Agenda item - Member Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by Members:

(a)      Petitions: To receive any petitions;

(b)      Written Questions: To consider any written questions;

(i)            HGV Vehicles in Hangleton Valley- Councillors Barnett, Cox & Janio

(ii)          Wheels To Work- Councillor Cox

(c)      Letters: To consider any letters;

(i)            Cycle Racks- Councillor Hawtree

(d)      Notices of Motion: to consider any Notices of Motion referred from Council or submitted directly to the Committee.

(a)          Written Questions

(i)        HGV Vehicles in Hangleton Valley- Councillors Barnett, Cox and Janio

60.1      Councillor Janio presented the following question:

‘The Hangleton Valley area, and Hangleton Valley Drive in particular, is being used as a training area by driver training companies teaching learners to drive Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), coaches and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).

We have witnessed a continual stream of lorries, large vans, flat bed trucks, articulated vehicles, buses and coaches (many towing trailers) being driven along these residential roads. None of these vehicles has any other purpose being in the Hangleton Valley area apart from training drivers.

All of the companies providing the driver training come from outside Brighton & Hove and many drive a considerable way to get there (from Lancing, Crawley and even Essex).

These residential roads are not built to withstand the weight of these vehicles and serious cracks are forming in the road surface: the cost of repairing this now failing, and potentially hazardous, surface, will fall on the council tax payers of Brighton & Hove.

What action can the City Council take in order to deter the use of the Hangleton Valley area for these inappropriate purposes?’

60.2      The Chair provided the following response:

“Thank you for your Letter I agree that the over use of any roads for HGV driver training is not acceptable.

The Highway Safety Maintenance team has confirmed that the condition of Hangleton Valley Drive is not currently causing them any specific concerns in relation to this use.

It has been suggested that a standard letter be developed and then sent to HGV training providers asking them to be more considerate with their practices and frequencies of using any particular area for training drivers.

In order to facilitate contact with the training providers, it would be appreciated if ward councillors might provide details from the vehicles to help officers identify the company addresses”.

(ii)       Wheels to Work- Councillor Cox

60.3      Councillor Cox presented the following question:

“East Sussex Wheels to Work is a not for profit company which helps people to access work, education and training using affordable rented motorcycles and scooters. The scheme receives funding from East Sussex County Council through their Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Given the success of the recent ‘Powered Two-Wheeler’ bus lane trial and the potential that this scheme would have in Brighton & Hove to cut rush hour congestion and enable young people in particular to access training and employment, will the Administration agree to meet with East Sussex Wheels to Work to explore how their scheme could be extended to Brighton & Hove?”

60.4      The Chair provided the following response:

“I have been advised that the East Sussex ‘Wheels 2 Work’ scheme is developing successfully as a project that provides further choice for some people to overcome any barriers to reach learning and work opportunities quickly and conveniently.  This success has been recognised by the scheme’s recent shortlisting in the 2014 Sussex Business Awards as Social Enterprise of the Year.

Officers have already suggested on a number of occasions at Transport Partnership meetings this year that we could explore the opportunity to extend the project into the city as part of the council’s next Local Transport Plan. 

I am therefore pleased to be able to inform you that a city council officer has therefore recently met with a County Council officer and the East Sussex W2W Chief Executive to discuss and explore the potential opportunities that Wheels 2 Work could deliver within the city.

It appears that the eastern part of the city could be a good place to start in the city, as our geography there is more rural; some wards have high levels of deprivation; and, as you rightly point out, we have had the successful trial of motorcycles in the priority lanes for buses and taxis on the A259.  Some sort of trial scheme may be beneficial and, if successful, the opportunity for greater coverage within the Greater Brighton City region may then follow”.

(c)      Letters

(i)        Cycle racks- Councillor Hawtree

60.5      The Committee considered a Letter from Councillor Hawtree that welcomed the increase in cycling throughout the city and requested an increase in cycle racks outside Hove Town Hall, George Street and Blatchington Road to accompany that rise.

60.6      The Chair provided the following response:

“Thank you Councilolr Hawtree for requesting this item to be place on the agenda. I have a more detailed response that I will send to you but will also summarise one or two points for you here.

As you are aware the Council has made cycling provision one of its priorities including the implementation of strategic safe cycle routes and dedicated lanes, as well as supporting infrastructure including cycle parking facilities.

Alongside specific allocations for cycle parking within the current Local Transport Plan we are also taking other opportunities to provide additional funding for cycle parking through developer contributions and within the design process for new parking schemes.

We are also increasing the efficiency of existing cycle parking facilities through the enforcement of abandoned bikes and removal and recycling in conjunction with local charities and other organisations.

I very much agree that we need to maintain our commitment to increasing cycle parking to keep track with the boom in cycling we have unlocked.

I hope this response reassures you of our continued commitment to increasing the supply of this important resource”.

60.7      RESOLVED- That the Letter be noted.