Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on The ‘Streets for People’ Initiative, part of the West Yorkshire Transport Strategy which aims to create high quality places for people, improve physical activity and air quality. The ‘Streets for People’ initiative invites each district to develop a demonstration project, to facilitate meeting the strategy’s ambitions, with this report proposing The Recreations area of Holbeck.

The Director of City Development submitted a report regarding the ‘Streets for People’ initiative, part of the West Yorkshire Transport Strategy which aimed to create high quality places for people, improve physical activity and air quality. As part of the ‘Streets for People’ initiative the report noted that each West Yorkshire Authority had been invited to develop a demonstration project to facilitate meeting the strategy’s ambitions. The submitted report proposed The Recreations area of Holbeck and detailed the reasons for this proposal.

Responding to a Member’s specific enquiry regarding the consultation which had been undertaken with local residents, further details were provided. Whilst assurance was given that the consultation with residents to date had been extensive and would be ongoing, it was undertaken that further information on the scope and form of the consultation, together with detail on the level of responses received would be provided to the Member in question.

The Board discussed the objectives of the initiative and in acknowledging a Member’s comments around how the initiative could potentially be used to encourage more stability in this community, it was undertaken that this could be incorporated into the ongoing evaluation of the initiative and taken into consideration when measuring its success.

With regard to the levels of additional green space which could potentially be provided by the scheme, the Board acknowledged the green space already in and around this area and the physical constraints which would need to be considered when looking to increase it. However, the importance of looking to maximise greenspace as part of the initiative was highlighted. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report, be noted, and that the selection of The Recreations as Leeds City Council’s ‘Streets for People’ project, be approved;

(b)  That expenditure of £900,000 to deliver the project, be approved, and that it be noted that the Highways and Transportation service will be the lead service for this delivery;

(c)  That it be noted that the Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation) will receive further reports to enact statutory powers and processes in order to deliver the proposals, as detailed within the submitted report.