Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable interests declared.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13^th June 2016 were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Executive Director of Place

Note: The objector has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Executive Director of Place that, in accordance with the City Council’s procedure for dealing with objections to Traffic Regulation Orders, reported on an objection received to a proposed Traffic Regulation Order for a 20mph speed zone in Deedmore Road, Hillmorton Road and Lapworth Road Area.

On 25th March 2014 the former Cabinet Member for Public Services committed to the aspiration that Coventry becomes a 20mph city and to recommendations made by a Task and Finish Group established by Public Services, Energy and Environment Scrutiny Board (4) to consider how to assess and prioritise requests for 20mph zones and 20mph limits outside of the safety scheme process, taking into consideration requests from the community. 

In September 2014 the Cabinet Member approved the proposal that a number of areas, which already had traffic calming, were to become 20mph zones. This included the Deedmore Road, Hillmorton Road and Lapworth Road Area.

On 14th April 2016 the proposals to install speed cushions on Deedmore Road and to change the speed limit to 20mph, to create a 20mph zone, were advertised and 1 objection was received.

The cost of introducing the proposed TRO would be funded from the Highways Maintenance and Investment Capital Programme budget through the Local Transport Plan.

RESOLVED that having considered the objection to the Traffic Regulation Order, the Cabinet Member for City Services approves the implementation of the ‘City of Coventry (Deedmore Road Area) (20mph Zone) Order 2016’.

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Executive Director of Place on the results of the 12 month trial that commenced in March 2015 and, based on the results of the trial, sought approval for the continued use of an enforcement vehicle to assist with civil parking enforcement. 

In July 2014, the former Cabinet Member for Public Services approved the use of an enforcement car fitted with an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera for a 12 month trial period, to undertake the enforcement of parking restrictions where the stopping of vehicles wasn’t permitted.

The results from the trial period indicated that there was a high level of non-compliance with ‘no stopping’ restrictions, particularly outside schools. The current service providers derived revenue equivalent to £15 for each Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) that was issued using the ANPR enforcement car. During the trial period 1,006 PCNs were issued which resulted in revenue of £15,090 to the service provider. The Council did not incur any other operating or capital cost. The ANPR car had proven to be a cost efficient and effective approach to tackling parking problems in areas where conventional enforcement methods were difficult. 

The trial focussed solely on the enforcement of yellow zig-zag lines outside of schools. However there were numerous other restrictions (e.g. the red route, clearways, taxi ranks, loading / unloading bans, zig-zags at pedestrian crossings) that were also difficult to enforce in high priority areas where the ANPR car could be deployed in future. In addition, there were other applications where the ANPR car could be deployed in with a CEO on board to maximise its effectiveness in areas that were difficult to enforce. 

The results of the trial confirm that the ANPR car was a useful asset for dealing with illegal parking which could help to reduce congestion and improve road safety and could be used to assist with the enforcement of other parking restrictions in addition to school keep-clear restrictions.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Notes the results of the 12 month trial following the introduction of the ANPR enforcement car to enforce ‘no stopping’ restrictions.

2) Approves the continued deployment of an ANPR camera enforcement car to tackle the problems with illegal and dangerous parking where the stopping of vehicles isn’t permitted and where enforcement by a foot patrolling Civil Enforcement Officer is difficult or not practical. 

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Executive Director of Place that reported on the Council’s Telematics System and sought adoption of a Telematics Policy, attached as an appendix to the report.

The report indicated that vehicle telematics could provide great benefits in respect of safety, security and vehicle use issues, leading to greater efficiency in the frontline services provided by the Council. The City Council had therefore purchased a system for all City Council fleet vehicles.

Prior to using any data from the telematics system, a Telematics Policy had been prepared in line with similar City Council policies on the use of personal data, most notably the use of CCTV data.

The Vehicle Technology and Telematics Policy had been developed in consultation with relevant Trade Unions who were invited to forward any comments or concerns relating to the policy at the Union Core Group meeting on 19th April, and none were received.

The policy would be used in conjunction with other relevant Council policies and procedures relating to work undertaken requiring use of Coventry City Council fleet vehicles.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services agrees to adopt the Vehicle Technology and Telematics Policy.

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Executive Director of Place which provided a summary of the recent petitions received that had been determined by letter, or where decisions had been deferred pending further investigations and holding letters had been 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. Attention was drawn to the fact that if 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 were informed that where holding letters had been 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 a Cabinet Member meeting. Members expressed support for this new process for dealing with petitions.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services endorses the actions being taken by officers as detailed in the appendix to the report, in response to the petitions received.

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

The Cabinet Member noted a report of the Executive Director of Resources that contained a list of outstanding issues and summarised the current position in respect of each item.

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.