Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th November 2025

(b)  Matters Arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 5th November 2025, were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance.

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance the purpose of which was to update Members of the outcome of the 8 week consultation undertaken on the review of the current Statement of Licensing Policy (Taxi & Private Hire) to include changes on Emissions, Age of Vehicles and Best Practice Guidance and to recommend for approval, a revised policy. The revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy was attached as an Appendix to the report.

Under the terms of the Licensing Act 2003 the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy has to be renewed every five years. The current Statement of Licensing Policy came into effect on 16th March 2021, and a review was therefore required. There is a requirement in the Act for the Council to publish and advertise the revised Statement of Licensing Policy at least 4 weeks before, by 16th February 2026.

The current Statement of Licensing Policy (Taxi & Private Hire) commenced on 14th September 2022.  The policy was reviewed every 5 years unless a review was required due to legislative changes or emerging issues.

The purpose of the policy was to set out the terms and conditions that would apply to new applicants and those already licensed for the Hackney Carriage & Private Hire trade.

Coventry City Council had a duty under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to carry out its functions as the Licensing Authority.  Under these acts, the Council had a duty to carry out the following functions:

•  Ensure that drivers are ‘fit and proper’

•  Ensure that all licensed vehicles are road worthy and fit for the carriage of fare paying passengers

•  Protect public safety

At the meetings of Cabinet Member for City Services 25th July 2025 and Licensing and Regulatory Committee 5th August 2025, reports were considered on the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy and approval was given for the Director of Law and Governance to consult on its contents.

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet Member for City Services, having considered the results of the consultation, the proposed revised Statement of Licensing Policy (Taxi & Private Hire) and comments from the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, approves and adopts the revised Statement of Licensing Policy (Taxi & Private Hire) as attached at Appendix A to the report.

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy.

To consider the above petition bearing 14 signatures.

The petition has been submitted by Councillor L Bigham, a Longford Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy, that responded to a petition requesting that HGV lorries were prevented from travelling along Windmill Road, Longford.  The Petition Organiser, Councillor L Bigham, a Longford Ward Councillor, attended the meeting on behalf of the petitioners.

The petition contained 14 signatures and in accordance with the City Council’s procedure for dealing with petitions, those related to road safety were heard by the Cabinet Member for City Services. The Cabinet Member had considered the petition in advance of the meeting and requested that the petition be dealt with by Determination Letter rather than a formal report being submitted to a meeting of Cabinet Member for City Services. The Petition Organiser subsequently requested that a report be submitted to a meeting.

The Determination Letter advised that Windmill Road was on the designated lorry route between Aldermans Green Industrial Estate and the A444 and M6 North.  There were currently no plans to change this designation however, the road would continue to be monitored as part of the annual review of personal injury collisions.

Councillor Bigham spoke in support of the petition raising concerns regarding HGV’s travelling along Windmill Road, particularly as there were a primary school and a nursery located on the road.  She suggested the installation of AI Cameras, in particular at both ends of Windmill Road, which would provide details of the vehicle near misses that went unreported.

The Cabinet Member for City Services raised concerns regarding the speed of vehicles along Windmill Road and the vibration that resulted from the HGV’s and asked if there were future plans for traffic calming measures.

Officers responded to Councillor Bigham and the Cabinet Member’s concerns and queries advising the following:

•  Additional monitoring would be carried out to identify any pinch points and speed data investigated

•  The installation of AI cameras would be further investigated

•  The Travel Planning Officer would be engaged to liaise with companies at Aldermans Green to ascertain whether vehicle routing could be improved.

•  Officers would liaise with colleagues to measure the vibration issues from the HGV’s

•  Windmill Road may be included as part of the future 20mph policy review.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Notes the petitioners’ concerns.

2)  Endorses the actions which have been agreed and set out in the determination letter to the petition organiser as detailed in paragraph 2.6 of the report.

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy.

To consider the above petition bearing 76 signatures.  The petition is being sponsored by Councillor A Jobbar, a Westwood 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 Director of Regeneration and Economy, that responded to a petition requesting the installation of Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) on Station Avenue, Tanners Lane and Duggins Lane and the installation of 20mph zones on Nailcote Avenue and Conway Avenue, Tile Hill. The Petition Sponsor, Councillor A Jobbar, a Westwood Ward Councillor, attended the meeting and spoke on behalf for the petitioners. The Petition Organiser was unable to attend.

The petition contained 76 signatures and in accordance with the City Council’s procedure for dealing with petitions, those related to road safety were heard by the Cabinet Member for City Services. The Cabinet Member had considered the petition in advance of the meeting and requested that the petition be dealt with by Determination Letter rather than a formal report being submitted to a meeting of Cabinet Member for City Services. The Petition Organiser subsequently requested that a report be submitted to a meeting.

The Determination Letter was sent on 3rd October 2025, and explained how locations were assessed, and schemes prioritised, and that Station Avenue, Tanners Lane and Duggins lane were unsuitable for ASE.  The letter also stated that there were no current plans to install 20mph zones on Nailcote Avenue and Conway Avenue.  Locations considered for ASE were prioritised each year based on national criteria including the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) related to vehicular speed.  Station Avenue, Tanners Lane and Duggins Lane did not satisfy the criteria for ASE, however, these locations would be monitored as part of the citywide annual review of personal injury collisions.

Councillor A Jobbar spoke in support of the petition, raising the following concerns:

•  Road safety issues on Station Avenue, Tanners Lane, Duggins Lane, Nailcote Avenue and Conway Avenue, which were well used routes close to schools and homes.

•  Regular reports of vehicles travelling at excessive speed.

•  Concerns for children and the elderly walking on the routes.

•  Community concerns that the criteria for average speed cameras, which was not met, did not capture their everyday lived experience of feeling unsafe on the roads.

•  Residents were disappointed a 20mph zone had not been installed on Nailcote Avenue and Conway Avenue as those roads were frequently used by families.

•  Early consideration of traffic calming measures could reduce the likelihood of future accidents.

Councillor A Jobbar referred to the National Highways’ safety KPI framework, requesting officers be responsive to it should collision data change and asked that petitioners concerns were not dismissed because the data thresholds were not met. He urged the Cabinet Member for City Services to consider interim measures and work with residents to ensure their concerns were heard.

The Cabinet Member for City Services acknowledged residents’ concerns and advised that a 20mph policy review was being undertaken which it was anticipated would be complete in March/April 2026 and the roads in Tile Hill would be considered once the review was complete.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

To consider the above petition bearing 6 signatures.

The Petition Organiser has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy, that responded to a petition requesting traffic calming in the Eastern Green area comprising Upper Eastern Green Road, Lower Eastern Green Lane, Sutton Avenue, Farcroft Avenue and Broad Lane. Councillor G Ridley, a Woodlands Ward Councillor, attended the meeting for this item.

The petition contained 6 signatures and in accordance with the City Council’s procedure for dealing with petitions, those related to road safety were heard by the Cabinet Member for City Services. The Cabinet Member had considered the petition in advance of the meeting and requested that the petition be dealt with by Determination Letter rather than a formal report being submitted to a meeting of Cabinet Member for City Services. The Petition Organiser subsequently requested that a report be submitted to a meeting.

The Determination Letter was sent on 3rd October 2025 and explained that measures were under development to mitigate the impact of nearby developments.  While Broad Lane had been considered for inclusion into the Local Safety Scheme Programme, it had not been included to date as it did not fulfil the Council’s prioritisation criteria.  However, Broad Lane would continue to be monitored as part of the citywide annual review of personal injury collisions and would be considered for inclusion as part of the Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) Programme, subject to satisfying the criteria.

The report set out details regarding road safety engineering schemes proposed in the Eastern Green area, including Lower Eastern Green Lane.  An overview of how Broad Lane would be considered for ASE and how locations were assessed for ASE was also detailed.

Councillor G Ridley spoke in support of the petition, advising there had been a number of petitions submitted over a number of years relating to road safety issues in the area. He referred to the effects these matters had on the local community, in particular, young families, the elderly, and those with mobility issues.

Officers advised that a number of locations for consideration for the installation of average speed cameras would be brought forward in the coming months.

Councillor G Ridley, on behalf of the Woodlands Ward Councillors, welcomed the proposed road safety engineering scheme in the Eastern Green area and the criteria for Broad Lane to be considered for ASE. Officers would arrange a briefing to work through the detail of the proposals.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Notes the petitioners’ concerns.

2)  Endorses the actions which have been agreed to be issued by determination letter to the petition organiser as detailed in Appendix B to the report.

3)  Notes the proposed road safety engineering scheme in the Eastern Green area and the criteria for Broad Lane to be considered for ASE.

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy in respect of petitions received relating to the portfolio of the Cabinet Member.

In June 2015, amendments to the Petitions Scheme, which formed part of the Constitution, were approved in order to provide flexibility and streamline current practice. This change had reduced costs and bureaucracy and improved the service to the public. These amendments allowed for a petition to be dealt with or responded to by letter without being formally presented in a report to a Cabinet Member meeting.

In light of this, at the meeting of the Cabinet Member (formerly Cabinet Member for Public Services) on 15 March 2016, it was approved that a summary of those petitions received which were determined by letter, or where decisions were deferred pending further investigations, be reported to subsequent meetings of the Cabinet Member, where appropriate, for monitoring and transparency purposes.

Appendix A to the report set out petitions received and how officers proposed to respond to them.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services endorses the actions being taken by officers as set out in Section 2 and Appendix A of the report, in response to the petitions received.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

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

There was no other public business.