Issue - items at meetings - Letters from Councillors

(i)    Hangleton & Knoll Ward petitions. Letter from Councillor Barnett (copy attached).

(ii)  Children’s Play Area, Wolseley Park. Letter from Councillor Hawkes (copy attached).

109(i)    Letter – petitions relating to Hangleton & Knoll Ward

109.1         A letter was received from Councillor Barnett regarding two petitions relating to traffic issues in Hangleton & Knoll Ward that had previously been presented to the Environment Committee (for copy see minute book).

109.2         With regard to the first petition the Cabinet Member explained that officers had checked the collision record for Elm Drive, Rowan Avenue and Moyne Close for the last three years and found that there had been 6 injury causing collisions during the period all involving children, most of them travelling to and from Goldstone primary. Therefore, officers would engage with the school and offer child pedestrian training as soon as possible. Furthermore, officers would also investigate the potential for further measures in the vicinity to assist children getting to and from school safely.

109.3         With regard to the second petition the Cabinet Member stated that currently on Laburnum Avenue there was a school keep clear marking on one side of the road which could be enforced between the hours of 8.30-9.30am and 2.00-4.00pm, except in August, when parking causes problems. In response to the petition the council put the site on the list to monitor for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for single yellow lines on the other side of the road (Mon – Fri 8am-6pm).  Officers would investigate the request, liaise with the road safety team and, if appropriate, would be advertising it later in the year as part of the next amendment traffic order for restrictions outside of controlled parking zones.

109.4         The Assistant Director for Sustainable Transport added if the usual five minutes observation time allowed before a fixed penalty notice is given continued to exacerbate the problem, officers could look at alternatives and tailor an appropriate solution.

109.5         RESOLVED – That the letter be noted.

109(ii)   Letter – funding for the play area in Wolseley Park

109.6         A letter was received from Councillor Hawkes requesting that the rundown children’s play area in Wolseley Park be considered for extra funding from a recent Government grant (for copy see minute book).

109.7         The Cabinet Member explained that a lot of people had requested that the funding be spent on play facilities in their locality and although he welcomed the £1.1m, it would not be enough to meet everyone’s expectations. He stated that it was his duty to ensure that the money was spent wisely across the city as a whole.  Officers would be completing a study, in conjunction with colleagues in Education, to determine where the greatest needs for play facilities were and the condition of current playgrounds. When the study had been completed the council would be clear on where to invest this money and ensuring that is was invested fairly.

109.8         RESOLVED – That the letter be noted.