Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Moring (no substitute).

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The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillor Buck – Agenda Item No. 4 (Notice of Motion – Kent Elms Junction) – Non-pecuniary interest: proposed the notice of motion as part of the initial consultation and has publicly voiced changed to the design of the junction;

(b) Councillor Buck – Agenda Item No. 5 (List of Top 50 Speeding Roads) – Non-pecuniary interest: Has publicly voiced the lack of action to date since the consideration of the report last year;

(c) Councillor Collins – Agenda Item No. 8 (Wren Avenue – Petition) – Non-pecuniary interest: Gave advice to residents regarding the petition;

(d) Councillor Cowan – Agenda Item No. 4 (Notice of Motion – Kent Elms Junction) – Non-pecuniary interest: Helped conduct various petitions in respect of Kent Elms Junction;

(e) Councillor Cowan – Agenda Item No. 5 (List of Top 50 Speeding Roads) – Non-pecuniary interest: Has been involved with residents in respect of various roads listed;

(f) Councillor Nevin – Agenda Item No. 6 (Traffic Regulation Orders (Waiting Restrictions – Miscellaneous Schemes) – Non-pecuniary interest: Aware of request but has had no direct involvement.

Resolved:-

That, subject to the amendment of the interest recorded under Minute 2(f) as Councillor Nevin to Councillor K Evans, the Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 2nd November 2020 be received and confirmed as a correct record.

The Working Party received a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) in respect of the Notice of Motion that had been submitted to the meeting of the Council held on the 27th February, 2020 (Minute 838 refers).  A copy of the motion was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

On consideration of the report, the Working Party felt that further information and clarification of the data provided was required..

Resolved:-

That consideration of the matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Traffic Regulations Working Party and Cabinet Committee.

The Working Party received a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) n respect of the review around the issues of speeding traffic within the Borough. The report also sought the Working Party’s views on the way forward for all existing speed reduction schemes and future requests to ensure fairness and consistency on agreement and implementation.

Whilst noting the report, the Working Party felt there were a number of roads that required immediate attention, based on the issues reported at its meeting on 6^th January 2020, in particular Whitehouse Road. The Council’s Head of Traffic & Highways gave assurances that the issues in Whitehouse Road were currently being considered in addition to the actions proposed in the report.

Resolved:-

That the Cabinet Committee be recommended that the full review, as set out in the report, be approved as the preferred option for the way forward and to enable the development of an action plan its efforts to address the issue of speeding within the Borough.

The Working Party received a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and the Environment) that sought approval of the commencement of consultation and implementation of a Traffic Regulation Orders to introduce no waiting restrictions in the sections of road set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

The Working Party noted a number of minor errors in the list proposed schemes. The Council’s Head of Traffic & Highways gave her assurance that these would be amended prior to statutory consultation.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet Committee be recommended to authorise the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods & Environment) to undertake the statutory consultation and prepare the requisite traffic regulation order for the introduction of “no waiting at any time” restrictions in the sections of road set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report and, subject to there being no objections following statutory advertisement to arrange for the order to be confirmed and the proposals implemented.  Any unresolved objections will be submitted to the Traffic Regulations Working Party and Cabinet Committee for consideration.

The Working Party received a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and the Environment) informing Councillors of the commencement of the consultation and implementation of the relevant Traffic Regulation Orders in respect of various Junction Protection Schemes across the Borough. The list of proposed schemes was attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

The Working Party also discussed the merits of extending the no waiting at any time restrictions along the length of the entry to all cu-de-sacs within the Borough to prevent unauthorised inconsiderate parking and parking on the footway/verges.  It was felt, however, that each street should be considered on its own merits on a case-by-case basis.

Resolved:-

That the list of proposed introduction of no waiting at any time junction protection schemes as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be noted.

The Working Party received a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) concerning the petition that had been submitted to the meeting of the Council held on 29th October 2020 (Minute 460 refers) on behalf of local residents. The petition, signed by 19 residents, called on the Council to lower the speed limit and introduce a one-way system in Wren Road. 

The Working Party noted that whilst there was already a 20mph speed restriction in Wren Avenue, the introduction of additional speed calming features on the bend in the vicinity of Anstey Close should be considered.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet Committee be recommended to authorise the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods & Environment) to undertake the statutory consultation for the introduction of additional speed cushion(s) or a speed table across the full width of the road (whichever is more appropriate, in Wren Avenue in the vicinity of its junction with Anstey Close, Leigh on Sea, the precise location of which to be identified following consultation with Ward Councillors.