Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were none.

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days 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

There were none.

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

Requests to speak must be submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e. 9 am on Friday 2 September 2022.  Requests to speak should be sent to colm.ocaomhanaigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk .

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9 am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

Cllr Andrew Gant informed the meeting that a number of public speakers and local Members had put forward their requests to address the meeting in person or virtually (via Microsoft Teams).

(The list of speakers and their statements is attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes).  

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/083

Contact: Mark Gregory, Senior Transport Planner, 07775 007933

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM4).

The School Streets programme is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Travel to School policy within our countywide Local Transport & Connectivity Plan. This became adopted policy following the County Council meeting on 12 July 2022. This policy contributes to our vision to make “walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice.” 

The consultation proposals seek to introduce permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for four participating schools that have been trialling School Streets under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO), using trained volunteers to manage and enforce the temporary closures.

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposal to make permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) so we can continue the School Streets programme with participating schools in Oxfordshire from autumn 2022, these being:  

a)              the proposed ‘prohibition of motor vehicles’ restriction during the stated operational hours (i.e.: The School Street) for each of the following four schools:

·                  Oxford – Larkrise primary school

·                  Oxford – St Ebbe’s CE primary school

·                  Abingdon – St Nicolas CE primary school

·                  Oxford – Windmill primary school

b)              The proposed use of (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) ANPR cameras to enforce the temporary road closures for the ‘School Streets' during the operational hours.

The School Streets programme was part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Travel to School policy within its countywide Local Transport & Connectivity Plan. This became adopted policy following the County Council meeting on 12 July 2022. This policy has contributed to vision to make “walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice.”

The consultation proposals has sought to introduce permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for four participating schools that have been trialling School Streets under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO), using trained volunteers to manage and enforce the temporary closures.

Cllr Andrew Gant invited the speakers to address the meeting (as per Appendix 1 of the minutes) and responded to issues and comments made by each speaker in descending order.

Cllr Gant welcomed that School Streets programme had created places where children could thrive, be healthier and happier because they were more active, enjoying improved air quality, getting a boost to confidence from Active Travel, and getting more chances to be sociable. The aim was to create an environment where people could walk, wheel, cycle, scoot, or park and walk to school with lower air pollution and traffic congestion and make the school gate environment safer for children. Cllr Gant also thanked all volunteers who took part in this programme.

Creating a car free environment would make easier and safer for people to choose to travel by foot, wheel, cycle, or scooter to school, supporting promotion of Active Travel and encouraging modal shift away from private car use for short journeys. Air quality sensors would be used to monitor air quality at School Street sites. Levels of walking, wheeling, cycling, and scooting would continue to be monitored to measure increases in modal changes and qualitative data recorded by the schools.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to approve the proposal to make permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) so the Council can continue the School Streets programme with participating schools in Oxfordshire from autumn 2022, these being: 

a)    The proposed ‘prohibition of motor vehicles’ restriction during the stated operational hours (i.e.: The School Street) for each of the following four schools:

·         Oxford – Larkrise primary school

·         Oxford – St Ebbe’s CE primary school

·         Abingdon – St Nicolas CE primary school

·         Oxford – Windmill primary school

b)    The proposed use of (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) ANPR cameras to enforce the temporary road closures for the ‘School Streets' during the operational hours.

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/086

Contact: Joanne Fellows, Growth Manager Central, 07990 368897

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM5).

This report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which created a gated safe area in North Parade Avenue for the community and for businesses to provide hospitality facilities to the public by prohibiting vehicles from part of the street during certain times. The scheme is supported by the North Parade Residents and Traders Association who have collaborated with the councils during the period of the order.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED:

a)              to approve making permanent the provisions of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) currently in placeto allow the current measures to continue beyond the expiry of the ETRO on 11 October 2022.

b)              to instruct officers to investigate amendments to the scheme to address some operational issues identified by respondents to the ETRO consultation and by monitoring by Oxford City Council officers, and to also explore funding options for its ongoing operation.

c)               to instruct officers to report to a future meeting the outcome of the above work and any additional consultation carried out to then allow a decision to be taken on the longer-term future of the scheme.

This report presented responses received to a statutory consultation on an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which had created a gated safe area in North Parade Avenue for the community and for businesses to provide hospitality facilities to the public by prohibiting vehicles from part of the street during certain times. The scheme was supported by the North Parade Residents and Traders Association who have collaborated with the councils during the period of the order. The provisions of the ETRO were separate to those made for the fortnightly Saturday street market, which were in place prior to the ETRO and which were planned to continue irrespective of the decision made on the latter.

Councillor Andrew Gant read out a supporting statement from the resident before commenting on some of the responses to the consultation.  

The proposals would help facilitate access to local amenities by pedestrians, improve air quality/reduce pollution, the effective and safe movement of traffic, and would help ensure that danger to road users was minimised. Any concerns received over the impact of the scheme on pedal cyclists had been included in the report.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to:

a)    Approve making permanent the provisions of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) currently in place to allow the current measures to continue beyond the expiry of the ETRO on 11 October 2022.

b)    Instruct officers to investigate amendments to the scheme to address some operational issues identified by respondents to the ETRO consultation and by monitoring by Oxford City Council officers, and to also explore funding options for its ongoing operation.

c)    Instruct officers to report to a future meeting the outcome of the above work and any additional consultation carried out to then allow a decision to be taken on the longer-term future of the scheme.

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/103

Contact: Lee Turner, Principal Officer - Traffic Schemes, 07917 072678

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM6).

This report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on proposals to introduce a raised zebra crossing on The Street, Crowmarsh.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve as advertised the proposed raised zebra crossing at The Street, Crowmarsh.

A formal consultation was carried out between 30 June and 29 July 2022. An email was sent to statutory consultees and key stakeholders, including Thames Valley Police, the Fire & Rescue Service, Ambulance service, Bus operators, countywide transport, access and disabled user groups, South Oxfordshire District Council, Crowmarsh Parish Council, and the local County Councillor. Notices were placed on site and letters sent to approximately 50 properties in the immediate vicinity.

Cllr Gant welcomed support from Crowmarsh Parish Council, Crowmarsh Gifford Primary School and other stakeholder groups engaged in the consultation and added that issue around light had been addressed.

These proposals would help parents and children to cross The Street when walking to / from Crowmarsh Gifford Primary School.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to approve as advertised the proposed raised zebra crossing at The Street, Crowmarsh.

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/101

Contact: Julian Richardson, Senior Engineer, 07825 052736

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM7).

This report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to introduce a raised zebra crossing on First Turn as a result of adjacent development. This proposal replaces a previous proposal for a zebra crossing not incorporating a flat top road hump, which was approved – together with other allied measures – at the Cabinet Member for Highway Management decisions meeting on 26 May 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve as advertised a raised Zebra crossing at First Turn south of its junction with Mere Road.

This report presented responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to introduce a raised zebra crossing on First Turn as a result of adjacent development. This proposal replaced a previous proposal for a zebra crossing not incorporating a flat top road hump, which was approved together with other allied measures, at the Cabinet Member for Highway Management decisions meeting on 26 May 2022.

Councillor Gant commented that he was satisfied with officers’ responses to concerns and objections raised during the consultation remarking that the extent of the zig zags for the crossing would be reviewed.

The proposals would help facilitate walking and the safe movement of traffic.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to approve as advertised a raised Zebra crossing at First Turn south of its junction with Mere Road.

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/102

Contact: Anthony Kirkwood, Principal Engineer - Traffic & Road Safety, 07392 318871

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM8).

This report presents responses received to a consultation on a proposed toucan crossing and associated extension of a shared use footway and cycle track. The proposal seeks to provide a safe and convenient crossing for pedestrians and pedal cyclists travelling between Launton and Bicester.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposed toucan crossing and associated extension of a shared use footway and cycle track.

This report presented responses received to a consultation on a proposed toucan crossing and associated extension of a shared use footway and cycle track. The proposal would seek to provide a safe and convenient crossing for pedestrians and pedal cyclists travelling between Launton and Bicester.

Cllr Gant responded to objectors’ comments to a lack of need for toucan crossing by echoing officers’ response that pedestrians and cyclists wishing to travel to and from Launton and Bicester currently had to cross the A4421 at an uncontrolled crossing, and it was anticipated that usage, which was already moderate, would increase appreciably in the future.  Cllr Gant added that this proposal was in line with key priorities of this Council.

These proposals would help facilitate the safety of pedestrians and pedal cyclists.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to approve the proposed toucan crossing and associated extension of a shared use footway and cycle track.

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/181

Contact: Cathy Champion, Infrastructure Locality Lead South Vale, 07920 084256

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM9).

Following consideration at the Cabinet Member – Highways Management Decisions meeting on 26 May 2022 of a proposal to introduce a ‘Bus Gate’ restriction on Elder Way (eastern access to Crab Hill) between the junctions with the A417 Reading Road & Appletons (the first side road within the estate), it was agreed to DEFER implementation of the proposals to allow further consideration to be given to how the proposals might be aligned with the wider development issues, including coherent active travel links between the development and the town centre.  The report provides details of the above proposal.

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve implementation of the proposed ‘Bus Gate’ restriction on Elder Way (eastern access to Crab Hill) between the junctions with the A417 Reading Road & Appletons, and associated turning prohibitions for vehicles travelling on the A417 Reading Road to prevent them from entering Elder Way, and then on Elder Way to prevent them accessing the A417.

Following consideration at the Cabinet Member – Highways Management Decisions meeting on 26 May 2022 of a proposal to introduce a ‘Bus Gate’ restriction on Elder Way (eastern access to Crab Hill) between the junctions with the A417 Reading Road & Appletons (the first side road within the estate), it was agreed to DEFER implementation of the proposals to allow further consideration to be given to how the proposals might be aligned with the wider development issues, including coherent active travel links between the development and the town centre.

Cllr Gant read out the statement from Wantage Town Council where they asked for the decision to be deferred until such time as the Western End Link Road becomes completed and sufficient traffic data could be collected.

Cllr Gant commented that this was lengthy report with a number of comments on the proposal and felt that some of those who took part in the consultation may have not understood what was the aim of the proposed bus gate and turning restrictions.

Cllr Gant explained that the would help facilitate the safe movement of traffic, reduction of congestion, and provide appropriate priority for reliable bus services, increasing their attractiveness in journey time terms over the private car.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to approve implementation of the proposed ‘Bus Gate’ restriction on Elder Way (eastern access to Crab Hill) between the junctions with the A417 Reading Road & Appletons and associated turning prohibitions for vehicles travelling on the A417 Reading Road to prevent them from entering Elder Way, and then on Elder Way to prevent them accessing the A417.