Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee note the report and support the process as detailed in the report; and

(b)       That consultation be carried out with all Members and Town and Community Councils with a deadline for responses to be received before the end of January, 2013.

Prior to consideration of this item, the Chair apologised that due to a technical error the Appendix circulated with the agenda did not include all of the relevant information and a copy of both the full Appendices to the report was circulated to the Committee.  The Chair announced that there would be a 10 minute adjournment to allow Members to read the Appendices.

            Prior to the adjournment, the Head of Assets and Transportation explained that the section of roads identified for a proposed change in speed limit was shown at Appendix B.

            Following the 10 minute adjournment, the Head of Assets and Transportation introduced the report which detailed the conclusion of the speed limit review covering the ‘A class’ and ‘B class’ road network within the Authority.

            The Welsh Government (WG) published in 2009 the document entitled ‘Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales’.  This guidance was to be used for setting all local speed limits on single and dual carriageways in both urban and rural areas with all highway authorities requested to review the speed limits of all of their A and B roads, and implement changes by the 31 December, 2014. 

            Following a decision taken at Executive on the 15 November, 2011, suitable specialist advisors were invited to tender for the review and in March 2012 Atkins were awarded the contract.  Atkins undertook a video survey of the whole of the A and B class road network and made recommendations, a copy of which had been made available in the Members Library and was attached at Appendix A to the report.  Following detailed analysis by officers of the information in Appendix A, a schedule of sections identified for a proposed change in speed limits was included in Appendix B.

            Councillor D. Evans asked what consultation would be carried out with Members on the proposed changes to speed limits.  The Director of Environment explained that consultation would be carried out with all Members and also Town and Community Councils with a view to receiving responses back before the Christmas period.         

            In response to further comments from Members on the need for all ward Members and Town and Community Councillors to be given the opportunity to consider and discuss issues within their areas, the Director of Environment confirmed that the consultation period would be extended to the end of January, 2013.

            Councillor Evans asked that when consulting Town and Community Councils that they be provided with maps which highlighted the exact sections of roads in order to avoid confusion.  The Head of Assets and Transportation confirmed that the relevant data could be extracted in map format and would be placed in the Members Library following the meeting.  If requests were received for the maps these could be provided to Members.  

            Councillor C.A. Thomas asked that it be made clear to Town and Community Councils that the responses to the consultation process should be sent to the Head of Assets and Transportation.  She also asked whether the Streetscene Team would be responsible for erecting the new speed limit signs.  The Head of Assets and Transportation confirmed that this would be carried out through a competitive tendering exercise due to the scale of work involved.

            In response to a question from Councillor C. Hinds, the Head of Assets and Transportation confirmed that the change to the speed limit at Dobshill had been agreed prior to the speed limit review and a Traffic Regulation Order had been drafted and was to be approved shortly, with signage being awaited.

            The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment advised that if Members felt that there were additional A or B roads which had not been included within the review then these would be considered as part of the consultation process.

            Councillor C.A. Thomas asked that reference be made within Appendix B to there being no proposed change to the speed limit on the A5104.  She also asked if consideration had been given to roads used as diversion routes when the A55 was closed when reviewing speed limits.  The Head of Assets and Transportation confirmed that this was not considered as part of the review.  

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee note the report and support the process as detailed in the report; and

(b)       That consultation be carried out with all Members and Town and Community Councils with a deadline for responses to be received before the end of January, 2013.