Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Barker, Brian Harris, Deputy Alastair Moss and Tom Sleigh.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 9 May 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2016 were agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

The inclusion of Alderman Alison Gowman listed under Members present.

Cycle Super Highway – Tudor Street

Paragraph 2 – ‘Members expressed’ to be changed to ‘A Member expressed’.

The inclusion of the following:

‘Marianne Fredericks moved a motion proposing that immediate steps be taken -  including the possible temporary closure of Tudor Street -  to make the highway safe. This was not supported although the Sub-Committee felt there was a need for quick and immediate action’.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the questions and answers in relation to Tudor Street circulated after the meeting should be annexed to the minutes of the 21 June meeting.

(These are at Appendix 1)

To receive the list of outstanding references.

RESOLVED – That the list of outstanding references be noted and updated as appropriate.

The Sub-Committee considered a Gateway 5 report of the Director of the Built Environment in relation to the Quietways network.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning the Bloomberg Development at Cannon Street.

The Sub-Committee was advised the due to a recent design change at Cannon Street affecting the proposed highway levels, there was now a need to place orders for additional preparatory works (including utility diversions) in advance of the Gateway 5 approval.  The design change had been requested by the developer who was funding the highway works as part of their s278 obligations. 

RESOLVED - That

1)            Authority be given for orders to be placed for any necessary preparatory works (such as utility diversions) in advance of the Gateway 5 approval provided funding is received from the developer; and

2)            Agreement be given for construction material (such as Yorkstone paving) with critical lead-in times to be pre-ordered before Gateway 5 approval subject to funding being received from the developer.  

Local Byelaws

A member reported that a recent event involving a large group of people riding scooters had caused significant congestion and the CoLP were unable to take any action as scooters were not included in local byelaws restricting cycling.

The Sub-Committee asked the City Solicitor to review existing byelaws to establish what the definition of a ‘vehicle’ was, whether it included other wheeled transport such as scooters, and to also establish the process required (if needed|) to include other wheeled modes of transport to be prohibited from City Walkway.

Newgate Street Closure

In response to a question concerning the closure of Newgate Street and the resulting congestion, the Chairman reported that he had asked officers to explore with TfL the possibility of reinstating the yellow grid box at the junction and to consider rephasing the traffic lights. Officers would also monitor the area to try and identify further mitigating measures.

Tudor Street

The Chairman advised that in advance of the meeting he had asked officers to provide an update on the situation at Tudor Street and a briefing note was tabled.

An internal safety review of the Junctions between Tudor Street and New Bridge Street and Bridewell Place and New Bridge Street had been commissioned resulting in temporary improved signage being installed.

Officers had also commissioned an independent safety audit of the new Cycle Super Highway and safety risk assessment of impacted streets. These reports would be passed to TfL for comment and would also be distributed to all Members of Planning and Transportation and Streets and Walkways Committees.

A question was raised concerning what safety issues the Sub-Committee needed to be aware of in relation to the findings of the independent consultant. The Director of the Built Environment advised that in relation to the Stage 3 Safety Audit some 17 minor snagging items had been identified, all of which related to issues such as lighting, street markings and signage and that all of these should be addressed when TfL carry out works to make their temporary infrastructure more permanent.

In relation to the separate  risk assessment of impacted streets Members were advised that most of the streets presented a low risk of collisions however there were 3 exceptions. In 2 locations the consultant considered the risk to be medium to high. The first of these related to the risk of speeding vehicles in Tudor Street and the second to the risk of cyclists making an illegal right turn into Bridewell Place. The Director advised that both of these risks related to illegal behaviour and could be addressed through improved signange and possibly additional enforcement. The consulant identified 1 risk that was considered to be ‘high to very high’. This