Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.           

Members received a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment which provided an update on the review of the public realm design guidance and technical information, and sought adoption of the Public Realm Design Toolkit.

An Officer introduced the report and stated that the review had considered policy and sustainability and there had been co-ordination with the Transport Strategy and the Local Plan. If adopted as guidance, the toolkit, which would not have any weight in policy terms, would be a useful tool for those designing projects and strategies for the public realm.

Members discussed the necessity for bollards and the standard location 450mm into the pavement. An Officer stated that some bollards were necessary for security or road safety. They were set back from the roads so that if a vehicle pulled up next to the kerb, they would not hit their wing mirror and would be able to open their door without hitting a bollard. In the majority of locations, the bollards were integrated e.g., into the new seats at Bank Junction. The Officer stated that this particular footway was previously a small space contained by a guard railing and was now a permeable space. The Officer stated that consideration was given to the best way of providing or integrating bollards at each location. There were many options for street furniture that could be used for security purposes and would blend into the location. An Officer stated that the Transport Strategy and Healthy Streets Programme took a broader, more holistic view of streets and in certain locations, raising footways could be more appropriate than using bollards to stop vehicles from mounting kerbs. A Member raised concern about bollards placed at 450Mm from the kerb on narrow pavements. An Officer stated this had previously been considered but could be reviewed again. He advised that there were constraints with the way streets were constructed as bollards required a base and it was not possible to insert bollards into kerbstones so they would need to be set back.

A Member stated that bollards protected pedestrians and provided them with a sense of safety that they would not come in contact with a vehicle.

A Member suggested that although bollards were placed at a standard 450mm into the pavement, this should be a guideline and narrow pavements could be an exception.

A Member raised concerns about litter bins. An Officer stated that if litter bins were provided in some locations, they would be overwhelmed and it had been shown that they did not work well in the City. The Officer stated that the matter would be discussed at the next Port Health and Environmental Services Committee. A Member stated that if more visitors were being encouraged into the City, the policy needed to evolve as it was more challenging for them to take their litter home than it was for residents or workers.

A Member raised concerns about water spilling out from drinking fountains. An Officer stated that the design had been chosen as it enabled bottles to be filled and discouraged people from drinking directly from the water spout. It had also been signed off by Thames Water as an acceptable design. Officers stated they could look at the efficiency of the button and the timer. The Officer added that the Water Refill Point Programme had been a success and they had not received any complaints since their installation.

A Member stated that play and exercise was mentioned under the street furniture section of the guidance but this should refer to children’s playgrounds specifically.

The Chairman asked Officers to clarify why, in some areas, e.g. on one side of Tudor Street, Yorkstone paving became slippery in wet conditions and stated the importance of non-slip paving. An Officer stated that new paving being laid had to meet a certain skid resistance. Paving could become slippery from sap from trees or could become worn over time. Officers would investigate the issue.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Sub-Committee

1.         Agree to adopt the City Public Realm Design Toolkit as design guidance for the City’s public realm; and

2.         Agree that there should be a more flexible approach to the standard 450mm into the pavement placement of bollards, where pavements were narrow.