Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7th August, 2017 were signed as a true record. There were no matters arising. 

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

To consider the above petition bearing 126 signatures which has been submitted by Councillor 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 considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning a petition, bearing 126 signatures, requesting double yellow lines at the junction of Brandfield Road and Brownshill Green Road and improvements to road safety along Kelmscote Road. The report had been requested by Councillor Williams, the petition sponsor, following the receipt of the determination letter. Councillor Williams, a Bablake Ward Councillor, attended the meeting with local residents Cynthia Campbell, J Butler and J McNulty and they outlined the petitioners’ concerns. The petition organiser was invited but was unable to attend.

The report indicated that Kelmscote Road was a residential road connecting Brandfield Road and Keresley Road. A review of the latest three year personal recorded injury collision history of the road showed there had been no personal injury collisions had been recorded. The determination letter in response to the petition had advised of the actions to be taken in response to the issues raised as follows:

(i) The junction of Brandfield Road and Brownshill Green Road to be added to the waiting restriction request list for the installation of double yellow lines as part of the next review.

(ii) Kelmscote Road did not meet the criteria for a local safety scheme but the contact details were provided for a Community Speed Watch initiative if residents were interested. A copy of the determination letter was set out at an appendix to the report.

The Cabinet Member noted that since the determination letter had been issued, the legal procedure to install double yellow lines at the junction of Brandfield Road and Brownshill Green Road had commenced with the proposal being advertised on 17^th August, 2017. In addition, following the receipt of the petition, double yellow lines had been installed at the Kelmscote Road/Brownshill Green Road/ Kipling Road junction.

Councillor Williams expressed support for the implementation of the double yellow lines at the Brandfield Road/ Brownshill Green Road junction. However he detailed concerns about the speed of traffic using Kelmscote Road, referring to the dangerous bends and indicating that the road was being used as a ‘rat run’. He requested that the road safety concerns be investigated.

Mrs Campbell expressed concerns about the speeding traffic and detailed the problems for emergency vehicles being able to access the road due to the numbers of parked cars. She requested a reduction on the speed limit for Kelmscote Road. Mr McNulty drew attention to a number of accidents that had occurred on the road including having his garden wall knocked down on two separate occasions. He requested a reduced speed limit. Mr Butler referred to the heavy volume of speeding traffic requesting a 20mph limit or the inclusion of chicanes/ speed humps along the road. He also referred to the significant number of elderly residents living in the locality.

Councillor Innes, Cabinet Member referred to the requirement to have evidence of speeding traffic and recommended a community speed watch take place.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The petitioners’ concerns be noted.

(2) The actions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

Note: The objectors have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning two objections that had been received to the Traffic Regulation Order advertised on 10^th August, 2017 to revoke sections of the bus lane on Foleshill Road and Lockhurst Lane. Both objector were invited to the meeting but were unable to attend.

The report indicated that in Coventry over the last 15 years there had been a 20% increase in traffic on the City’s road network. Locally Coventry was one of the fastest growing cities with an expanding economy which was also putting pressure on the road network. There was a further concern associated with high levels of traffic and congestion, the impact this had on air quality.

To help address these concerns, in June 2016 Adkins Ltd were commissioned to undertake junction capacity remodelling to determine the impact of the removal of bus lanes along Foleshill Road and Lockhurst Lane. The following two options were considered:

Option 1 - All bus lanes/gates removed with no other changes to road layout

Option 2 – All bus lanes/gates removed with two continuous lanes inbound and one lane outbound.

The results of the modelling showed Option 2 was the preferred option as this showed an overall improvement in average journey times for general traffic and buses. Consequently it was decided to remove most of the bus lane, with the TRO being advertised on 10^th August.

Two objections were received, the details of which were summarised at an appendix to the report. Comments were provided in response to all the issues raised.

RESOLVED that, having considered the two objections received, the implementation of the revocation Traffic Regulation Order ‘City of Coventry (Lockhurst Lane and Foleshill Road) (Bus Lane Revocation) Order 2017’ as advertised be approved.   

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

Note: The objectors have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning objections that had been received to a Traffic Regulation Order advertised on 17^th August, 2017 relating to proposed new waiting restrictions and amendments to existing waiting restrictions in a number of Wards across the City. A total of 26 objections were received (one of which was a petition), 1 of which was subsequently withdrawn by the objector. In addition 1 letter of support to a proposal was also received. 3 subsequent e-mails had been received from objectors and these were reported at the meeting. A summary of the proposed restrictions, objections and responses were set out in an appendix to the report. All the respondents were invited to the meeting. Councillor Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor attended the meeting in respect of the proposed waiting restrictions in his Ward.

Mr Wells attended in respect of the proposed double yellow lines for junction protection at Ashington Road/ Abbey Road and outlined his concerns. He referred to the existing parking issues indicating that the restrictions would result in more vehicles parking on the grass verges. He referred to a local byelaw which should prevent the parking of vehicles on the verge and officers undertook to investigate this. Councillor Bailey informed of the parking concerns raised at a local residents association meeting. 

Mr O’Shea attended with two family members and his lodger Miss Holmes and they outlined their concerns regarding the proposed double yellow lines junction protection at Bakers Lane and Maudslay Road. Mr O’Shea indicated that the lines were being introduced on land that had been given to him to use as a parking space. Councillor Innes, Cabinet Member indicated that she would need to see documentary evidence to back up this claim and then the officers could investigate the situation. The family also drew attention to the build out at the junction. It was clarified that this had been provided as part of a junction treatment and was not to provide an area for parking as this would affect junction visibility. Concerns were raised about the issue of vibrations. It was acknowledged that the situation would be monitored.

Mr Durkin attended and detailed his concerns in respect of the proposals to include Benedictine Road in the Cheylesmore East Residents Parking scheme which had been requested via a petition. He felt that leaving vehicles unattended was a breach of the Road Traffic Act and was against the Council charging of permits. He felt that there wasn’t a parking problem and residents didn’t want such a scheme. Councillor Bailey drew attention to the support for the scheme.

The comments received via e-mail from Margaret Bull who was unable to attend the meeting relating to the installation of double yellow lines at the Cadden Drive/ Fir Tree Avenue junction were outlined. She was concerned about vehicles parking further into the cul-de-sac at Cadden Drive and the proposals wouldn’t address these issues. It was reported that in response to her original  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that 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. Four petitions had been considered and it had been decided to send a decision letter in respect of each petition. 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.

RESOLVED that the actions being taken by officers as detailed in the appendix to the report, in response to the petitions received, be endorsed.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that contained a list of outstanding issues and summarised the current position in respect of each item.

RESOLVED that the following items be discharged for the reasons indicated:

(1)  Further update report on the City Centre Review transfer process – the City Centre Review was now linked in with the overall Streetpride and Greenspace Restructure Post Implementation Review and had been included in the consultation. The review was nearly complete and implementation was to take place in October.

(2)  Petition – Longford Road Junction with Oakmoor Road, further report with monitoring following implementation of option 4 – scheme had address the traffic concerns raised in the original petition

(3)  Objection to TRO, proposed revocation of right turn only (Whitley/A444) – issue to be considered as part of the larger development proposals for Whitley Business Park and the area of Baginton in connection with the expansion of Jaguar Landrover. The consultants working on the planning application have been asked to take this into account.  

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 additional items of public business.