it was not feasible to provide a controlled pedestrian crossing as the Council’s criteria was not met. 

However reference was made to the results of the speed survey and as a result it was proposed, as an alternative, to install an informal pedestrian crossing consisting of pedestrian friendly lowered kerbs, associated tactile paving and a footway link to cross the grass verge and tie in with the existing footway.  These proposals were illustrated on Drawing No. 126/17/TT142 attached at Appendix B to the submitted report.  It was also proposed to place the vehicle activated sign periodically on Flash Lane.

Details of the estimated costs of the informal pedestrian crossing point and other works were set out in the submitted report.

Members present commented on:-

-          road humps in adverse weather

-          snow plough access

-          local aspirations

-          effectiveness of speed cushions and noise issues

-          requests throughout the Borough for pedestrian crossings

-          reasons for the proposed location for the informal crossing point

Resolved:-  (1)  That the objections to the proposed traffic calming scheme be acceded to and the traffic calming scheme be not implemented.

(2)               That an informal pedestrian crossing be implemented between Prospect Close and Wadsworth Road to include lowered kerbs and a short section of footway to link into the existing footway as detailed in the submitted report and illustrated on Drawing No. 126.17/TT142 (Appendix B).

(3)  That the objectors be informed of the above decisions.