Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Recommendations:-

1.    That Cabinet accept the schemes identified in Figure 1 into the programme for delivery in 2019/20;

2.    That Cabinet approve the continued development of the schemes identified in Figure 2 as part of the indicative future programme, and;

3.    That Cabinet approve a second round of ward consultation during 2020 to identify new schemes to complete the programme, as detailed in Option 1.

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the progress made on schemes to be funded from the Community Safety Concerns Fund, during the financial year 2019/20 and the process for the remainder of the three year programme.

It was noted that capital funding had been made available to provide small scale engineering interventions in areas highlighted by the public as being areas of road safety concern. It was agreed by the Council in February 2019 that this would be used to support the delivery of locally defined safety schemes with a budget of £150,000 per year for three years. There would be an opportunity to review this at the end of the funding period. Following Cabinet’s approval of the Transportation Capital Investment Programme 2019/20 on 8 July 2019 (minute no. 32 refers), a Members Information day was held at the Town Hall on 16 July 2019 to introduce the Community Safety Concern Fund. Members were informed that the funding represented an opportunity for road safety concerns in their area to be raised for consideration of suitable interventions. A period of consultation then commenced on 8 July 2019 during which time Elected Members could submit up to three schemes and rank them as Ward priorities. This consultation closed on the 30 August 2019.

It was reported that a total of 42 potential schemes were identified by the Wards. Wards were also asked to prioritise their local safety related issues in the following categories: speeding, crossing roads, parked cars/visibility & local environment. Speeding was selected as the most significant issue by ten respondents, crossing roads by four and parked vehicles and visibility by two. Some Wards selected more than one topic as their most significant safety issue. An initial assessment had demonstrated that 15 of the 42 potential schemes met the criteria and require little preparatory or legal work and, therefore, subject to confirming programming delivery schedules, could commence before the end of March 2020:-

Resolved:-

1.    That the schemes identified in Figure 1 be accepted into the programme for delivery in 2019/20;

2.    That approval be given to the continued development of the schemes identified in Figure 2 as part of the indicative future programme.

3.    That approval be given to a second round of ward consultation during 2020 to identify new schemes to complete the programme, as detailed in Option 1.