Agenda item

Presentation by the Transport and Infrastructure Section Head following a request by the scrutiny committee at its meeting in June 2017

The Transport and Infrastructure Section Head drew the scrutiny committee’s attention to the briefing paper he had circulated prior to the meeting.  The paper outlined the background to the Public Realm enhancement scheme and its relationship to the original Task Group recommendations.  Four of the original recommendations had been incorporated into the enhancement scheme; others would be taken forward separately and three schemes could not be taken forward for various reasons. 

The Transport and Infrastructure Section Head informed the scrutiny committee that as part of the enhancement scheme a new taxi rank would be created in Wellstones.  It would utilise electronic sensors indicating to users in the High Street that vehicles were available for hire.  There would be improved lighting and CCTV for the passage from the High Street to Wellstones.  There would also be improved opportunities for taxis in Church Street.  The Transport and Infrastructure Section Head circulated some of the proposed plans for the scheme.

The scrutiny committee discussed the officer’s presentation.  Some councillors were concerned that the new taxi rank in Wellstones would be located away from potential customers.  They felt the taxis needed to be located on the High Street.

In response to a question about the number of ranks in the borough, the Transport and Infrastructure Section Head advised that this was a licensing matter and he would ask the licensing team to provide councillors with that information.  He stated that as part of the new Intu development, a taxi ‘call-in’ service would be provided.  This would enable taxi drivers to drive in to Intu and pick up their fare.  As long as they had left within 10 minutes there would be no charge.

The Transport and Infrastructure Section Head informed the scrutiny committee that following the completion of the Intu development it was expected there would be an increase in footfall in the High Street.  The aim of the enhancement scheme was to eliminate some of the vehicles.  Currently there were over 1,000 vehicle movements a day between Clarendon Road and Market Street.  It was proposed to reduce this to 250 a day.  Some buses would be re-routed to avoid the High Street.  The road between Clarendon Road and Market Street would be narrowed; pavements would be widened and rising bollards would be installed at the entrance to the High Street.  The High Street would become the largest on-street shopping centre in the country.  The aim was to make it family friendly.  The number of taxi rank spaces had doubled from the original task group recommendations.  The proposals had been discussed with the county council who was happy with the scheme.  He advised councillors that none of the original task group recommendations added taxi rank spaces on the High Street.

The Transport and Infrastructure Section Head reported that a consultation about the proposed enhancement scheme had been carried out.  The results were being compiled by the consultant.  The scheme had been agreed in principle by Cabinet.  The enhancement scheme would remove the four spaces from outside Barclays Bank.  These were the only spaces to be adversely affected.  There would be an increase in provision including in King Street by the Met Quarter.

In response to comments about a petition by taxi drivers, the Transport and Infrastructure Section Head assured councillors that even though the consultation closed at the end of August, if a petition was received it would still be considered.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reminded the scrutiny committee that reason for the Transport and Infrastructure Section Head attending the meeting was to explain why the task group’s recommendations had not been implemented.  It was not to review the Public Realm enhancement scheme.

The Transport and Infrastructure Section Head added that the enhancement scheme had also been discussed at the Highways Liaison meeting.  He explained the process for developing the scheme from concept designs, through consultation, evaluation of responses and then the final design decision would be made. 

Following a suggestion proposing four taxi spaces outside Moon Under Water on the High Street, the Transport and Infrastructure Section Head advised that safety issues would need to be considered and the county council would need to review the scheme’s design. 

The Chair proposed that the update be noted and further action be taken where necessary.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted and further action be taken where necessary.