Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 21 February 2012, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 21 February 2012 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Following the meeting of the Committee on 21 February 2012 where Members deferred the item for further consultation with officers.

The report before the Committee sought recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment that the highway improvement works between Pages Wood (Harold Wood) and             Rainham Village be approved for implementation.

            The scheme was supported with £880,000 of Big Lottery grant funding provided through Sustrans and additional Council capital funding, grants via the Transport for London Local Implementation Plan and Veolia Havering Riverside Trust.

            The scheme’s overarching aim was to improve local travel in 79 communities around the UK by creating new walking and cycling networks for everyday journeys.

            By means of bridges, tunnels and other crossings, barriers such as busy roads, rivers and railways can be overcome to make travelling on foot or bike easier and more direct. With each new crossing linking to a local network of walking and cycling routes, there would be direct access to local schools, shops and workplaces, as well as green spaces.

            In terms of design, the route was being designed for pedestrians, both the experienced and inexperienced cyclist, and equestrian riders where possible.

            Sustrans and the Council were promoting a scheme for the Ingrebourne Valley which would build on, connect to and improve existing routes, some of which had been in place for some time.

            The 13 mile route, called the “Ingrebourne Way” would form the new National Cycle Route No.136, starting in Noak Hill and ending at Rainham Marshes, running through Harold Hill, Harold Wood, Harold Park, Cranham, Upminster, Hornchurch, Elm Park and South Hornchurch.

            The first phase of the scheme between Noak Hill and Pages Wood had been completed.

            The current focus of activity was now Phases 2 & 3 which would complete the scheme between Pages Wood and Rainham Marshes by March 2013.

            As well as any statutory consultation processes, the project was overseen by the Connect 2 Steering Group which sought to engage various stakeholders in the development of the route. The group included Council Staff, Sustrans, local walking and cycling groups, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, biodiversity groups and others as required.

            The route and design of the various features had also been reviewed by Sustrans both from a network planning and engineering point of view and fully acceptable to the organisation.

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was addressed by an objector who expressed his views and concern for parts of the scheme.

During the debate members raised general concerns over the design of the scheme including the safety of having mixed use, cycle and pedestrian, paths through Upminster Park. Members also queried the technical specification of the proposed advisory cycle lanes and raised concerns about the proposed 3 metres width of the lanes.  

In reply to Member comments Officers informed the Committee that the proposed 3 metres shared use-cycle track was a safe proposal and in line with other sections of Phase 1 which had been in operation for some  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Report Attached

Members noted that this item was a long standing matter and had wide support. The Committee considered the report and without debate, RESOLVED to recommend the implementation of the schemeto the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment

Report Attached

The report before the Committee recommended alterations to the zebra crossing facility and School Keep Clear markings outside Broadford Primary School following the completion of the recent public consultation.

Following a complaint raised by the school crossing patrol (SCP) that on several occasions vehicles had overtaken busses and parked cars; had failed to see the SCP standing on the zebra crossing resulting in the vehicle being required to brake sharply.

            To assist the SCP it was proposed to:

a.         extend the zebra crossing zigzags by 4 markings on both sides,

b.         change the two existing school keep clear markings to operational Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm,

c.         remove a short length of single yellow line and its time plate (the time plate is not in accordance with Traffic Signs Regulations & General Directions) on the opposite side to the school (to be replaced by the extended zigzag markings).

The Committee considered the report and after a short debate RESOLVED to recommend the implementation of the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment by 8 votes in favour to 1 against.

Members noted that the views detailed in the report went back to 2010 and could not be considered current. The Committee considered the proposal and without debate, RESOLVED to reject the recommendations of the report.

Each scheme was presented to the Committee and voted on as a separate item

1.      Frazer Close – Drawing No. FRC/01/0/

The Committee considered the report and without debate, RESOLVED to recommend the implementation of the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment.

2.      Park Drive – Drawing No. T&TE16-OF-101

The Committee considered the report and without debate, RESOLVED to recommend implementation of the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment.

3.      Wayside Close – Drawing No. TCP-16-of-101

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was addressed by a speaker.

The Committee considered the report and after a short debate RESOLVED to recommend implementation of the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment.

4.      Wennington/Brady – Drawing No. QF210/501

The Committee considered the report and after a short debate RESOLVED to recommend implementation of the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment.

5.      Walden Road/ Goodrington School – Drawing No. GO1

The Committee considered the report and after a short debate, a motion was moved to reject the scheme. The motion was seconded.

The Committee RESOLVED to reject the scheme.

6.      Meadway/Heath Drive – Drawing No. QF210/501

Without debate, a motion was moved to reject the scheme. The motion was seconded.

The Committee RESOLVED to reject the scheme.

7.      Kew Close – Drawing No. TPC98-OF-101

The Committee considered the report and without debate, RESOLVED to recommend implementation of the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment.

8.      Como Street– Drawing No. QJ115-OF-101

Without debate, a motion was moved to reject the scheme. The motion was seconded.

The Committee RESOLVED to reject the scheme.

9.      Springfield Gardens/Argyle Gardens – Drawing No.SFG/01/01

The Committee considered the report and without debate, RESOLVED to recommend implementation of the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment.

The Committee is requested to consider the report relating to Highways Schemes Applications.

The report presented Members with all new highway schemes requests in order for a decision to be made on whether the scheme should progress or not before resources were expended on detailed design and consultation.

The Committee would either make recommendations to the Head of StreetCare to progress the scheme or the Committee would reject the request.

The Committee considered and agreed in principle the schedule that detailed the applications received by the service en bloc.

The Committee’s decisions were noted as follows against each request:

The Committee is requested to consider the report relating to Minor Traffic and parking Schemes

The report before the Committee detailed all Minor Traffic and Parking Scheme application requests in order for a decision to be made on whether the scheme should progress or not before resources were expended on detailed design and consultation.

The Committee would either make recommendations to the Head of StreetCare to progress the scheme or the Committee would reject the request.

The Committee considered and agreed in principle the schedule that detailed the applications received by the service.

The Committee’s decisions were noted as follows against each scheme:

Report Attached

The Chairman moved a MOTION that the item be deferred, to be dealt with at a reconvened meeting, following the omission of consultees comments from the original report.An appendix of the additional comments was tabled at the meeting but it was felt that there was insufficient time for Members to give the additional information due consideration. 

The MOTION was seconded.

The Committee RESOLVED to adjourn this report to enable Members to give full consideration to those comments and would consider at a reconvened meeting commencing at 7:30pm on 29 March 2012.

The vote was passed by 6 votes to 3.

To consider any other item in respect of which the Chairman is of the opinion, by reason of special circumstances which shall be specified in the minutes, that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

During the discussion of remaining items on the agenda the Committee RESOLVED to suspend Council Procedure Rule 9 to allow the conclusion of consideration of the remaining items on the agenda.

The vote for the proposal was passed by 8 votes to 1 against, Councillor Breading voted against the proposal.