Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29^th September, 2021 were agreed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

To consider the above petition currently bearing 167 e-signatures, which is being supported by Councillor Heaven, a Wainbody 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 Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services concerning a petition, bearing 170 e-signatures, requesting that the tree on the corner of Beanfield Avenue and Medland Avenue be saved from felling. The petition was supported by Councillor Heaven, a Wainbody Ward Councillor, who spoke in support of the petition. The petition organiser was invited but was unable to attend the meeting. A local resident spoke on behalf of the petitioners.

The Cabinet Member had considered the petition prior to the meeting and requested that the petition was dealt with by determination letter. On receipt of the determination letter, the petition organiser had requested that the petition be considered at a Cabinet Member for City Services meeting.

The report indicated that on 28 July, 2021, the Urban Forestry Officer was notified by Travel West Midlands, that one of their buses had struck a tree on Beanfield Avenue. The tree was a mature pollarded European Lime tree Tilia x europaea situated close to 89 Beanfield Avenue and a bus stop. The tree was pollarded once every 5 years. As the bus was manoeuvring from the stop and around some parked vehicles, it hit the tree. The damage would be dealt with by Travel West Midlands on this occasion, as they determined that the tree was not over the carriageway.

The Urban Forestry Officer had assessed the tree and found that the wound on the upper limb indicating the point of impact was directly over the kerb. The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges required that all highways should have a ‘Structure Free Zone’ of 450mm behind the kerbline, that allowed for a high sided vehicle to lean with the camber of the road surface. This defined that the tree is question was within the zone and that the Council should take action.

The report highlighted that nearly all trees, particularly those in Beanfield Avenue, were within this zone, but it would be unreasonable for the Council to remove them all, as most would not cause damage and so there was no expectation or duty to remove them all as part of active maintenance. Only those which were foreseen as going to cause damage or injury required action of some sort. The Cabinet Member was informed that when notified of a collision incident, the Council had to take action, to prevent a similar event occurring. A failure to take action would be seen by any court as negligence.

Many residents had commented on the type of bus that was deployed on the number 9 route that takes in Beanfield Avenue and had requested that this be reverted to the older type of single deck buses that were operated a few years ago. This was a matter for Travel West Midlands and had no effect on this tree and how the City Council managed it. The incident had occurred so consequently action was needed to prevent a negligent situation in the future.

The report set  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

To also consider a petition concerning ‘Stop the Binley Cycleway – Biggin Hall Crescent made exit only’. The petition bearing 160 signatures is being supported by Councillor R Singh, a Lower Stoke 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 Director of Transportation and Highways which sought approval to proceed with 75% of the Binley Cycleway scheme, which was a 6km long segregated cycleway connecting the City Centre with University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. This was a regional priority cycle route forming part of the Starley Network. The report also responded to two petitions, one in favour of the proposals asking for more cycle lanes to be built. The second petition, which was supported by Councillor R Singh, a Lower Stoke Ward Councillor, opposed an element of the proposals around the Biggin Hall Crescent junction with Binley Road. A representative of the petition organiser attended the meeting and spoke in support of the petition.

The report detailed that cycling had an important role to play in addressing the challenges the city and region faced, which included reducing congestion, carbon and pollution, supporting economic growth and employment, tackling obesity and creating places where people want to live, work, learn, shop and do business.  Cycling offered an affordable, convenient and low-cost travel option to access jobs, education and leisure opportunities, particularly for people without access to cars. One in three households in Coventry did not have access to a car. Investment in high quality cycle routes was a priority set out in the draft Coventry Transport Strategy which was considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 12th October 2021.

During the West Midlands wide Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) development process, potential strategic core routes were evaluated and prioritised. A route connecting Coventry University and the city centre with University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) scored amongst the highest within the West Midlands metropolitan area.  Now referred to as Binley Cycleway, this route was developed throughout 2019 and early 2020, with an allocation of funding being made available from the Transforming Cities Fund in December 2019.

The scheme details were set out in Appendix A to the report. A second appendix highlighted the minor alterations and improvements that had been made following feedback from residents and stakeholders.

Public consultation was held in two phases due to the length of the scheme. Phase 1 covered Gulson Road up to Brinklow Road and took place between 28th September and 31st October 2020.  Phase 2 covered Brinklow Road to UHCW and took place between 1st March and 18th April.  Both phases were online with a questionnaire accompanied by downloadable plans. The Cabinet Member noted that Phase 1 included delivery of 6,000 ‘street news’ leaflets showing the route plan, artists impressions, some of the key aspects and web addresses to locate the online plans and survey.  76% of respondents stated that they supported the idea of segregated cycleways like this. The most common response was that people would like to see this go further and reach more destinations. The biggest concerns were how this might affect traffic congestion, parking concerns and the local economy.

Phase 2 included delivery of 4,500 ‘street news’ leaflets and some socially distanced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

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

The Cabinet Member considered a report and received a presentation of the Director of Transportation and Highways concerning eight objections and one letter of support that had been received to a Traffic Regulation Order  advertised on 9^th September, 2021 for a Local Safety Scheme on Old Church Road, Gayer Street, Proffitt Avenue and Dudley Street. A location plan and a summary of the objections and the responses to the issued raised were set out in appendices to the report. All the objectors were invited to attend the meeting and a number attended and outlined their concerns to the measures proposed.

The report indicated that a Local Safety Scheme was proposed on Old Church Road, Gayer Street, Proffitt Avenue and Dudley Street to reduce vehicular speed and prevent personal injury collisions and make the areas safer for all road users. An examination of the personal injury collision rate in this area revealed a total of 11 collisions, and this included two serious injury collisions. The majority of causation factors were attributed to speeding vehicles. In addition, the 85th percentile speeds had been recorded at 43mph, and the speed limit was 30mph. Speeding vehicles on residential roads were dangerous for all road users and increased the likelihood of more serious injuries if collisions occurred.

In February 2021, residents were consulted on a possible Local Safety Scheme on the roads highlighted above. The proposed road safety measures included a reduction in the speed limit to 20mph; the installation of speed cushions; and the installation of raised junctions. Although the majority of respondents (65%) supported the proposed Local Safety Scheme, some residents did not support the proposed traffic calming measures and the speed limit reduction.

As part of the statutory procedure, the Traffic Regulation Order for the 20mph speed limit and the Notice of intent to install speed cushions were advertised in the local press and notices were posted on lamp columns in the area, which resulted in the eight objections being received.

The Cabinet Member was informed that it was recommended to install the scheme due to the road characteristics and the recorded vehicular speeds and number of personal injury collisions related to speed. Old Church Road, Gayer Street, Proffitt Avenue and Dudley Street comprised of a series of long straights, and this could increase the likelihood of excessive vehicular speeds, as drivers tended to look at where they were going and not what was immediately in front of them, often referred to as ‘tunnel vision’.  There was a high number of junctions, Schools, and houses which front the road, and all these factors increased the road safety risk when drivers travelled at inappropriate speeds. 

The objectors present raised a number of concerns in response to the proposals including whether the 85th percentile speeds recorded at 43mph were collected before or after the installation of speed cameras; the option of other measures that would be more suitable than speed cushions and raised junctions; and concerns about the potholes in the roads  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways that provided a summary of the recent petitions received that were being responded to by way of determination letter or holding letter. Details of the individual petitions were set out in an appendix attached to the report and included details of the actions being taken in response to the petitions. 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 sponsoring the petition (if any) and/or the petition organiser/spokesperson 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.

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

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 were no additional items of public business.