To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2017.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 4 December 2017 were agreed as a true record.

Report of Strategic Director Communities & Environment.

Steve Donaldson delivered a presentation outlining the legal and operational background to Civic Parking Enforcement (CPE) in Gateshead. The presentation also provided an update on the focus of current operations and an update on the decision to undertake Civil Bus Lane Enforcement within Gateshead.

It was noted from the presentation that there are several overarching aims for parking enforcement which includes: congestion, safety, air quality, accessibility, technology, working together and fairness. It was further noted that the council’s parking control objectives are to minimise vehicle use in the busiest and most congested areas and to provide sufficient short stay parking facilities to support local businesses. It was also said that other objectives include safeguarding the needs of residents, businesses and visitors to Gateshead, to improve traffic conditions, to regulate and control parking and to preserve and improve infrastructure.

It was said that enforcement of parking is done so under the framework of Traffic Regulation Orders and national legislation which is supported by prescribed regulatory signs and lines. The Committee were also provided with an additional overview of enforcement strategies and activities which included an update on the Council’s camera enforcement vehicle.

An overview of the Parking Charge Notice (PCN) appeals process was provided noting that there are several stages within an appeal which includes an informal challenge, representations and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. It was further noted that there are set guidelines to be followed by staff at each stage of the process.

The Committee were presented with a breakdown of PCN’s issued in 2016/17 as follows:

Informal Challenges:

•          3,168 received (24% of PCN’s)

•          1,954 rejected (15% of PCN’s)

•          1,214 accepted (9% of PCN’s)

Formal Representations:

•          539 received (4% of PCN’s)

•          338 rejected (2.5% of PCN’s)

•          201 accepted (1.5% of PCN’s)

It was noted on the presentation that a total of 1,415 PCN’s were cancelled as a result of the above appeals process, which is 11% of all PCN’s and that the figures indicate that around 72% of people whose challenges were rejected accepted the decision. The Committee were also presented with several examples of parking contraventions and their outcomes following appeal to illustrate the process and how decisions are made.

An update on Civil Bus Lane Enforcement was provided. It was noted from the presentation that Cabinet approved the introduction of CCTV-based bus lane enforcement in May 2016 with work ongoing to ensure necessary legal and engineering work is in place.

It was asked how many people had been caught by the camera enforcement vehicle parking outside of schools – this information is to be provided via e-mail following the meeting.

It was also asked why the officers responsible for enforcing littering are not able to also enforce parking rules. It was noted that the legislation plays a role in this with an explanation provided regarding the differences between civil and legal enforcement.

It was noted that the Bus Lane Enforcement plan is welcomed and that five locations have been identified as being  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL53

Report of Strategic Director Communities & Environment.

Stuart Corker provided an update to the Committee on the extension of joint working with Nexus and bus operators to the whole of Gateshead. It was noted that this includes the development of a revised agreement and relaunch for the East Gateshead Quality Partnership as the East Gateshead Bus Alliance and the progress on a parallel agreement for West Gateshead.

The following was highlighted from the report:

·         A StakeholderBoard willcontinue tooversee thedelivery ofthe Allianceand monitorperformance. Therevised compositionof theBoard isthree GatesheadCouncil representatives(reflecting theextended geographicalarea ofthe Partnership), oneNECA TransportNorth EastCommittee (TNEC)Member, oneNexus officerand fiveGo NorthEast Representatives.

·         Service changes willbe madeon agreeddates andsubject toagreed consultationprocedures (involvingthe communityand localCouncillors), althoughthe basicconcept ofthe agreementis tomaintain asstable anetwork aspossible.

·         Changes to farelevels willbe limitedto onlyreflect directincreases incosts andthe StakeholderBoard wouldbe consultedon anyproposals. GoNorth Eastand Nexuswill continueto lookat innovativefares andticketing options.

·         The fleet operatingservices willbe modern,low emission,floor easyaccess buseswith onbus CCTV,audio visualnext stopannouncements andWi-Fi. Thereare alsocommitments onimproving theengine emissionstandards ofthe fleet.

·         Punctualityand reliabilitytargets willcontinue tobe monitoredagainst apenalty regimefor failureto perform.The penaltypayments contributetowards theService ImprovementFund, whichis usedto providebenefits topassengers. TheStakeholder Boardwill continueto overseethe monitoringof performance.

·         A marketing sub-group of the Stakeholder Board will develop and oversee an annual marketing plan for theAlliance.

·         Gateshead Council will, within budget constraints, implement a programme of bus priority, infrastructure works, clearway enforcement and bus lane enforcement.

·         Nexus will maintain and improve shelters, interchanges and information.

Regarding the Extension to West Gateshead, the following was also noted:

·         The draft ofa sisteragreement fora WestGateshead BusAlliance willbe presentedto Cabinetin duecourse. Itis likelythat theagreement willlargely mirrorthe formatand principlesof itsEast Gateshead counterpart,while reflectinglocal detailin relationto services,future infrastructureworks etc.In addition,all partiesare keento ensurethat theseagreements continueto evolve;reflecting bestpractice andnew approaches.

·         As withthe EastGateshead, theagreement willbe betweenthe Council,Go NorthEast andNexus, butother operatorswill havethe opportunityto feedinto thebusiness ofthe Alliance.

·         Officers have metto considerthe potentialscope ofan agreement,and arelooking toprepare aninitial draftof thedocument beforethe endof February,with theAlliance commencing laterthis year.

It was noted that the level of consultation on service changes has been improved and that the experience of joint working has generally been positive.

It was asked what the structure  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL54

Report of Strategic Director Corporate Resources.

Paul Scott attended to provide the Committee on an update on the Land of Oak & Iron and Tourism in the West of the Borough.

It was noted from the presentation that the Land of Oak & Iron Landscape Partnership is a Heritage Lottery Funded scheme that aims to conserve areas of distinctive landscape character in the UK. It was further noted that 2016 is the starting point of 4 years of project delivery with a view to work with local communities to celebrate, conserve and enhance the national, industrial and culture heritage at the Land of Oak & Iron.

An overview of the Land of Oak and Iron was provided noting it has 300 years of industrial history. It was further advised that the area has received more than £100,000 of investment including the Woodhouse Lane works which are underway and the Red Kite Trail near High Spen which is planned. The Committee also received a summary of restoration works at the Iron Works that have been complete in the area with photographs.

From the presentation an update was also provided on the new Heritage Centre which was designed by local residents following a design competition involving Northumbria University post-graduate architecture students.

Further information was presented on tourism in the west of the borough noting the 2017 Marketing Campaign which was ran to highlight what is on offer in the west of the borough.

It was noted that the presentation was well received and provided useful information to members. A discussion also took place regarding the various funding streams that are accessed in order to deliver projects in the area and the partnership working that has taken place with stakeholders such as Groundworks.

RESOLVED:

i) That the information from the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services & Governance.

The Committee received a report on the provisional annual work programme and agreed that further reports will be brought to future meetings to highlight current issues/identify any changes/additions to the programme.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the work programme be noted.