Decision details

To defer a decision on part of the experimental TRO relating to the exclusion of buses pending further monitoring, but to implement immediately the experimental TRO to exclude taxi and private hire vehicles.

Cabinet previously approved an experimental TRO to close Queen Street to buses, taxis and private hire, subject to Secretary of State approval. Recent advice from the Department for Transport has indicated further monitoring will be required prior to closing the street to buses on an experimental basis. As there is still a requirement to close the street to taxis and private hire vehicles, this report seeks approval to defer the decision on exclusion of buses, and implement the exclusion of taxis and private hire vehicles in line with the proposals reported to Cabinet in July 2017.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

(a) pending the decision of the SoS, defer a decision on the part of the

experimental TRO reported to Cabinet in July 2017 excluding buses

from Queen Street until further monitoring has been undertaken with

the Westgate centre open; and

(b) approve the implementation of the part of the experimental TRO to

exclude taxis and private hire vehicles from Queen Street.

In accordance with Regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Executive

Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended), the Chairman of the Performance Scrutiny Committee has agreed that the need to take the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred.

As set out under Rule 19(a) of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision is

exempt from Call-In as it is deemed urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s interests, in that it would cause delay in the implementation of the TRO, prior to the new Westgate centre opening on Tuesday 24th October.