Agenda item - Chairs Communications

81.1         The Chair provided the following communication:

“Firstly, I would like to seek the Committee’s agreement that item 89 on Phase 2 of the 20mph scheme be brought forward in the agenda to be our first substantive item of business. This is because I am mindful of the high level of attendance in the public gallery awaiting discussion of this item and that there are also a number of young children present”

I am glad to say we have a number of items of business before us today which have attracted a strong interest from public and councillors.  In addition to consultation responses which are reported in the agenda, we have a number of questions, letters, deputations and petitions before us and I have also agreed to requests from ward members to speak.  Members of the committee and officers have also received a great deal of additional correspondence in the past few days.  May I say at the out set that all these contributions are greatly appreciated and I would like to extend a general thank you to everyone who has expressed their views. 

Environment and transport officers have been at the forefront of the city’s response to the storms and flooding we have experienced this winter. Sadly, we have seen a number of trees down which our arboroculturalist team have been tackling. The coast has also taken a pounding, and while defences remain sound our gritter lorries have been helping get the shingle off the promenade.

In Patcham officers have been engaged in a multi-agency emergency response to ground water flooding. Officers have been busy with everything from distributing sandbags and gulley cleansing through to aiding Southern Water installing a temporary additional sewer pipe along the A23.  I know that residents have expressed great appreciation for all that has been done. And, I would like to express my appreciation to the public for their assistance and forbearance and to all our officers and partners for their very hard work and professionalism.

I would just like to mention a our success in receiving a £50,000 government grant to the Bikeability scheme to provide cycle training for 1,300 9-14 year old school children. Well done to those involved with this achievement.

I would also like to extend my congratulations, as the Council has been shortlisted for a National Transport Award for Improvements to cycling. We are also runners up for the 2^nd year as Civitas City of the Year. And, we have been shortlisted in 3 categories of the British Parking Awards; for customer service, partnership and refurbishment of Regency Square Carprk. Very well done again.

I would also like to mention that the Council has been successful in winning first round funding from the Government’s Heat Network Delivery Unit. This is aimed at developing projects designed to supply low carbon and more efficient heat to buildings.

Cllrs Cox, Robins officers and myself had a fruitful first meeting last week when we met as a working group to consider the impact and possible ways forward on pavement and verge parking.  Officers will be feeding back and taking forward suggestions from that meeting.

And finally, I would like to briefly update members on the actions being taking following requests for additional road safety measures in Church Road, Portslade.  As members will recall this is a matter that has been raised at a number of previous committee meetings by residents and Cllr Robins, and I have promised to update members on this.

I would like to congratulate parents of St.Peter’s school for their energetic campaigning.  And I am particularly appreciative of the letters I have received from many school children calling for a zebra crossing.

Officers have been engaging with the matter: evaluations have been undertaken to look at the feasibility and location for a possible crossing, and numerical surveys have been programmed in as part of the annual city-wide assessment of pedestrian crossings.

A series of meetings have been held this year between officers, members and parents.  I visited with the Road Safety Manager to accompany a grandparent on her school walk, and I know other members have attended events too.

I have circulated an officer update to ward councillors and parent campaigners which I hope brings everyone up to speed. I will also make this available to members of the committee”.