Issue - items at meetings - Pedestrian Crossing Assessment Methodology

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

(1)         That the Cabinet Member approves the revised pedestrian crossing assessment methodology and grants permission for officers to carry out the assessment on all sites on the pedestrian crossing request list in the financial year 2011/12.  Subject to funding, sites identified as a priority would be implemented towards the end of financial year 2011/12.

17.1         Councillor Davey considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place concerning the proposed revised assessment methodology for pedestrian crossings developed following a review by the Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee (ECSOSC).

17.2         Councillor Davey stated that the report demonstrated the value of good scrutiny by taking a very technical process and applying innovative thinking to introduce new criteria that would make pedestrian crossing requests more transparent and accessible. He explained that assessments will be carried out once each year and a priority list established accordingly; crossings identified as highest priority would be implemented as soon as possible after the assessment had taken place, subject to the availability of funding.

17.3         Councillor Theobald noted that it was often frustrating that someone had to be injured before a crossing could be installed; he welcomed the new methodology and praised the work of the ECSOSC.

17.4         Councillor Mitchell welcomed the implementation of the methodology following initiation by the ECSOSC. She noted that issues often arose as a result of public perception of road safety and advised the council would need to be prepared to be flexible in applying the methodology.

17.5         Councillor West, who had been a Member of the ECSOSC, explained that the Committee had found the existing methodology to be lacking and made a number of recommendations to officers. The new methodology addressed the Committee’s concerns and demonstrated the important role of scrutiny in policy development.

17.6         RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Councillor Davey accepted the following recommendation:

(1)         That the revised pedestrian crossing assessment methodology be approved and permission be granted for officers to carry out the assessment on all sites on the pedestrian crossing request list in the financial year 2011/12.  Subject to funding, sites identified as a priority would be implemented towards the end of financial year 2011/12.