Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet Member for Environment - resident of Henley-on-Thames.

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.

Councillor Jean Fooks

“The provision of the toucan crossing at the new Parkway station is very welcome. But the access to this for cyclists remains inadequate. Much wider segregated provision is needed along the Banbury Road both north and south of the station entrance. The number of cycle stands proposed is also seriously inadequate, given how close the station is to centres of population for whom cycling would be easy and convenient. It is County Council policy to encourage cycling over vehicular access, and this is a golden opportunity to do just that.”

Cabinet Member for Environment

“The County Council are working with Chiltern Railways on the immediate highway infrastructure required for when the station opens in October which should result in slightly wider segregation provision. In addition to access provision the County Council would continue to work with Chiltern Railways with regard to the new crossing and relocated bus stops enabling cycle/pedestrians/bus users to connect directly in to the station building and provision for cyclists generally.” 

He undertook to send Councillor Fooks a full written response in due course.

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/050

Contact: Owen Jenkins, Service Manager for Highways, Transport & Waste Tel: (01865) 323304

Report by the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Commercial) (CMDE4).

The report considers objections to formal consultations on proposals to provide a new Zebra Crossing in London Road, Bicester.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposed zebra crossing outside Regal Court in London Road as advertised but without the raised side road entry treatment across Priory Road.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE4) proposals for a new zebra crossing in London Road, Bicester in the light of objections received to a public consultation on the proposal.

Noting the support of the local County Councillor he accepted that although there had been objections to the revised location the advice of officers remained that in their view that revised location outside Regal Court was preferable to the original location because of the wider footways, that it was equally on the desire line between the station and the Launton Road area and that is was not sited directly in front of properties or entrances.

Therefore, having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him and the further considerations set out above the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve the proposed zebra crossing outside Regal Court in London Road, Bicester as advertised but without the raised side road entry treatment across Priory Road.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………..

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/169

Contact: Owen Jenkins, Service Manager for Highways, Transport & Waste –Tel: (01865) 323304

Report by the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Commercial) (CMDE5).

The report presents objections received from a consultation to amend existing parking restrictions and introduce new restrictions in various locations in Henley Town Centre.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approvethe proposals as advertised and amended as set out in paragraph 13 of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE5) proposals to amend existing parking restrictions and introduce new restrictions in various locations in Henley Town Centre in the light of representations received to a public consultation on the proposal.

He also noted an email received from Mr. Norman Peters a resident of Northfield End.

Supporting the proposals for Bell Street Anne Collinson thanked those involved for taking into account the needs of Rupert House School. The proposals would enhance safety and improve provision for delivery, service and emergency vehicles.

Presenting the report Mr Tole confirmed that parking in this area of Henley had been a continuing problem and the measures now proposed were aimed at maximising the parking available and recognising the needs of many properties that did not have the option of off-street parking.

With regard to Northfield End Mr Tole confirmed that contrary to the view held by some residents the area to the north and shown hatched green on the plan at page 15 of the report had been shown to be indisputably highway and therefore the existing bollards sited there could be cleared away to provide additional resident parking. There were no proposals to alter the shrubbed area. Also an area of 20 minute limited waiting had been proposed during the day to recognise concerns regarding the viability of the Northfield End stores.

With regard to Bell Street the proposals largely formalised the position but allowed for some extra resident parking.  It was acknowledged that there were problems regarding enforcement by the police with some issues regarding properties 66 a, c, d and e.

The proposals for the loading bay on A4155 Reading Road had been introduced following requests by the police to clarify its status.

There had been a lot of support expressed to the Albert Road proposals and although some objections had been received regarding footway parking it was considered that by formalising arrangements on the western side the situation could be improved by affording some additional control and at the same time meeting demands from residents for extra parking. It was not a through route and appeared to be by far the best option.

As a resident of Henley the Cabinet Member was all too aware of the problems that existed and the demand for parking.  He had had many discussions with residents and, being very familiar with the area, felt that the current proposals would go some way to help address those problems. Therefore, having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, the representations made to him and the further considerations set out above confirmed he confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve the proposals as advertised and amended as set out paragraph 13 of the report CMDE5.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………..

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/046

Contact: Owen Jenkins, Service Manager for Highways, Transport & Waste Tel: (01865) 323304

Report by the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Commercial) (CMDE6).

The proposals comprise the extension of the existing 30mph speed limit on the B4020 Carterton to Burford Road to reflect new development adjacent to this road at the north end of Carterton to a point approximately 140m north of the new junction and, north of that point, the introduction of a 40mph speed limit to meet the existing 40mph speed limit in the vicinity of the B4020 Shilton Dip crossroads, a distance of 570m.

The report sets out an objection received from Thames Valley Police to the 40 mph element of the proposals.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to:

a)        approvethe extension of the 30mph speed limit on B4020 as advertised;

b)        defer implementation of the proposed 40mph limit on B4020 pending a further evaluation of need, including changed usage of the road arising from the adjacent development.

To reflect new development adjacent to the B4020 Carterton to Burford Road the Cabinet Member for Environment considered proposals to extend the existing 30mph speed limit on that road at the north end of Carterton to a point approximately 140m north of the new junction and, north of that point, introduce a 40mph speed limit to meet the existing 40mph speed limit in the vicinity of the B4020 Shilton Dip crossroads, a distance of 570m.  The Cabinet Member considered the proposals in the light of an objection which had been received from Thames Valley Police to the 40 mph element of the proposals.

Mr Tole affirmed that the Police had not objected to the 30 mph extension to include the new junction but had raised concerns that the current 40 mph limit at Shilton Dip could be compromised if that extension were extended to meet the current 40 mph limit.

The Cabinet Member accepted the concerns which had been expressed and therefore having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him and the further considerations set out above confirmed his decision as follows:

a)        approve the extension of the 30mph speed limit on B4020 as advertised;

b)        defer implementation of the proposed 40mph limit on B4020 pending a further evaluation of need, including changed usage of the road arising from the adjacent development.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………..