Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March, 2018 were signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

The officers will report at the meeting.

The following have been invited to attend for the consideration of this item:-

Councillors J Innes and R Lakha, Cabinet and Deputy Cabinet Member for City Services and Councillor K Maton, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills.

Councillor L Kelly, Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner and Member of the Strategic Policing and Crime Board

Mrs S Hanson and Mrs K Jones, Co-opted Members of the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board

A representative from West Midlands Police

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which outlined the current problems and road safety concerns outside of schools caused by parked vehicles during school drop off and pick up times. The Briefing Note detailed the current arrangements for tackling the issue and options available for dealing with the problem more effectively.

The problems caused by vehicles parking outside of schools is a long-standing one. The fact that cars are parked does not necessarily mean that there is a parking problem. It is only a problem if the parking is illegal or causing a danger to pedestrian or vehicle movement. The problem caused by illegally parked vehicles outside of schools is one that many local authorities across the country have to contend with and is widespread at many schools throughout Coventry.

In Coventry there are more than 130 primary and secondary schools and many of these have more than one entrance to the site. The majority of schools regularly experience parking problems due to the lack of available parking in the vicinity of the school. Some drivers also inconsiderately park in front of private driveways thereby preventing residents from accessing their own property or even park on the resident’s private driveway.

The Briefing Note highlighted the following issues:-

  • Not all keep clear road markings (a yellow zig zag line) are the subject

  of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which makes them enforceable

  • The role of the Council’s Civil Enforcement Officers

  • The Local Authorities enforcement powers under the Traffic

  Management Act 2004

  • The use of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera –

  its effectiveness and issues relating to the current contract with a third

  party supplier

  •The wide range of initiatives undertaken by schools to help influence

  behaviours to alleviate the problem

  • A pilot project being trialled in Solihull which limits the traffic in certain

  streets around the school at key times

  • A number of options being explored as a way forward.

The Committee were informed that data shows that the majority of children attend their local catchment area school. The Committee also heard from a local resident who was regularly affected by the behaviour of inconsiderate and dangerous parking and questioned officers on a number of issues including:-

  • Enforcement powers available to the Council

  • Potential for using Public Space Protection Order and Anti Social

  Behaviour Orders

  • On –going work done with schools and parents to look at alternatives

  to travelling to school by car, including safer routes risk assessments

  • The use of Green Travel Plans

  Timescales and costs involved in introducing Traffic Regulation Orders

  (Officers were requested to submit information regarding this to all

  Members of the Committee)

• Traffic calming measures introduced in Deedmore Road which have had an impact on parking problems.

The Cabinet Member for City Services attended the meeting and outlined her commitment to exploring all options to tackle this issue.

The Committee acknowledged that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

To receive an oral update at the meeting.

The Committee received and noted an update from Councillor J McNicholas on the West Midlands Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny, particularly in relation to the recent scrutinising of Local Enterprise Partnerships.

All outstanding items have been included in the Work Programme.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee noted that all outstanding issues had been included in the Work programme.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee noted their Work Programme for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

The Committee also noted that all Members of Scrutiny were being asked to complete a survey providing feedback on the work of Scrutiny during 2017/18, which would be considered at their next meeting.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.