Draft minutes

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Proposed venue: Committee Room 'C' - The Duke of Lancaster Room, County Hall, Preston. View directions

Contact: Janet Mulligan  Tel: 01772 533361, Email:  janet.mulligan@lancashire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

Also in attendance:

 

Mark Wardale, Localities Officer, Lancashire County Council

Janet Mulligan, Democratic Services, Lancashire County Council

 

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of County Councillor Geoff Driver and Councillors Phil Crowe, David Hammond, Brian Rollo and David Walker.

2.

Note of the meeting held 8 September 2014 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

The note of the meeting held on 8 September 2014 was presented and agreed.

3.

Action sheet update from last meeting pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Minutes:

Members received an update on the action taken in response to issues raised at the previous meeting. In receiving the update Members made the following comments:

 

Guild Wheel Maintenance – Members wished to congratulate officers on the speed at which they responded to maintenance issues. It was acknowledged that issues were to be reported via the Customer Contact Centre, though there was a preference for a dedicated number.

 

Fishergate Railway Bridge – Network Rail were commended for their fast response to graffiti on the bridge. A request was made for the outside of the bridge, which was unsightly, to now be painted. It was suggested that local artists would welcome an opportunity to showcase their work on the bridge.

 

School Performance Information – An interim report, based on provisional data, was circulated to members who were invited to raise any questions or concerns in the first instance via Mark Wardale.

 

Parades – It was reported that the County Council's Learning and Development Team was liaising with a training provider to deliver appropriate training by April 2015. It was confirmed that Parishes had received a copy of the Policy document.

 

Tramway – It was confirmed that regular updates relating to transport would be provided via the action sheet and/or Dashboard.

4.

2014/15 Quarter 2 Environment Directorate Performance Dashboard pdf icon PDF 492 KB

Minutes:

The Environment Directorate's "dashboard" performance for the second quarter of 2014/15 was presented.

 

In noting the dashboard members made the following points:

 

St Mark's Place – It was confirmed that work on the carriageway had now been completed and the local member wished to place on record his appreciation for a job well done.

 

Cycling within Preston – There was some discussion about how best to encourage safe cycling. It was acknowledged that the Guild Wheel had generated an upsurge in the amount of cycling in the area, however, there appeared to also be an increase in cyclists using footpaths and causing a hazard to pedestrians

 

There was anecdotal evidence that new signage had improved the attitude of cyclists toward pedestrians on the stretch of Guild Wheel around Broadgate and The Boulevard, where there had previously been similar concerns.

 

It was felt that there needed to be proper access to distinct cycle lanes separate from roads.

 

There was some frustration that no progress had been made in providing access from Avenham Park via the Preston Railway Station Cycle Link despite previous assurances that it would be completed. It was considered important to move forward and have a timescale for completion. Mark Wardale undertook to pursue this.

 

Regarding the Guild Wheel, it was understood that the original plan had included 'spokes' from the circuit to provide cycle access into the city – confirmation and further detail was sought. Mark Wardale undertook to look into this.

 

It was suggested that cycle storage provision was generally poor and that many dedicated cycleways were not maintained to the high standard of the Guild Wheel, which discouraged cyclists from using them.

 

It was suggested that more should be done to publicise all the activity and initiatives being undertaken to promote cycling in Preston.

 

Fishergate Central Gateway – It was reported that the bollards at the junction of Fishergate and Corporation Street were to be illuminated.

 

The improvement works were welcomed and it was felt important not to spoil the spacious look of Fishergate by installing too much street furniture. The use of A boards by some businesses was problematic and it was confirmed that the Public Realm manager was working with local businesses to discourage their use. It was reported that Preston City Council's Scrutiny Committee was currently investigating this issue. It was agreed that clear advice was required setting out the rules regarding A boards and the enforcement rights of the local authority.

 

City Deal Phase Two - There was a request for members to see detailed plans with an outline schedule of works. Mark Wardale undertook to provide these.

 

Road and Street Maintenance – One member reported a significant rut in Lancaster Road outside the Town Hall (by the second bus stop No. 23) and asked that it be examined as soon as possible.

 

Trading Standards – There was some concern about the number of vehicles parked on the road side and advertised for sale. Mark Wardale agreed to check whether such practice  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Capital Programme 2015/16 - Update pdf icon PDF 665 KB

Minutes:

The Environment Directorate Capital Programme 2015/16, which listed A, B and C roads and footway schemes for consideration in Preston was noted.

6.

Cycling Routes in Preston for work rather than leisure pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Minutes:

This item had been discussed under Item 4

7.

Traffic Counts/Congestion in Preston pdf icon PDF 55 KB

Minutes:

A briefing note on highway congestion in Preston had been provided. It was reported that traffic was now flowing freely through the city centre.

 

Regarding Deepdale Retail Park, previous problems appeared to now be resolved and traffic was moving well along Blackpool Road. There was, however, concern about the congestion that had been experienced whilst the works were ongoing, particularly delays caused to people trying to get to the Crematorium to attend funerals. It was suggested that work should have been carried out overnight and also that there should have been more signage warning about delays and directing motorists to alternative routes.There was also concern about congestion that had occurred on the Ringway delaying public transport and also emergency vehicles.

 

It was noted that Paragraph 32 of the NPPF (National Planning and Policy Framework) states that 'Development should only be prevented or refused on transport grounds where the residual cumulative impacts of development are severe.' More detail was requested about current and future congestion in light of the Preston and South Ribble City Deal and also for clarification what 'severe' means in this context.

 

Clarification was sought about access for goods vehicles at certain times throughout the City as some Towns and Cities already restrict access to goods vehicles in order to reduce congestion at key times. Mark Wardale undertook to find out and inform the Forum.

 

Investment in road schemes was welcomed and it was acknowledged that delays were inevitable during periods of work, however, it was emphasised as also important to consider very carefully how such activity was managed.

8.

Themes for Future Meetings

Minutes:

Members of the Forum were invited to submit any suggested items for the next Preston 3 Tier Forum to Mark Wardale mark.wardale@lancashire.gov.uk. Any suggestions would need to be cleared with the Chair.

 

It was suggested that the Forum be provided with an update on the City Deal from the City Deal Delivery Group.

 

9.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

Construction Traffic

 

The Chair invited Parish Councillor Eileen Murray to raise a matter which was of concern to Parishes.

 

She reported that there had already been a noticeable increase in construction traffic as work on the implementation of the City Deal had begun and she asked what measures were to be taken to minimise the effect on residents. She noted that the required 'Approved Construction Method Statement' was not yet in place, yet work had already begun. She suggested that the Construction Method Statement be made public; local residents could then be relied on to report breaches.

 

Councillor Murray was advised to raise these concerns with Preston City Council's Planning Department.

 

It was suggested that the Forum be provided with an update on this issue from the City Deal Delivery Group.

 

Mark Wardale also agreed to follow this up with LCC colleagues.

 

10.

Date of Next Forum

Minutes:

It was noted that the next meeting of the Forum would be held at 6.00pm on Monday 9 March 2015 in the Duke of Lancaster Room, County Hall, Preston.