Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/198

Contact: Keith Stenning, Head of Service – Network Management Tel: 07584 581214

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA9).

The Department for Transport will be inviting applications for a Designation Order to enable a Highway Authority to undertake civil enforcement of site specific Traffic Regulation Orders within a geographical area already covered by Civil Parking Enforcement. For Oxfordshire, this can include the whole County as Civil Parking Enforcement is now Oxfordshire wide.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)             Approve submission of an application to the Department for Transport to apply for a Designation Order for Oxfordshire to enforce moving traffic offences.

(b)             Approve the Site Selection Critiera at Annex 1 and Resource Priorisation Framework at Annex 2 to manage decisions for potential enforcment delivery.

Recommendations agreed

The Department for Transport will be inviting applications for a Designation Order to enable a Highway Authority to undertake civil enforcement of site specific Traffic Regulation Orders within a geographical area already covered by Civil Parking Enforcement. For Oxfordshire, this can include the whole County as Civil Parking Enforcement is now Oxfordshire wide.  Cabinet was asked to consider approving an application.  Before discussing the proposal Cabinet heard from one speaker.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Oxford City Council, Carfax & Jericho Ward, supported the recommendations and asked Cabinet to make a minor adjustment to the wording of Annex 1, the Site Selection Criteria.  This was related to the huge growth in the numbers of moped and motorcycle delivery riders.  Many of these riders were law abiding and considerate but many were not. In particular, the use of footways and cycle routes by heavy motorised vehicles travelling at speed was a serious risk to cyclists and pedestrians.

Councillor Hollingsworth asked that the Cabinet specifically include in the list of Site Selection Criteria listed in Annex 1, 2(vi) a reference to protecting existing pedestrian and cycle priority facilities.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, agreed that there was a problem as the speaker outlined but did not believe that it was necessary to amend the Annex as described in order to tackle it.

It had been hugely frustrating for the Council to not have the powers now being applied for.  This was in the government’s gift.  Further powers to install cameras to enforce the new plan of 20mph zones would also be welcome.  The plan was to consult with the police and focus on a small number of locations initially.  Further consultation will take place with city and district councils to maximise the impact.

The Chair put the recommendations and they were agreed.

RESOLVED to:

(a)             Approve submission of an application to the Department for Transport to apply for a Designation Order for Oxfordshire to enforce moving traffic offences.

(b)             Approve the Site Selection Critiera at Annex 1 and Resource Priorisation Framework at Annex 2 to manage decisions for potential enforcment delivery.