Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 May 2013, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 June 2013 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report attached

The Committee considered a report that detailed the outcome of a consultation relating to a proposed parking management scheme on the two roads outside the Queen’s Theatre (one linking Billet Lane and North Street, one in front of the theatre) and one-way working on the road outside the theatre and recommends implementation of the scheme. These proposals were linked to the imminent adoption of the two roads as public highways maintainable at public expense.

The report detailed the following proposed changes:

1.    Proposals to convert existing road fronting the theatre to one -way system

It was proposed to convert the existing road fronting The Queen’s Theatre to one way system. Traffic will be permitted to enter via the ‘link’ road and exit at its southern end. This arrangement would create road space to provide parking bays for blue-badge holders, a drop off and pick up point (10 minutes maximum stay) and provision of free parking bays.

2.    Proposed loading bay in the ‘link’ road between Billet Lane and North Street, Hornchurch

There was currently no dedicated loading bay in the ‘link’ road. Delivery vehicles serving the theatre park in the road, which in turn disrupts the traffic flow. It was proposed to provide a loading bay in the ‘link’ road. The bay would be installed on the north side of the theatre as shown on drawing no.QH083-of-201. The loading bay would permit free loading for a maximum period of 20 minutes with no return within 1 hour. The loading bay would operate 24 hours, throughout the week.

3.    Provision of stopping for 5 minutes by the recycling centre

As part of the proposals, it was proposed to provide a free short term stopping facility by the recycling centre for 5 minutes to use the recycling centre or as a ‘kiss and ride’ to drop off or collect passengers. The proposals were shown on drawing no. QH083-of-201.

4.    Proposed ‘At any time’ waiting restrictions

It was proposed to provide ‘At any time’ waiting and loading restrictions at potential locations with a view to prevent inconsiderate parking and enhancing road safety. The proposals are shown on drawing no. QH083-of-201.

The Committee was also asked to consider the following suggested road names for the unnamed ‘link’ road.

The reported informed the committee that the road names in the borough are generally associated with the local importance. 

i)       Drama Road

ii)      Players Road

iii)  Thespian Road

iv)  Theatre Road

v)      Johnstone Road – Bill Johnstone was a former Administrative Director at the Queen’s Theatre.

vi)    Burge Road – Stuart Burge was the founding Artistic Director at the Theatre.

vii)   Humby Road– Gordon Humby was the borough chief librarian in 60’s/70’s who set up the Theatre archive.

During general debate Members of the Committee discussed:

• A Member had reservation on whether there should be free parking bays or coach parking bays for events such as pantomimes.

• Some members felt that temporary road closures even if they were feasible would not be a good  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Report attached

The Committee considered the report and, without debate, RESOLVED:

1.         To note the design work and consultation that has been carried out so far on the Romford Major Scheme and gives support to the design option for Victoria Road as described in paragraph 1.9of the report and presented at the meeting.   

2.         To consider that the Heads of StreetCare and the Acting Head of Regeneration should proceed with the detailed design, further consultation and advertisement (where required) of the elements of the Romford Town Centre Major Scheme described in paragraph 1.9 of this report.)

Report attached

The Committee considered a report in response to the formal consultation. The report detailed that ffollowing numerous requests, reports and petitions received from residents and Ward Councillors representing Romleigh Park Estate, a review and consultation of an appropriate parking scheme was submitted to the Committee on 16 October 2012.

The proposals were subsequently designed and consulted upon by staff and formally advertised on 10 May 2013.  All responses to the consultation were detailed in the report.

The report proposes a Traffic and Parking Control scheme between 10.30am till 11.30am Monday to Friday waiting restrictions to deter long term and local commuter parking’, predominantly from people parking and then walking to Harold Wood Station and to prevent students from the college situated on the former Harold Wood Hospital site from long term parking. It was proposed to design a scheme that works with the existing Controlled Parking Zone within the Harold Wood Ward. 

The report also informs the Committee that there may be parking problems within this area once the development within the old Harold Wood hospital site has been completed.

A public consultation was carried out on 10 May 2013, 366 residents addresses in the area perceived to be affected by the proposed scheme were advised detailing the proposals. Eighteen statutory bodies were also consulted and site notices were placed within the Romleigh Park Estate.

At the close, 62 responses were received, a 17% response rate. A table outlining all the responses was appended to the report as Appendix B.

About 10% of the responses were in favour of the 10.30am to 11.30am Monday to Friday waiting restrictions and the ‘At any time’ waiting restrictions at the junctions.  7% of the responses received were against the proposals for the 10.30am to 11.30am Monday to Friday waiting restrictions, although 3% of those were in favour of the ‘At any time’ waiting restrictions at junctions.

The report outlined that there were an estimated 197 private parking spaces located in designated areas within the Estate, not including garages nor the off-street parking provision fronting the properties. The majority of the home owners own within their deeds one or more car parking spaces and could therefore use these facilities during the one hour restriction. It was for this reason that staff propose that the Romleigh Park Estate, which was currently unrestricted, be included within the Harold Wood Controlled Parking Zone.

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was addressed by a local resident who spoke in support of the scheme, she stated the benefit of the scheme to local resident who are frequently obstructed by parked cars from getting on and out of the drive way.

Councillor Pam Light also spoke in support of the scheme.

During general debate Members of the Committee discussed:

• A suggestion for free parking bays to be made available in the area to accommodate displaced residents cars.
• A consideration for shift workers with no parking spaces.
• That every home in the area had an allocated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report attached.

The Committee considered the report and, without debate, RESOLVED:

To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment that:

a.    The scheme be implemented as advertised

b.    the effect be monitored

c.    that the estimated cost of this scheme as set out in the report was £750 and would be funded from the 2013/14 Minor Parking Schemes budget.

Report attched

At its meeting on 20 March 2012, the Committee agreed in principle to include the car parks in Alexandra Road, George Street and King Edward Road into the residents’ parking scheme sector they were located within.

The report before the Committee detailed proposals to revoke the licences from the current holders and include the car parks in Alexandra Road and King Edward Road in the Sector 6 residents’ parking scheme and the car park  in George Street in the Sector 3 residents’ parking scheme.

At the close of public consultation, eight responses were received to the proposals for the Alexandra Road and King Edward Road and fourteen responses had been received to the proposals for George Street.  The responses were summarised in appendix B of the report.

The report informed the Committee that objections were received from 5 lease holders of the 12 spaces in Alexandra Road and King Edward Road car parks and 2 lease holders from the 8 spaces in the George Street car park.

Officer comments to the report outlined that there were Regeneration proposals seeking approval to a public advertised proposals for a 20mph Zone and a Parking Zone on part of Victoria Road, it was recommended that the proposals outlined in the report for in Alexandra Road and George Street and King Edward Road be deferred at this time and be reconsidered after any proposals for Victoria Road have been implemented and the effects of those proposals monitored.

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was  addressed by a resident who expressed her views in favour of the scheme.

With its agreement Councillor Andrew Curtin addressed the Committee.

Councillor Curtin spoke in support of the officer comments to defer any action on the car parks in Alexandra Road and King Edward Road and proceed with the scheme in George Street car park.

During the debate Members sought clarification that the holders of the car park were licenced and not under lease. It was explained that the car park spaces were controlled through licences rather than leases.

Councillor Frederick Thompson proposed a motion that the George Street car park scheme be implemented. The motion was seconded by Councillor Barry Oddy.

The Committee RESOLVED:

To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment that the George Street car park scheme be implemented and the effects of those proposals measured and that in the light of the forthcoming regeneration proposals for Victoria Road, the proposals outlined in the report for Alexander Road and King Edward Road be deferred at this time and be reconsidered after any proposals for Victoria Road have been implemented and the effects of those proposals measured

The Committee also noted that the estimated cost of this scheme as detailed in the report was £1,900 and would be funded from the 2013/14 Minor Parking Schemes revenue budget.

The Committee is requested to consider the report relating to work in progress and applications - Report attached

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 Street Care to progress the scheme or the Committee would reject the request.

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 - Report attached

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: