Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

There were no declarations of interest.

Purpose

To consider the public response to the proposed change to the combined taxi rank and limited waiting provision outside the Kings Theatre in Albert Road, Southsea.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member approves:

1.    That the combined part-time taxi and limited waiting provision (located outside the Kings Theatre in Albert Road, Southsea) is converted to a 24-hour taxi rank as proposed under TRO 31/2021;

2.    It is noted that the remainder of TRO 31/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 31A/2021, on 27 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals.

1.    That the combined part-time taxi and limited waiting provision (located outside the Kings Theatre in Albert Road, Southsea) is converted to a 24-hour taxi rank as proposed under TRO 31/2021;

2.    It is noted that the remainder of TRO 31/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 31A/2021, on 27 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals.

TKevin McKee, Parking Team Manager, introduced the report.

Councillor Scott Payter-Harris made a deputation in support of the proposal which can be viewed here Agenda for Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation on Monday, 28th June, 2021, 3.30 pm Portsmouth City Council

In response to questions from members, Mr McKee explained that new restrictions are monitored more closely to ensure they are adhered to.

Although the Local Authority has powers to remove vehicles in certain circumstances, a lengthy process must be followed.

A vehicle would not normally be removed if it has been there for a short time. It is hoped changing the restrictions will help prevent vehicles being left in the ranks but other measures can be considered if required.

The Department for Transport legislation restricts the amount and type of signage and road markings that can be used. However, officers will try to publicise the changes.

Officers monitor tickets left on vehicles to see if they might have been abandoned. Only one ticket can be given in a 24-hour period.

Members supported the proposal as it would benefit an economically important part of the city as well as people with disabilities who use taxis. An update in six months' time would be useful to see if the recommendation has worked; this would also be of interest to the Licensing Committee.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation agreed:

1.          That the combined part-time taxi and limited waiting provision (located outside the Kings Theatre in Albert Road, Southsea) is converted to a 24-hour taxi rank as proposed under TRO 31/2021;

2.          It is noted that the remainder of TRO 31/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 31A/2021, on 27 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals.

1.    hat the combined part-time taxi and limited waiting provision (located outside the Kings Theatre in Albert Road, Southsea) is converted to a 24-hour taxi rank as proposed under TRO 31/2021;

2.    It is noted that the remainder of TRO 31/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 31A/2021, on 27 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals.

Purpose

To consider the public response to the proposed changes to permit parking in Bramshott Road and Marine Court.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member approves:

1.    That the ME permit holders bay in Bramshott Road remains unchanged, meaning the proposal to include 3 hours' free parking under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

2.    That the parking bays within the north-eastern part of Marine Court remain unrestricted, meaning the proposal to include them in the adjacent MG parking zone under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

3.    It is noted that the remainder of TRO 30/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 30A/2021, on 22 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals (Highland Road, Winter Road).

1.    That the ME permit holders bay in Bramshott Road remains unchanged, meaning the proposal to include 3 hours' free parking under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

2.    That the parking bays within the north-eastern part of Marine Court remain unrestricted, meaning the proposal to include them in the adjacent MG parking zone under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

3.    It is noted that the remainder of TRO 30/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 30A/2021, on 22 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals (Highland Road, Winter Road).

Kevin McKee, Parking Team Manager, introduced the report.

In response to questions from members, Mr McKee confirmed that Marine Court was adopted by the council in 1984 so is a public road.

Members felt that if Marine Court residents later wanted the parking bays to be included in the MG parking zone the request would have to join the waiting list as residents already have been consulted and had the opportunity to give their views.

Members noted there was a weighting system with points when requesting a consultation on parking zones, for example, how many people had requested it, if it is near places of historical interest or shopping centres. Mr McKee explained that the bays were excluded from the original proposal as it was unclear then if Marine Court was a public road or not. If it had been clear that it was a public road they would have been included in the original MG proposal. 

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation agreed:

1. That the ME permit holders bay in Bramshott Road remains unchanged, meaning the proposal to include 3 hours' free parking under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

2. That the parking bays within the north-eastern part of Marine Court remain unrestricted, meaning the proposal to include them in the adjacent MG parking zone under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

3. It is noted that the remainder of TRO 30/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 30A/2021, on 22 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals (Highland Road, Winter Road).

4.    That the ME permit holders bay in Bramshott Road remains unchanged, meaning the proposal to include 3 hours' free parking under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

5.    That the parking bays within the north-eastern part of Marine Court remain unrestricted, meaning the proposal to include them in the adjacent MG parking zone under TRO 30/2021 is not implemented;

6.    It is noted that the remainder of TRO 30/2021 has been brought into operation under TRO 30A/2021, on 22 April 2021, due to no objections being received to those proposals (Highland Road, Winter Road).

Purpose

To detail the initiatives that Portsmouth City Council have included in their bid for the DfT's Capability Fund.

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.

Michelle Love, Safer Travel Manager, introduced the report. She had met the Department for Transport that day and the announcement on the results of the bids is expected just prior to the parliamentary summer recess on 22^nd July 2021.

In response to questions from members, Ms Love explained that with the Workplace Travel Planning intervention it had not been decided yet whether to have a web-based platform or engagement officers to assist local businesses with work place travel planning  so the bid was worded in order to give that degree of flexibility.. Suppliers have approached the council with different types of workplace engagement apps and websites and some of the funding could be used for staff resources to promote the apps and websites and encourage staff to sign up. Once the amount of funding is known there will be further discussion about how to use it to best deliver the initiatives.

Data will be collected from key routes by electronic counters to record the number of journeys taken on a route. The Capability Fund emphasises the importance of using part of the funding to collect data to provide a good evidence base in order to bid for future funding.

Members thought it was good to have sight of future plans and the initiatives are valuable. It is hoped that the maximum bid of £330,000 will be approved but if this is not the case then once notice of funding is received officers can then carry out a prioritisation exercise to determine the schemes that will take place. The funding is closely linked to the publication of an approved LCWIP, there are many good initiatives but the necessary infrastructure is needed to support them. A future report will document how successful the initiatives have been.

The Capability Fund provides the funding to implement behavioural change campaigns to encourage people to walk and cycle and feasibility designs to support the future construction of LCWIP routes. It is important to have "shovel ready", costed designs that can be put forward for future capital bids. 

Members emphasised the importance of connectivity in transport planning, for example, there is no point having bikes and e-scooters near the Park and Ride if there is no connectivity to other parts of the city. Being able to use bikes and e-scooters safely and easily in the city is paramount.

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.