Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 Jamila Azad

" Four years ago I submitted a petition signed by four hundred people which stated that a crossing was needed on Morrell Avenue. There are 250 houses on this Road with very heavy traffic coming from Headington and Cowley Road. There is also a steep hill coming down with cyclists, taxis, cars, lorries and bikes travelling very fast and, with a Secondary School, Primary School, Nursery, Youth Centre and Children’s Centre,  it is dangerous for parents, children and elderly to cross this Road.  I have put this to our locality meeting a number of times but it has been ignored.  I have also sent a few emails to Councillor Nimmo Smith but no answer".

Cabinet Member for Environment

“Thank you for raising this matter which I understand was raised with my predecessor in 2013.

Whilst the demand for a crossing may remain unchanged, so I am afraid is the answer.   For facilities such as this we are reliant on funds arising from developments (S106 monies) and the officers tell me that no such funding currently exists that could be used to install a crossing on Morrell Avenue.

With regard to speeding I have asked officers to look at whether any low-cost measures can be introduced to make drivers more aware of the speed limit, and also to discuss with Thames Valley Police whether additional enforcement can be undertaken particularly at times when children are crossing to/from school.

For your information there have been no reported pedestrian accidents on Morrell Avenue since 2012.”

Councillor Azad

“Thank you for your response and acknowledgement of need.  Accepting the current position regarding a lack of available funding will you continue to review the position regarding provision of a crossing and the issues of speed?”

Cabinet Member for Environment

“Yes”

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/141

Contact: David Tole, Traffic Safety & Area Steward Manager Tel: (01865) 815942/07920 084148

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE4).

Go Ultra Low Oxford is a government funded project run by the County and City Councils to trial electric car charging technologies on streets where off-street parking is unavailable. By 2027 more people could be buying electric cars than petrol or diesel; this project will help communities prepare for this future.

The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on the introduction of parking bays for use by Ultra Low Electric Vehicles (ULEV) whilst being connected to roadside charging points.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to:-

(a)         welcome the initiative to introduce on-street charging points for Ultra Low Electric Vehicles and associated parking places;

(b)         approve the proposals as advertised in Vicarage Close;

(c)          not approve the advertised proposal for Bainton Road and to request officers to consider an alternative location

Go Ultra Low Oxford is a government funded project run by the County and City Councils to trial electric car charging technologies on streets where off-street parking is unavailable. The project is seeking to install chargers on streets as close as possible to where trial volunteers live and where there is a readily-available electricity supply. That ensures that ULEVs can access these charging points.

The proposal is to create 15 new ‘electric car charging bays’ which  will be open to anyone during the day to use for charging an electric car for up to 3 hours. For those bays that are in CPZs there would be a requirement for vehicles parked overnight to display a Permit for the Zone and at all times a vehicle using a charging bay will have to be plugged in to the charging point.

In considering (CMDE4) the responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on the introduction of the scheme the Cabinet Member for Environment welcomed the proposal which he saw as a worthwhile scheme and if successful would present an opportunity to extend the provision of more sustainable transport options. Therefore having regard to the arguments and options set out in the report before him he confirmed his decision as follows to:

(a)             welcome the initiative to introduce on-street charging points for Ultra Low Electric Vehicles and associated parking places;

(b)             approve the proposals as advertised in Vicarage Close;

(c)              not approve the advertised proposal for Bainton Road and request officers to consider an alternative location

Signed ………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/011

Contact: David Tole, Traffic Safety & Area Steward Manager Tel: (01865) 815942/07920 084148

Report by Interim Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE5).

The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on an amended proposal for a revision to the speed limit on the B4017 between Abingdon and Drayton.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposals as advertised.

An extension of the 30mph speed limit on B4017 Abingdon Road had been  proposed by developers as part of works to create a new access for a residential development along that length of road. The consultation on that  proposal had been carried out in September and October 2016, and the responses reported to the Cabinet Member Decisions meeting on 12 January. However, following representations from the Parish Council the Cabinet Member authorised further consultation on a revised proposal to replace the existing 50mph speed limit between Abingdon and Drayton with a 40mph speed limit.

The cabinet Member for Environment now considered (CMDE5) responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on those amended proposals.

Recognising the concerns expressed by Thames Valley Police the Cbinet Member nevertheless considered that the proposed limit would encourage drivers to slow down and it represented a good compromise. Therefore having regard to the arguments and options set out in the report before him he confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve proposalsto replace the existing 50mph speed limit between Abingdon and Drayton with a 40mph speed limit, with no changes being made to the 30mph speed limits as advertised.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing………………………….

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/004

Contact: David Tole, Traffic Safety & Area Steward Manager Tel: (01865) 815942/07920 084148

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE6).

The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal for an extension of the 30mph speed limit on Coxwell Road, Faringdon.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposals as advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE6) responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal for an extension of the 30mph speed limit on Coxwell Road, Faringdon which had been proposed by developers as part of works to create a new access for a residential development.

Mr Tole highlighted that although there had been objections relating to compliance with the limit and cost effectiveness of making piece meal changes the proposal was in accord with Department for Transport guidelines on setting speed limits and had been promoted in response to and funded by a specific development.

Noting the support of the local member and having regard to the arguments and options set out in the report before him the Cabinet Member confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve the proposalsfor an extension of the 30mph speed limit on Coxwell Road, Faringdon as advertised.

Signed…………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………...