Agenda item

The Board considered the report in relation to permitting Advertising Boards (‘A’ Boards) on the footway in the City and recommended that they were not permitted. In recommending this, regard had been given to the importance some traders place on ‘A’ Boards and therefore whether they could still be allowed in some locations.

Officers explained that in the recent past the City had not taken a rigid approach to enforcement in relation to ‘A’ Boards preferring instead a pragmatic view, balancing location, width of footway, numbers of pedestrians, and the desire for premises to market themselves.

Members noted that the City continued to receive a number of complaints every year regarding A’ boards. These include complaints that the boards cause obstruction, complaints from traders in narrow streets that they are being disadvantaged by the City allowing ‘A’ boards in main/wider streets and most recently by GLA funded ‘Travel Watch’ who were promoting a zero tolerance to ‘A’ Boards on equality/ obstruction grounds ( particularly related to those with visual impairment).

Members noted that the City must manage the street environment in a joined up holistic way. In doing so it seems logical that the conclusion and recommendation of this report would be to accept that an ‘A’ board placed on any footpath in the City constitutes an obstruction of the highway.

Members noted that the report would also be presented to Port Health and Environmental Services Committee and Walkways sub-committee for information and comment before being presented to Planning and Transportation Committee for decision.