Agenda item

This item was considered before Item 4a on the Agenda.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of the Built Environment which presented a draft version of the City’s Road Danger Reduction Plan 2013.

During the debate, reference was made to the following –

·        Education – Members were informed this was a shared responsibility both the Road Safety Team and the City Police. Work was also being undertaken in schools.

·        Appropriate resources, i.e. Road Safety Officers – it was considered that two dedicated posts was sufficient, however, the effective delivery of work was being monitored closely.  A key was to ensure resources were channelled to the right place.

·        20mph speed limits – Members were informed that a report was approved at the Planning and Transportation Committee meeting on 27 November to investigate the benefits and dis-benefits of a 20mph speed limit or a 20mph zone across the city, preferably including the Transport for London road network and it was agreed that the results of the investigation would be presented to the Sub Committee in the spring.  The Director agreed that once a timescale for the completion of the investigation had been established, he would inform Members. 

·        Improvements to high risk junctions, e.g. Bank Junction, specifically the reconfiguration of traffic signals may reduce accidents.

·        Following concerns raised regarding the safety of cyclists in the city, particularly at the busier junctions, Members were informed that accident rates were carefully monitored and a campaign to educate cyclists was being drawn up in an attempt to change behaviour and create awareness.

·        ‘Yellow box’ – There was a proposal from Transport for London regarding the Cities infrastructure and it was hoped the ‘Yellow box’ would be forth coming at Upper Thames Street/Southwark Bridge.

RESOLVED – That,

i)                 the Road Danger Reduction Plan be approved in principle;

ii)                the measures set out for the delivery up to December 2014 be approved;

iii)              an annual report setting out the future years’ delivery plans be received; and

iv)              a report on the outcome of the investigation regarding the benefits and dis-benefits of a 20mph speed limit or a 20mph zone across the city be reported to the Committee in the spring of 2013.