Agenda and minutes

It was indicated that in the circumstances that the Chairman, Councillor Taylor, was delayed, a Chairman was required to be appointed.  to lead the committee until he arrived.

Resolved:-   That Councillor Cairns be appointed as Chairman of this meeting until Councillor Taylor arrives.

Councillor Cairns in the Chair

Apologies were received from Councillors Mrs Cornes and Tagg.

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 22 October 2012.

Resolved:-   That the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 22 October 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To consider a verbal update on Traffic Regulation Requests by Staffordshire County Council and the ongoing Residents’ Parking Scheme.

The Committee considered a list submitted by the County Council of requests made since the last meeting for traffic regulation measures at various locations across the Borough.

None of the new requests were considered to be major issues but had been added to the larger list for consideration by the Committee.

Arising out of consideration of this matter it was agreed that if the problems caused by vehicles parking in Duke Street raised by a Member at the last meeting could not be resolved by the installation of Access Protection Marking then it be added to the list of traffic regulation requests.

Resolved:-   That the information be received and the action suggested in relation to Duke Street be agreed.

Councillor M Taylor in the Chair

To review the list of schemes for 2013/14.

Having regard to earlier decisions of the Committee to prioritise a list of traffic regulation requests for a 5-year period to 2014/15.  Members were asked to review the list and agree four to be investigated in detail by the County Council and implemented during 2013/14.

It was indicated that since approval of the original list new requests had arisen that were not anticipated at the time of its production.

The current list of prioritised schemes was set out in the appendix to the officer’s report and included a number of more recent requests for consideration.  Although the requests for Traffic Regulation Orders now numbered 159, the reality was that only 4 could be selected for investigation and implementation by the County Council in 2013/14.

With this in mind, the Committee discussed how best to arrive at a decision to prioritise 4 schemes and, at the same time, use the process as an opportunity to investigate whether requests on the list had sufficient priority to warrant retention. Ideally, a short list of 8 would be preferable from which the Committee could choose 4 for prioritisation.

It was generally agreed that the most logical and effective way of establishing a short list would be for the County Council to provide a copy of the list to the 8 County Councillors who represented the Borough Council with a request that they examine it and each select one scheme for consideration as one of the 4 prioritised schemes for 2013/14 and, where appropriate, to suggest removal of requests from the list.

Resolved:-   That the Committee’s County Council representatives be approached by County Officers as indicated above and the outcome of such consultation be submitted to the next meeting for consideration.

To receive the Annual Parking Report and 6 month update report prepared by Newcastle Borough Council.

A Member referred to problems caused by Hackney Carriages parking in Hassell Street in the vicinity of Wilkinsons when waiting for spaces to become available on the taxi rank.

The officers indicated that the situation in this area should be improved when works were completed in High Street South.  Those works were about to start in early February.

Resolved:-   That the information be received.

Reference was made to the discussion on this matter at the last meeting subsequent to which the County Council had provided a breakdown of the costs for implementing the scheme, including elements for dealing with objections and traffic management requirements for the implementation of on?site works etc.

The total cost of implementing the scheme was estimated at £12520 subject to a number of variables and factors which may arise at consultation stage.

Further discussions between the Borough and County Council would be held shortly.

Resolved:-   That the information be received.