Agenda and minutes

Contact: Phil Garnett (0113) 395 1632  Email: philip.garnett@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

24.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

 

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

 

Minutes:

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

25.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

 

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

 

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

 

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

  No exempt items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

26.

Late Items

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

 

Minutes:

There were no late items. However the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development circulated some e mailed correspondence received from interested parties and members of the public.

27.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

 

Councillors Lyons and Morgan declared a significant other interest in agenda item 7, Call In – Proposed Scheme to permit Hackney Carriage use of Bus Lanes, Minute 30 refers, as members of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority.

 

Councillor Urry declared a significant other interest in agenda Item 7, Call In – Proposed Scheme to permit Hackney Carriage use of Bus Lanes, Minute 30 refers, as a member of the Leeds Passenger Consultative Committee.

28.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J McKenna, Councillor V Morgan was in attendance as substitute. Apologies were also received from Councillor J Marjoram, Councillor D Collins was in attendance as substitute.

 

29.

Call In Decision - Briefing Paper pdf icon PDF 72 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development advising the Scrutiny Board on the procedural aspects of Calling In the decision.

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development informed Members of the Call In arrangements in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and the options of action available to the Board.  It was reported that the following options were available to the Board:

 

  • Release the decision for implementation or;
  • Recommend that the decision be reconsidered.

30.

Call In - Proposed scheme to permit Hackney Carriage use of bus lanes pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the background papers to a decision which has been Called In in accordance with the Council’s Constitution regarding the proposed scheme to permit Hackney Carriage use of bus lanes.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the background papers to a decision which had been Called In in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  The decision was a Delegated Decision Notice of the Proposed Scheme to permit Hackney Carriage Use of Bus Lanes.

 

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

 

  • Councillor J Illingworth – Signatory to the Call In;
  • Councillor R Downes – Signatory to the Call In;
  • Councillor G Harper  – Representing the Executive Board Member for Development and the Economy ;
  • Andrew Hall – Acting Head of Transport Policy;
  • Paul Foster – Team Leader Special Projects;
  • Dr Reather – Cyclist and representative of Leeds Cycling Action Group;
  • Mike Utting – representative of Hackney Carriage Drivers in Leeds; and
  • Tim Mc Sherry – Chair of Leeds Access Committee.

 

 

Councillors Illingworth and  Downes along with Dr Reather presented their arguments against the proposed decision. These included the following:

 

·  The risk or perceived risk posed to cyclists if Hackney Carriage drivers were to use bus lanes;

·  That bus lanes were seen as a “safe space” by cyclists and this would be lost if the decision was implemented;

·  That the benefit of the proposal in terms of increased journey time did not outweigh the negative impacts;

·  That implementation should be delayed until the planned bus lane enforcement measures are put in place;

·  Concerns over the driving behavior of those using the bus lane, particularly in terms of weaving in and out of the lane and the consequential risk to cyclists;

·  That the city council should be encouraging the take up of cycling in the interest of public health and that this proposal would deter cyclists; and

·  Concern that allowing vehicles other than buses into bus lanes will be open to abuse.

 

Mr Utting and Mr Mc Sherry presented their arguments in favour of the proposed decision.  These included the following:

 

·  The needs of the disabled community;

·  The role of hackney carriage vehicles in the public transport “offer”

·  That taxis are a key element of the public transport system and as such should benefit from access to bus lanes as a positive approach to improving social inclusion and mobility, especially important to disabled and older people who are unable to access buses and trains.

 

·  The Council’s duties in terms of the Equality Act 2010.

 

 

In response to the above arguments the, officers present raised the following points:

 

  • Other Core Cities and London allow Hackney Carriages to use bus lanes which puts Leeds at odds with these major cities;
  • There being a low number of Hackney Carriages which would use the bus lanes meaning that they could be accommodated safely and that this would also provide a better service to the public; and
  • Hackney Carriage drivers will be expected to remain within the bus lanes and not weave in and out.

 

 

Councillor Harper representing the Executive Member for Development and the Economy who supported the release of the decision highlighted that two million pounds had been spent on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Outcome of Call In

In accordance with Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules, to consider the Board’s formal conclusions and recommendation(s) arising from the consideration of the called – in decision.

Minutes:

Following a vote by Members present, it was:

 

RESOLVED  - to release the decision for implementation.  The Board agreed however to monitor the roll out of enforcement cameras in bus lanes and also to monitor the impact of this decision should it be implemented after the necessary statutory consultation and road traffic orders.

 

32.

Date and time of next meeting

10 am, Thursday,  20th September 2012.

Minutes:

10 am, Thursday 20th September 2012.