Meeting documents

Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport
Friday, 6 October 2006

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Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Members: Cabinet Member for Transport – 6 October 2006

Statement of Decision

Camera Enforcement – Oxford City Centre Bus Gates

Present:

Cabinet Member for Transport: Councillor David Robertson

Officers:

Graham Warrington (Chief Executive’s Office)

Steve Howell, Craig Rossington and John Cramer (Environment & Economy)

Also in attendance:

Other Members:

Councillor Alan Armitage (local member West Central Oxford)

Public Address:

Mr Graham Jones (Rescue Oxford and Oxford High Street Business Association)

Documentation considered:

Report

Camera Enforcement – Oxford City Centre Bus Gates

A copy is attached to the signed copy of this decision.

Summary of representations in person

Mr Jones advised that his organisation had not been consulted on the latest proposals and called for full consultation before final introduction in February. He referred to anomalies in exemptions, pressures on local businesses as a result of access restrictions in High Street and George Street and intrusiveness of signing. There were also health and safety concerns arising from traffic having to turn around at restriction points.

Supporting the proposals Councillor Armitage stressed that signing was key to its success and suggested that advance signing should be provided to assist drivers.

Mr Cramer advised that consultation had been carried out with statutory consultees only but that a significant amount of discussion would still be required to introduce the process successfully. With regard to signing the Department for Transport had been approached for consent to use smaller signs.

Cabinet Member’s Comments

Councillor Robertson highlighted that a figure of 200 cars an hour passing through the High Street bus gate alone indicated the urgent need for these measures.

Decision

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before me, the representations made to me and the further considerations set out above, I confirm my decisions on this matter are as follows:

  1. endorse the use of Statutory Instruments nos. 2755, 2756, 2757 and 2758 to use cameras to enforce existing access restrictions in the centre of Oxford at the High Street, Castle Street, George Street and Magdalen Street bus gates;

  2. approve the changes to the Oxfordshire County Council (City of Oxford) (Central Area) (Traffic Management) (Consolidation) Order 2003 by conversion of the "bus gates" to "bus lanes" as described in the published proposal and described in paragraph 6 of this report CMDT2;

  3. set the penalty charge level at £60 with £30 discount for early payment, for contravention of the City centre access restrictions, subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Transport;

  4. designate the Director for Environment & Economy (with the Head of Transport as deputy) as the proper officer to ensure regulations are carried out correctly.

Signed

Cabinet Member for Transport

Date ………………………2006

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