The report of the Director of Place is attached.

Contact Mark Barrow    Tel 01743 258919

It was proposed by Councillor S Davenport, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, and seconded by Councillor P Nutting that the report of the Director of Place, 20mph Speed Restrictions Outside Schools, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes, and the recommendations contained therein be received and agreed.

Councillor Davenport proposed that an addition recommendation be added to the recommendations set out in the report, that the scheme be completed by May 2025.

Councillor T Parsons proposed the following amendment, which was duly Seconded by Councillor P Mosley.

Council welcomes this Report to consider how the principle of a 20mph speed limit outside all schools in Shropshire can be implemented and agrees with recommendations (a) to (d) inclusive and recommendation (f).

However, the proposed timescale for the implementation of agreed proposals and the method of financing them is not appropriate in the circumstances. Once School Governing Bodies, Senior Leaders and local members have agreed on what schools require a programme of implementation concluding in 2028/2029 is not sufficient. During that period children would remain at risk.

Council is committed to agreed measures being implemented by the end of 2022/2023 and that Public Works Loans Board (PWLB)finance should be used to pay for this project. Based on the estimate to pay for the Greenacres Farm Supported Living Scheme in Agenda Item 11 section 4.4, then the annual cost to fund the Schools programme would range between £0.103M and £0.166M per annum.

Council agrees that this is a small price to pay for the speedy implementation of these necessary safety measures

On being put to the vote the amendment was lost by the majority voting against it.

Councillor D Vasmer proposed the following amendment, which was duly Seconded by Councillor R Evans.

Council requests Cabinet to allocate capital monies to implement the following initial programme:

Time-limited road closures at drop-off and pick-up times (otherwise known as “School Streets”) not only improve road safety, but also enable active travel, improve air quality and social distancing. Therefore, they can be implemented using emergency COVID-19 traffic regulation orders.

a)    20mph zones outside schools where “School Streets” measures are not possible will also encourage active travel, improve air quality and, with the addition of other measures, improve social distancing.

b)    Immediately identify three primary schools suitable for School Streets and three for 20mph zones utilising the knowledge of local members and in consultation with local councils and other representative organisations such as Parent Teacher Associations

c)    These initial locations should represent different types of location including rural and urban.

d)    Within 7 days issue ETROs for these locations. Allowing work to commence 7 days later.

e)    Install School Streets at the three agreed locations at the end of the 7-day notice period. The “installation” can be as simple as appropriate signage and a demountable barrier which is installed and removed by the school caretaker at the appropriate times.

f)     Erect 20mph signs at the three agreed locations at the end of the 7-day notice period and commission relevant build-outs, pavement widening and cycle provision as a top priority.

g)    Monitor these locations for a month from when they become operational and then identify as many locations as possible for “School Streets” measures or 20mph zones outside schools for implementation after asking for comments by local members and local organisations.

On being put to the vote the amendment was lost by the majority voting against it.

Members debated the substantive recommendation.

RESOLVED:

That it be approved:

i)       That a consultation process that engages with School Governing Bodies and Senior Leaders, local Member's and communities be implemented to ensure the appropriateness of specific interventions for each school are identified as required.

ii)      That the Council commits to preliminary investment in traffic data collection and design advice to ensure appropriate options with defined benefits be selected for any future programme of work.

iii)    That parking behaviour and existing traffic regulations near schools be reviewed and, where appropriate, new enforceable parking measures be introduced to complementany introduction of 20mph speed restrictions outside schools, as part of programmed work.

iv)    Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Highways and Transport and Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, to undertake the necessary investigations and develop a programme of design and works to implement appropriate improvements outside schools where considered necessary.

v)     That it be noted that resources be diverted from other streams of work typically funded through the Integrated Transport programme to support this initiative, except for where there are legal and statutory requirements placed on the authority (for example, accident data investigations under the Road Traffic Act 1988). Where possible, additional funding options, such as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) be investigated.

vi)    That the programme of review, design and delivery be reported to the Communities Overview Scrutiny Committee as appropriate.

v)    That the scheme be completed by May 2025.

The meeting was adjourned at 12.00noon and reconvened at 12.10pm.