Question:
As a resident of the Montague Park development I have had an email from my Ward Councillor citing a number of issues and their progress or lack of it that are unrelated to the original petition presented at your September meeting. Residents of Montague Park want to know when their voices will be listened to and the requests met that are integral for the ongoing road safety that the Councillors openly campaigned to support. These are namely: 20mph road markings, barriers lining the school pavement and the crossing on William Heelas Way that is integral for children crossing that part of the road safely. When will these be actioned and if not, why not?
Minutes:
Question:
As a resident of the Montague Park development, I have had an email from my Ward Councillor citing a number of issues and their progress or lack of it that are unrelated to the original petition presented at your September meeting. Residents of Montague Park want to know when their voices will be listened to, and the requests met that are integral for the ongoing road safety that the Councillors openly campaigned to support. These are namely: 20mph road markings, barriers lining the school pavement and the crossing on William Heelas Way that is integral for children crossing that part of the road safely. When will these be actioned and if not, why not?
Answer:
Thank you, Heather, for your question.
At the Full Council meeting in October 2022, I highlighted to the Chamber that in accordance with the Department for Transport circular 01/2013 Setting local speed limits the Borough Council evaluate the appropriate speed limit outside Primary schools.
As a new school, The Floreat had been assessed and 20mph Advisory speed limit signs with flashing lights were installed during late October 2022 and became operational after the half-term break. This brings the school into line with most other schools in the Borough.
As for the petition, the normal process would have been for the measures to be assessed against national and local criteria and prioritised, in the same way as measures requested for other sites. However, the Shadow Executive Member submitted a related Motion at the October meeting which has yet to be considered by Full Council and we have to wait for the outcome of that before we know the appropriate next steps.
The Motion is on the agenda again for discussion tonight. I would ask you to read the comments from the Chief Finance Officer that follow it, including the fact that one of the things you ask for is contrary to national government policy.
What happens next will depend on the outcome of the Motion.
Supplementary Question:
Unfortunately, and whilst I emphasise with, and appreciate the work that you have done to look at this, I am sorry to say that I have absolutely no belief in the commitment to deliver on what is required to keep the children attending Floreat Montague Park safe on their journey to and from school each day.
There has been a Motion as you quite rightly cited, before this Council since September which would ensure the safety of our children, yet it has not been reached in any of the previous meetings of this Council, despite being on the agenda. Therefore, under Rule 4.2.25.1 Suspension, I would ask the Mayor to suspend Rules of Procedure by Motion on Notice or Without Notice, as is her right, and move Motion 495 to be debated unamended as the next order of business, as the only stipulation of doing so, namely that there be at least one half of the whole number of Members of the Council being present, has been met. I can see no logical, rational, or reasonable reason why this Motion which has been worded and asked for by residents, who I am representing this evening, cannot be debated unamended, immediately.
At this point in the meeting Gregor Murray requested in line with Rule 4.2.25.1 that the Rules of Procedure be suspended and that Motion 495 be taken as the next item. The Mayor agreed but clarified that the Motion could be amended.