Agenda item

To be moved by Councillor Tinsley and seconded by Councillor Fisher.

That this Council note that:

1.    Approximately 1200 school children are injured each month in traffic related collisions within a 500m radius of schools. (According to ROSPA) School Crossing Patrol Operatives play a vital role in ensuring children’s safety on route to school. However, the last major change in road safety around schools in the Rotherham Borough was back in 2009, which resulted in the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders to enforce School Crossings and advisory 20MPH speed limit signs that were fitted near schools more recently.

2.    "School street" schemes, have proven successful in multiple UK authorities, closing roads during drop-off and pick-up times to enhance pupil safety, promote active travel, and improve air quality.

3.    The Council currently work with the Road Safety Partnership to educate School Children and Adults around road dangers and behaviours.

We believe that:

1.    School Crossing Patrol operatives face instances where cars fail to stop. We believe that the Council is seemingly not recording these instances along with prosecuting vehicle owners.

2.    Cars regularly park on School Keep Clear Lines (zig zag) and contraventions are hard to enforce.

3.    Car’s parking on pavements near Schools, impede the view of pedestrians making it hazardous for children and adults to cross safely.

4.    School Street initiatives establish a vehicle free zone near school entrances or gates during School drop-off and pick-up times. By regulating vehicle access on specific School Streets, these initiatives facilitate safe crossings in front of school entrances/gates. These schemes also help to promote walking or cycling to school for both parents and school children, contributing to a decrease in air pollution around Schools.

Therefore this Council resolves to:

1.      Enhance and improve the process and reporting of near miss incidents for Crossing Patrol Operatives. Provide body worn cameras to aid documenting and prosecuting non-compliance of stop signs.

2.    Explore technologies that can aid in enforcing School Crossings (Zig Zag Lines) traffic regulation orders (TROS). Analyse and put into action appropriate parking and road markings around school entrances to guarantee an unobstructed, safe view for pedestrians crossing.

3.    Commit to work with schools and ward councillors within our authority that would benefit from a school street and compile a list of schools where school street trials could be launched as soon as practically possible, once the Council has the relevant powers to enforce them, fast tracking where experimental traffic orders could be used.

4.    Continue to work with all schools in the Rotherham Borough to develop accredited Travel Plans, which will include enforceable No-Idling Zones and “school streets” schemes. Providing a member session to inform members of the support available to Schools.

It was moved by Councillor Tinsley and seconded by Councillor Fisher:

That this Council note that:

1.    Approximately 1200 school children are injured each month in traffic related collisions within a 500m radius of schools. (According to ROSPA) School Crossing Patrol Operatives play a vital role in ensuring children’s safety on route to school. However, the last major change in road safety around schools in the Rotherham Borough was back in 2009, which resulted in the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders to enforce School Crossings and advisory 20MPH speed limit signs that were fitted near schools more recently.

2.    "School street" schemes, have proven successful in multiple UK authorities, closing roads during drop-off and pick-up times to enhance pupil safety, promote active travel, and improve air quality.

3.    The Council currently work with the Road Safety Partnership to educate School Children and Adults around road dangers and behaviours.

That we believe that:

1.    School Crossing Patrol operatives face instances where cars fail to stop. We believe that the Council is seemingly not recording these instances along with prosecuting vehicle owners.

2.    Cars regularly park on School Keep Clear Lines (zig zag) and contraventions are hard to enforce.

3.    Car’s parking on pavements near Schools, impede the view of pedestrians making it hazardous for children and adults to cross safely.

4.    School Street initiatives establish a vehicle free zone near school entrances or gates during School drop-off and pick-up times. By regulating vehicle access on specific School Streets, these initiatives facilitate safe crossings in front of school entrances/gates. These schemes also help to promote walking or cycling to school for both parents and school children, contributing to a decrease in air pollution around Schools.

That therefore this Council resolves to:

1.    Enhance and improve the process and reporting of near miss incidents for Crossing Patrol Operatives. Provide body worn cameras to aid documenting and prosecuting non-compliance of stop signs.

2.    Explore technologies that can aid in enforcing School Crossings (Zig Zag Lines) traffic regulation orders (TROS). Analyse and put into action appropriate parking and road markings around school entrances to guarantee an unobstructed, safe view for pedestrians crossing.

3.    Commit to work with schools and ward councillors within our authority that would benefit from a school street and compile a list of schools where school street trials could be launched as soon as practically possible, once the Council has the relevant powers to enforce them, fast tracking where experimental traffic orders could be used.

4.    Continue to work with all schools in the Rotherham Borough to develop accredited Travel Plans, which will include enforceable No-Idling Zones and “school streets” schemes. Providing a member session to inform members of the support available to Schools.

An amendment to the Motion was moved by Councillor Cusworth and seconded by Councillor Wyatt that requested that the Improving Places Select Commission be asked to consider the recommendations as set out in the Notice of Motion. This amendment was accepted by the proposer of the Motion and as such, there was no vote on the amendment.

The substantive motion now read:-

That this Council note that:

1.    Approximately 1200 school children are injured each month in traffic related collisions within a 500m radius of schools. (According to ROSPA) School Crossing Patrol Operatives play a vital role in ensuring children’s safety on route to school. However, the last major change in road safety around schools in the Rotherham Borough was back in 2009, which resulted in the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders to enforce School Crossings and advisory 20MPH speed limit signs that were fitted near schools more recently.

2.    "School street" schemes, have proven successful in multiple UK authorities, closing roads during drop-off and pick-up times to enhance pupil safety, promote active travel, and improve air quality.

3.    The Council currently work with the Road Safety Partnership to educate School Children and Adults around road dangers and behaviours.

That we believe that:

1.    School Crossing Patrol operatives face instances where cars fail to stop. We believe that the Council is seemingly not recording these instances along with prosecuting vehicle owners.

2.    Cars regularly park on School Keep Clear Lines (zig zag) and contraventions are hard to enforce.

3.    Car’s parking on pavements near Schools, impede the view of pedestrians making it hazardous for children and adults to cross safely.

4.    School Street initiatives establish a vehicle free zone near school entrances or gates during School drop-off and pick-up times. By regulating vehicle access on specific School Streets, these initiatives facilitate safe crossings in front of school entrances/gates. These schemes also help to promote walking or cycling to school for both parents and school children, contributing to a decrease in air pollution around Schools.

That therefore this Council resolves to:

Ask the Improving Places Select Commission to consider making recommendations in relation to:

1.    Enhance and improve the process and reporting of near miss incidents for Crossing Patrol Operatives. Provide body worn cameras to aid documenting and prosecuting non-compliance of stop signs.

2.    Explore technologies that can aid in enforcing School Crossings (Zig Zag Lines) traffic regulation orders (TROS). Analyse and put into action appropriate parking and road markings around school entrances to guarantee an unobstructed, safe view for pedestrians crossing.

3.    Commit to work with schools and ward councillors within our authority that would benefit from a school street and compile a list of schools where school street trials could be launched as soon as practically possible, once the Council has the relevant powers to enforce them, fast tracking where experimental traffic orders could be used.

4.    Continue to work with all schools in the Rotherham Borough to develop accredited Travel Plans, which will include enforceable No-Idling Zones and “school streets” schemes. Providing a member session to inform members of the support available to Schools.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried.