Agenda and minutes

Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel - Wednesday 22 March 2023 6.30 pm

Venue: The Auditorium - Harrow Council Hub, Kenmore Avenue, Harrow, HA3 8LU. View directions

Contact: Kenny Uzodike, Senior Democratic & Electoral Services Officer  E-mail:  kenny.uzodike@harrow.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

24.

Attendance by Reserve Members

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:

 

Ordinary Member

Reserve Member

Councillor Phillip O’Dell

None

 

25.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were none.

26.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 163 KB

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2022 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2022 be taken as read and signed as a correct record subject to amendments.

27.

Public Questions

To receive any public questions received.

 

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

 

[The deadline for receipt of public questions if 3.00 pm, 17 March 2023.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that one public question had been received and that a written response would be provided.

28.

Petitions

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

One petition was submitted by local residents.  The resident read out the terms of reference of their petition as follows:

 

Petition 1.

One petition was received from Southfield Park Group requesting average speed cameras at both ends with speed limit of 20mph.  At the crossroad hotspot, traffic lights camera or traffic calming measures are needed before the mosque is completed.  Five major accidents happened in 2023.

29.

Deputations

To receive deputations (if any).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were none.

Resolved Items

Additional documents:

30.

Information Report - Petitions pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Report of the Director of Environmental Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report which set out details of the petitions that had been received since the last TARSAP meeting.  The report provided details of the Council’s investigations and findings where these had been undertaken.

 

An officer reported that eight petitions were received. This included:

 

1.              Pinner Road – request for improved pedestrian crossings

2.              Marlborough Hill – request to remove school street

3.              Hutton Lane – opposing new housing development

4.              Whittington Way – speeding

5.              Pinner Park Avenue – request for traffic calming and 20mph zone

6.              Manor Way – request for traffic calming and 20mph speed limit

7.              Priory Way – traffic calming and 20mph speed limit

8.              Radnor Road - traffic calming and 20mph speed limit

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

31.

2022/23 Traffic Schemes and Parking Schemes Programme Update pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Report of the Director of Environmental Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a report which provided members with an update on the current programme of transport schemes and initiatives funded in 2022/23.  This included schemes funded by Transport for London (TfL) grant and the Harrow Capital Programme.

 

The report and attached appendices provided a summary of progress with the schemes within the current programme and details on the status of specific schemes such as whether they were at public consultation, statutory consultation, or implementation stages.

 

Members asked about the number of electrical charging points in Harrow, the criteria for deciding their location and how the borough was doing in comparison to other boroughs.  The officer explained that the borough had 24 charging points had been installed in the first phase.

 

The second phase would produce 40 additional points and the Council was bidding for a further 200 points and the decision on where to locate the 200 charging points was demand led.  Residents were encouraged to make requests online and later the applications would be considered against factors such as the existence of street lighting, closeness to the streets and Kerb.  He informed the Panel that a new electric supplier was not needed.

 

A Member expressed concerns about the lateness of some of the schemes.  The Chair agreed and  explained that  the delay was probably due to the pandemic and recent staff changes, and he was confident that progress would be made with the new team.  The officer also explained that TFL schemes had been delayed due to funds being released in September 2023 therefore allowing for only six months for the completion of the schemes before the end of the financial year in March 2023.  This delay led to the agreement with TFL that schemes not completed could be carried over to the next financial year.

 

In response to a question from another Member on possibility of completing the schemes as planned, the officer further explained that additional resource such as consultants may be required.  The Member suggested that the officer could advise Members in writing, of any additional resource needed to ensure the timely completion of the schemes.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

32.

Parking Management Schemes Programme 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 276 KB

Report of the Director of Environmental Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a report which provided members with an update on the current programme of transport schemes and initiatives funded in 2022/23.  This included schemes funded by Transport for London (TfL) grant and the Harrow capital programme.  Appendices to the report provided a summary of progress with the schemes within the current programme.

 

During the presentation, the officer explained that an update was due from TFL before 31 March 2023 and updated the Panel on the speed cameras on Whittington Way.  He informed the Panel that a new two staged reporting process had just been introduced where either the Council reports and TFL determines what measure would be deployed or members of the public reported directly to TFL.  The Council had followed this process and had reported to TFL about Whittington Way and were now awaiting a response.

 

The chair advised that an update and feedback on the prioritisation of the various schemes was needed at the next meeting.  The officer explained that consultants had begun the prioritisation process and results were expected either in April or May 2023.

 

A Member raised an issue that complaints had been received on how noisy electric buses were as they hit the road bumps on Kings Street.  He also asked if the 20mph speed limit was enforceable and the officer explained electric buses were expected to be lighter and the maximum weight on the road was 44 tonnes and confirmed that all speed limits were enforceable.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

33.

Road Fatalities Report pdf icon PDF 144 KB

Report of the Director of Environmental Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received the report which provided members with an update on the traffic related incidents resulting in fatalities on borough roads in the last 18 months.  The report also outlined the actions taken by officers following these incidents. 

 

Members asked the following questions:

 

The chair advised that after the investigations, a joint up approach should be adopted to any improvements at the Uxbridge Road/Waxwell Lane Junction to ensure that recommended improvements when implemented, do not prove detrimental to surrounding roads.

 

This was seconded by an Advisor, who questioned why updates had not been received by members of the public.  The officer explained that police reports had been received for the four incidents in the report and there were ongoing investigations after which, recommendations and updates would be provided to the Panel at the next meeting.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

34.

Any Other Urgent Business

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

Advisors expressed the need for the Panel to have more than the usual three meetings in a year.

 

The Chair was sympathetic to the requests but advised that it was subject to staff capacity.  He advised that regular updates on the progress of the schemes were needed after 31 March 2023.

 

As this was the last meeting of the municipal year, the Chair thanked all Councillors, Advisers, Officers and members of the public who had facilitated, attended and supported the Panel in its duty to make recommendations to the Cabinet on management of traffic, parking and operational aspects of public transport in Harrow.

 

An Advisor also thanked the Chair and officers for providing the option for him to join the meeting online.  He said that this had enabled him to attend and participate despite ill health.