Agenda and minutes

There were none.

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included on the agenda.

There were none.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2012.

Resolved:-   That the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 23 July 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To consider a verbal update on Traffic Regulation Requests by Staffordshire County Council.

Resolved:-   That in the absence of a verbal report on this matter, Members of the Committee be provided with a written report by Staffordshire County Council.

Consideration was given to a report prepared by Staffordshire County Council detailing the outcome of a parking survey undertaken along Parkstone Avenue following receipt of a petition from residents requesting that parking restrictions be introduced.

Residents contended that parking by non-residents had increased since the imposition of restrictions along The Avenue and adjoining streets and that the situation was likely to worsen when hospital staff were displaced from the car park at the former central outpatients site.

The Chairman allowed Mr David Morton to address the committee on behalf of residents of Parkstone Avenue.  He outlined the problems caused by cars being parked on both sides of the road and expressed concern that no consultation had taken place as part of the recent survey that, in the opinion of residents, did not truly reflect the situation.

Although sympathetic to the concerns expressed by residents, it was indicated as the scheme for implementation in the current financial year had already been agreed, no action could be taken until 2013/14.  However, it was agreed that the officers, in consultation with the residents, should further investigate the most appropriate and effective way of resolving the parking difficulties and thereafter bring forward a scheme for inclusion in the List of Priority Scheme for implementation during 2013/14.

The Chairman indicated his intention to include this scheme as one of his two proposals for consideration for 2013/14.

Resolved:-   (a)       That the report be received.

                        (b)       That the action proposed by the Chairman to

personally take this scheme forward for consideration for inclusion in 2013/14 be noted.

Consideration was given to a report prepared by Staffordshire County Council providing an update on the outcome of a preliminary investigation into the possibility of implementing a permit only parking scheme in Keele Village to address concerns expressed by residents of a number of properties in Keele Road not having off-street parking provisions.

The Chairman welcomed Councillors Kearon and Studd to the meeting inviting them to address the committee on this matter.

Councillor Kearon expressed disappointment at the recommendations made by the County Council indicating that parking in Keele Village by students had worsened since the introduction of pay and display arrangements on the university campus.  He went on to say that residents of 7 properties in Keele Road depended on on-street parking and that possible alternative parking arrangements for them were not practicable (i.e. parking permits enabling affected residents to park at The Hawthornes).  Suggestions that residents could use the car park at Keele Village Hall were also considered not to be viable as such arrangements would detrimentally affect its use as a community facility.

Councillor Studd supported the above comments explaining that the management of traffic was an ongoing problem and stated that the magnitude of the affect of the current problems on residents in Keele Road should not be underestimated.  He was encouraged by the attitude expressed by the University to work with the Council to find a solution and to make a financial contribution to the implementation of a suitable scheme and wished to see discussions continue with the University.

In supporting the views of Councillors Kearon and Studd, Councillor Tagg urged the officers, possibly with the aid of consultants, to continue their discussions with the University regarding their offer to fund a scheme and to provide detailed costs of the scheme to enable any financial commitment from the University to be agreed.  However, he considered that any simplified scheme should not be implemented to the detriment of other previously approved schemes.

Resolved:-   (a)       That the Committee agree to further investigations into a simplified parking scheme for those residents currently without off-street parking subject to funding being made available from Keele University and such scheme not being rolled out to the detriment of previously approved schemes, but considered parallel to those schemes.

                        (b)       That the actual costs involved in the implementation of a scheme in Keele Village be provided by the County Council and discussed with Keele University.

The Committee considered proposals to introduce a loading bay in Ironmarket as indicated on the plan circulated at the meeting.

Resolved:-   That a loading bay be introduced in Ironmarket as detailed in the officer’s report.

Consideration was given to a report:-

(i)         attaching a policy document published by the County Council following decriminalisation of parking enforcement and subsequently approved by the Staffordshire Parking Board, and

(ii)        reminding Members of their earlier decisions to prioritise the implementation of Residents’ Parking Zones (RPZ) in the Borough.

Members were advised that due to resource restrictions at the County Council, it had only been possible to progress one RPZ at a time but that once the setting up costs had been repaid (currently in 4 to 5 years), any surpluses could be used to fund traffic related schemes, Currently, there were no  budgets available to accelerate the process.

Resolved:-   (a) That the County Council be requested to undertake preliminary consultations with respect to the remaining proposed Residents Parking Zones in the town centre.

                       (b)   That the officers investigate whether it would be possible to accelerate the current process to implement all of the identified areas requiring Residents Parking Zones in the short term and for Cabinet to consider this as a possibility given that resources will eventually be spent on these schemes and, as they will be implemented only once, it seems practical to carry out the process sooner rather than later if possible, even if the cost is paid back to the County Council annually.

Councillor Sweeney referred to difficulties being experienced by a resident of a dwelling in Duke Street, Newcastle when attempting to access that street from the rear of his property.

The problem was caused by vehicles parking in the road opposite to his access.

Resolved:-   That the matter be referred to the County Council with a view to the installation of Access Protection Marking.