Decision details

The Chief Officer (Highways & Transportation);

a) Noted the contents of this report
b) Approved the School Streets Evaluation Report and its recommendations provided as Appendix 1.
c) Reconfirmed the objectives of School Streets in Leeds as:
d) Set up a School Streets Steering Group to make to make key decisions about the selection and prioritisation of future School Street sites (note that it is recommended that Leeds City Council’s Highways Board will remain the final decision-making body for policy decisions relating to School Streets including annual monitoring).
e) Approved the proposed three-stage selection and prioritisation process for future School Streets in Leeds. This can then be applied fully to the selection of Phase 3 School Streets in Leeds.
f) Considered an annual funding programme and source of funding for future implementation of School Streets. Options may include:
a. Schools self-funded (as per school crossing patrol process)
b. Planning contributions – estimated costs could be included in the annual publication of H&T fees and charges)
g) Considered and agree the need for additional (dedicated) staffing resource to oversee the implementation of future School Streets. School Travel Plan review fees could fund an SO2 FTE post.
h) Confirmed the preferred legal Traffic Regulation Order instrument to be used for future School Streets in Leeds: Experimental Traffic Regulation Order ((E)TRO), then full Traffic Regulation Order or straight into full TROs.
i) Approved a recommendation to source and trial folding School Streets signs to overcome the need for and expense of ‘sign-bagging’ during school holidays as the TRO applies all year round.
j) Acknowledged the current limitations on enforcing School Streets restrictions. Instruct further work to agree how School Streets will be enforced in Leeds with and without potential additional Section 6 powers.
k) Confirmed Leeds City Councils’ intention to apply to the Secretary of State for Transport, DfT for a Designation Order under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. This would designate Leeds City Council as an enforcement authority with moving traffic enforcement powers in Leeds, so that civil enforcement of moving traffic contraventions, including prescribed traffic signs for use at School Street schemes can be undertaken.
l) Agreed an ongoing evaluation and monitoring programme for School Streets installed in Leeds and the resourcing of it.