Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4^th June 2018 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

To consider the above petition, bearing 60 signatures, which has been submitted by Councillor G Williams, a Bablake Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning a petition bearing 60 signatures which was submitted by Councillor Williams, a Bablake Ward Councillor, who attended the meeting and spoke on behalf of the petitioners along with the petition organiser Mr T Fox who was also in attendance. The report had been requested by the petition organiser following receipt of the determination letter. The petitioners were requesting that the Council address the state of the grass verges on Wallace Road and look into a suitable parking solution for residents and customers of the shops on Wallace Road.

The report indicated that Wallace Road was a local distributor road between Keresley Road and Sadler Road in Bablake Ward. On the southern side, there was a parade of shops opposite the junction with Dickens Road. Wallace Road was on a bus route. A safety scheme was consulted on and implemented in 2008/2009 in response to safety concerns raised by residents. This included the current parking arrangements outside the parade of shops. On a recent site visit, it was noted that some of the bollards installed at each end of the verge outside the shops were missing and as a result, vehicles were accessing the verge adjacent to the footway and parking off the carriageway. It appeared that some vehicles were also driving along the footway to pass other vehicles parked on the verge.

The determination letter had advised that that Wallace Road was already on the list of requests for consideration for a verge protection scheme. Due to the number of requests received for similar schemes city-wide, requests had to be prioritised in line with the verge protection policy and were dependent on the availability of funding. Wallace Road did not qualify for inclusion in the 2018/2019 verge scheme programme. Therefore, it would remain on the request list for consideration for inclusion in a future year’s programme with all local residents’ requests taken into consideration in any future scheme.

Mr Fox spoke in support of the petitioners indicating that there had been many problems in the area that had prompted residents’ concerns. He referred to
problems with speeding on Wallace Road that had resulted in approximately seven road traffic incidents in the past 12 month period involving motor vehicles, motorcyclists and cyclists, although no fatalities. A bus had been seen traveling along the road at 50mph. Vehicles were creating a dust when travelling along Wallace Road due to gravel on the road surface. Double yellow lines on the Dickins Road junction were not being enforced. Many residents were parking on their front gardens without having a vehicle crossing installed and those that had paid for a crossing installation felt let down that no enforcement action was being taken in this issue. Parking at a nearby school was also causing issues.

The Cabinet Member indicated that she had received an email from a resident of Wallace Road who was opposed to the requests of the petitioners.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) detailing a request for two temporary hackney carriage licence plates/licences to be used in order to offer vehicles to licensed drivers on a two-weekly basis.

On the 19 September 2011 the Cabinet Member introduced a limit/cap on the number of hackney carriage vehicles that could be licensed by Coventry City Council to 859. Coventry City Council currently license this number, however on the 29 January 2018 (minute 37/17 referred) the Cabinet Member for City Services agreed for two temporary plates/licences to be made available for the Nissan ADV Dynamo vehicle and two temporary plates/licences for the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) [formerly London Taxi Company] TX manufacturers to assess their newly manufactured vehicles on a 12 month basis once licensed.  LEVC would like to utilise their two temporary plates/licences in order to offer their vehicles to licensed drivers on a two-weekly basis (the drivers plated vehicle being held in storage at LEVC during this period) for a 12 month period. In addition LEVC would like a further two temporary plates/licences on the same basis issued for a 12 month period so that they are able to provide four electric hybrid TX vehicles to replace existing diesel hackney carriage vehicles.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services approves that a further two temporary hackney carriage vehicle plates/licences be issued for a period of twelve months from the point of issue for the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) (formerly London Taxi Company).

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which provided a summary of the recent petitions received that were to be determined by letter, or where decisions had been deferred pending further investigations and holding letters were being circulated. Details of the individual petitions were set out in an appendix attached to the report and included target dates for action. The report was submitted for monitoring and transparency purposes.

The report indicated that each petition had been dealt with on an individual basis, with the Cabinet Member considering advice from officers on appropriate action to respond to the petitioners’ request. When it had been decided to respond to the petition without formal consideration at a Cabinet Member meeting, both the relevant Councillor/petition organiser could still request that their petition be the subject of a Cabinet Member report.

Members noted that where holding letters were being sent, this was because further investigation work was required. Once matters had been investigated either a follow up letter would be sent or a report submitted to a future Cabinet Member meeting.

The Cabinet Member requested that where a petition was submitted direct by a member of the public, Ward Councillors be informed of the petition. This would ensure that Elected Members were aware of Ward issues and also provide them with an opportunity to offer to be the Petition’s Councillor sponsor, with the Petition Organiser’s agreement.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Endorses the actions being taken by officers as detailed in the appendix to the report, in response to the petitions received.

2)  Agrees that where a petition is submitted direct by a member of the public, Ward Councillors be informed of the petition to ensure they are aware of Ward issues and to provide them with an opportunity to offer to be the Petition’s Councillor Sponsor, with the Petition Organiser’s agreement.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that contained a list of outstanding issues relating to the Cabinet Member’s portfolio and summarised the current position in respect of each item.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services approves the arrangements for future consideration of matters relating to the outstanding issues items listed in the report.

Any other items of public business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved

There were no other items of public business.