Agenda item - North Street Environmental Improvement

Report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1)           That Committee approve the initial proposals.

2)           Committee agree that the council oversees proposals to implement environmental improvements in North Street at the earliest opportunity.

16.1     The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that reported that Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) had approached the council to seek permission to make public realm enhancements between Ship Street and East Street with RBS meeting all associated costs. The report provided the plans for the improvements and sought permission to proceed to implementation. The Senior Project Manager noted the correspondence sent to Members shortly ahead of the Committee by taxi forum and GMB union recommending deferral due to the lack of correspondence with that group. The Senior Project Manager clarified that officers had not been able to attend any taxi forum meetings as none were scheduled to be held between late May and early August. The Senior Project Manager added that a local consultation had been undertaken and representatives from the taxi trade had been invited to input into that. Furthermore, the RBS team would be attending the next taxi forum meeting in August and comments from that meeting would still be able to feed into the design process. The Senior Project Manager also noted that officers had invited the taxi forum to nominate one or two representatives who would act as a contact for any future events associated with the project that fell between taxi forum meeting dates. On that basis, but subject to Members consideration, the Senior Project Manager stated that he would not be recommending the Committee to defer its decision on the matter.

16.2     The Chair noted that appendix 3 stated that City Cabs had attended one of the workshops held.

16.3     Councillor Janio asked if traffic disruption in the area associated with the improvement works would be minimised wherever possible and short-term.

16.4     The Senior Project Manager stated that RBS were keen to deliver the project as quickly as possible adding that discussions would be held with the council’s traffic operations team to minimise any disruption. The Senior Project Officer added that the bulk of the project would not take place on the carriageway.

16.5     Councillor Mitchell stated that Members might find it helpful to receive advice on how this project would fit in with the redevelopment of Brighton Square.

16.6     Councillor Davey stated that a workshop for Members to show interaction could be set up with any comments or discussed with the developers and designers.

16.7     Councillor Theobald noted that the busiest foot movements in the area occurred from New Road and he asked if moving the crossings away from that area might disrupt pedestrian desire lines.

16.8     The Senior Project Manager stated that the final location of crossings still had some scope for manoeuvre but would need to fit in with another project in the Ship Street area.

16.9     Councillor Robins stated his support for the report.

16.10  Councillor Davey stated his support for the report and that he had found discussing the details with the designers illuminating. Councillor Davey added that the shop fronts in the area were some of the most blighted in the city and the project could make a huge benefit to the businesses in those areas.

16.11  Councillor Janio welcomed the report specifically that private investment was being made to improve the public realm.

16.12  RESOLVED-

1)           That Committee approve the initial proposals.

2)           Committee agree that the council oversees proposals to implement environmental improvements in North Street at the earliest opportunity.