Agenda and minutes

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am on the working day before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet Member’s delegated powers.

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

Councillor Jean Fooks

As the Cabinet Member for Transport knows, the recent gas board works at the junction of Banbury Road with Marston Ferry Road and Moreton Road caused huge delays to traffic on all four arms. This resulted in many people in cars, vans ,lorries and buses being held up for very long periods, sometimes for over an hour, and contributed to a doubling of the number of Cherwell School pupils being late for school during a two-week period compared to two weeks before the work was done. Could he assure the people of Oxfordshire, many of whom were caught up in this congestion, that lessons had been learnt to avoid a repetition of such traffic chaos when future works at this and other similarly critical junctions were planned?

Answer from Councillor Rose

The Gas Board works at the junction of Banbury Road with Marston Ferry Road and Moreton Road had been known to the County Council for many months.  It was discussed at the coordination meetings held by Oxfordshire County Council with representatives of all utilities companies and its programme and progress also monitored at separate meetings between County’s Streetworks Team and Southern Gas Networks (SGN).  SGN worked closely also with County’s Traffic Signals team at the planning stage and even carried out a trial run of the traffic management for the works at this junction.  This simulation exercise did not produce any unexpectedly high congestion and delay results.

The road users were advised of the forthcoming work by warning signs on site, the roadwork’s notices and through web sites.  There was information distributed by SGN to local residents fronting Banbury Road.  Frequent travel advice was also broadcasted on Radio Oxford in their traffic bulletins.

Overall timing of the work was not easy.  Bearing in mind the extent and location of the work County’s Streetworks Team considered having it carried out during school holidays, however other works in Oxford (near Park Town and St. Giles as well as on Woodstock Road) were already planned for and around that period this summer meaning that it would not have been sensible to put this additional burden on the highway network.  Furthermore, the extensive nature of the project made it impossible to complete the work at all the sensitive junctions during non sensitive hours.

It is worth noting that while the County Council can apply the statutory powers to minimise disruption caused by utility works, the utility companies in turn also have statutory powers and duties allowing them to carry out their works.

The initial programme proposed by SGN indicated duration of 5 weeks. However, through close collaboration with the County and by working a 13 hour day 6 days a week SGN managed to complete the work in 4 weeks.

I am confident that County’s Streetworks Team worked very closely and effectively with the SGN and used all its powers to minimise the overall impact of this necessary work before and during the actual construction.  It is worth noting that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32/10

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/124

Contact: Peter Egawhary/Dean Gildea, Traffic Regulation Team Tel: (01865) 815857

2.00 pm

Report by Head of Highways & Transport  (CMDT4).

The Cabinet Member for Transport considered a review of the Headington West Controlled Parking Zone which had been introduced in September 2006.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him the Cabinet Member for Transport confirmed his decision as follows:

(a)       approve the making of The Oxfordshire County Council (Headington-West) (Controlled Parking Zone and Waiting Restrictions) Consolidation Order 20**;

(b)               authorise the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy Head of Highways & Transport to agree any further non-substantial variations he considered appropriate subject to him consulting the Cabinet Member for Transport on any material variation and undertaking any further consultation which he might consider appropriate.

Forward Plan Ref: 2009/210

Contact: David Tole, Leader, Traffic Regulation (01865 815942)

2.15 pm

Report by Head of Highways & Transport (CMDT5)

The Cabinet Member for Transport considered changes to parking in the Temple Cowley Area in the light of comments received in response to a statutory consultation on proposals to vary the traffic regulation order.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him the Cabinet Member fro transport confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve the making of the Oxfordshire County Council (City Of Oxford Various Streets Cowley Area) (Traffic Regulation) Consolidation (Variation No.10*) Order 20** as advertised but with the following revisions:

(i)                 To provide no waiting at any time instead of no waiting Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm opposite number 10 St. Christopher’s Place.

(ii)               To provide no waiting Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm instead of no waiting at any time outside number 10 St. Christopher’s Place.

(iii)             To provide no waiting Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm instead of no waiting at any time across the access to number 12 St. Christopher’s Place.

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/125

Contact: David Tole, Team Leader, Traffic Regulation Order Tel: (01865) 815942

2.30 pm

Report by Head of Highways & Transport (CMDT6).

The Cabinet Member for Transport considered comments and objections received to a formal consultation to introduce a new traffic regulation order to amend the residents parking scheme in Bicester.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him the Cabinet Member for Transport confirmed his decisions as follows:

to approve the proposed changes to the Bicester Residents Parking Scheme as advertised in the Oxfordshire County Council (Various Roads, Bicester) (Parking) Order 20** (and revised in the supplementary consultation) and the Oxfordshire County Council (Bicester) (Traffic Regulation) Amendment Order 20**