Agenda and minutes

There were no appeals.

There was no exempt information.

There were no late items.  Additional information had been circulated for Agenda Item

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors L Martin and N Sharpe.

Councillor K Renshaw was in attendance as substitute.

Apologies for absence were also submitted on behalf of Councillor H Hayden who was due to attend in her role as Executive Member.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on  7 April 2021 and to note for information the summary of the consultative meeting held on 22 July 2021.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 Aprl 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

(2)  That the notes of the consultative meeting held on 22 July 2021 be noted.

To consider a referral in the name of Cllr Robinson regarding the temporary closure of Leeds Road in Scholes as part of the progression of East Leeds Orbital Route Infrastructure Scheme.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services presented details of a referral that fell within the Board’s remit.  The referral had been made by Councillor Matthew Robinson and details of the referral were outlined in an appendix to the report.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Councillor Matthew Robinson

·  Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways & Transportation

·  David Varley, Principal Legal Officer

·  Oliver Priestley, Principal Engineer

·  Robert O’Brien, Principal Engineer

·  Adrian Hodgson, Traffic Manager

·  Daniel Fryer, Balfour Beatty

Councillor Robinson addressed the Board.  He highlighted the following:

·  The referral was submitted in July and required consideration at a formally constituted meeting.

·  The concerns raised related to the closure of Leeds Road in Scholes for a minimum period of six weeks. The closure was scheduled as part of the programme of works associated with the progression of East Leeds Orbital Road (ELOR). 

·  The temporary closure had now ended and the road re-opened.  Cllr Robinson noted that the substantive concerns raised via the referral relate to the processes surrounding the implementation of the closure rather than the closure itself.

·  Residents of Scholes and neighbouring villages had expressed dissatisfaction at how the decision to close the road had been reached due to the impact on residents and businesses.

·  The process and decision to close the road was not communicated early enough.

·  A concern that the process did not, in this instance, allow the public to be fully engaged and therefore did not fulfil the Council’s own aspiration to be citizen focused in its approach.

·  Due to other road closures the local road network was full to capacity and there would have been a difficulty to respond to any emergency incidents.

·  The need to improve communication in advance of future closures which could include the A64 and A58.

·  Residents had submitted Freedom of Information requests with regards to the process and there was a need to be open and transparent.

·  There was a desire from residents to contribute to the discussion on any future closures.

In response to the concerns, officers addressed the Board.  The following was highlighted:

·  Measures were taken where possible to mitigate any inconvenience caused by road closures.

·  With regard to temporary closures, there are very short notice periods of 7 to 10 days before an order can be passed.  There is no right of objection to these closures and the only requirement for consultation is with the Police and Fire Service. In this instance a community working group was notified as well as all emergency services including the Ambulance Service.

·  Officers went significantly beyond the required processes associated with such closures as set out in Government regulation. This included additional consultation and engagement. 

·  Feedback had been received from the community before the decision to close the road was made.

·  Once a decision is made to implement a closure mitigating factors then need to be considered. In this case a decision was taken to close Leeds Road during the school holidays when traffic flows would be significantly reduced.

·  Other closures  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To vote on recommendations made at a working group on 26 July 2021 relating to powered two-wheeler access to part of the bus lane on the A65 in Kirkstall.  

The report of the Head of Democratic Services referred to the Board’s recommendation that Leeds City Council should establish a trial of powered two-wheeler access to bus lanes. 

The following were in attendance for this item:

Gary Bartlett – Chief Officer, Highways & Transportation

David O’Donoghue – Principal Transport Planner

Reference was made to the meeting of the Board’s working group on this issue and the following recommendations that the Board were asked to consider:

a)   That the Board recommends to Executive Board that the proposed trial of powered two wheelers using the bus lane on the A65 is still progressed.

b)  That an initial indication be provided to Executive Board that in due course other segregated routes such as the A647 and A61/A639 should similarly be considered as possible locations for powered two-wheeler access to bus lanes.

The following was discussed:

·  A trial had been proposed and that consideration would not be given to the use of bus lanes across the city.

·  Blood Bikes were identified a specific user group who had recently requested shared use of bus lanes to assist in emergency blood deliveries. Members were supportive in principle of recommending access for this group subject to an assessment of such arrangements on the part of officers.

·  It was noted that officers would be meeting counterparts from other West Yorkshire authorities where such access was already in place to better understand the process of establishing  exclusive city-wide access and the implications for the local authority.

·  Concern that a trial on the A65 would not provide the necessary information for a scheme to be rolled out across the rest of the city.

·  Proposals had been supported by other stakeholders including the bus companies.

·  The possibility of including private hire vehicles in any trial.

·  A trial would give the evidence and facts required for powered two wheeler vehicles to use bus lanes.

·  Following any trial there would be monitoring information regarding speed, usage and kind of vehicles used.  There would be a full evaluation process.

Members were asked to vote on the proposed recommendations outlined in the report.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the Board recommends to Executive Board that the proposed trial of powered two wheelers using the bus lane on the A65 is still progressed.

b)  That an initial indication be provided to Executive Board that in due course other segregated routes such as the A647 and A61/A639 should similarly be considered as possible locations for powered two-wheeler access to bus lanes.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2021/22 municipal year.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services asked Members to consider the Board’s Work Schedule.

A copy of the schedule was appended to the report along with recent minutes of the Executive Board.

Following the earlier discussion, it was requested that an item be included on the work programme to enable consideration of the protocol for engagement and communication in relation to future road closures.

RESOLVED - That the works schedule be noted and revised as discussed.

The next meeting of the Board will take place at 10.30am on 29 September 2021. There will be a pre-meeting for all Board members at 10.15am.

Wednesday, 29 September 2021 at 10.30 a.m. (Pre meeting for Board Members at 10.15 a.m.)