Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Property

Purpose of report

To promote an off-street Traffic Regulation Order on land the Council owns and has responsibility for outside the entrances to Franklin House including the Travelodge Hotel in order to mitigate the risks to the public at large and to the Council itself caused by unsafe parking and traffic movements in the area.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1           To approve the promotion of an off-street Traffic Regulation Order on land the Council owns and has responsibility for outside the entrances to Franklin House including the Travelodge Hotel in order to mitigate the risks to the public at large and to the Council itself caused by unsafe parking and traffic movements in the area.

1.2           To authorise the Assistant Director Property to start formal consultation on the proposed off-street Traffic Regulation Order, and, following due consideration of any representations received at the consultation stage and in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and relevant portfolio holder, to make any decisions and exercise all powers necessary in respect of whether or not to make and/or seal the proposed Order.

Resolved

(1)            That the promotion of an off-street Traffic Regulation Order on land the Council owns and has responsibility for outside the entrances to Franklin House including the Travelodge Hotel be approved in order to mitigate the risks to the public at large and to the Council itself caused by unsafe parking and traffic movements in the area.

(2)            That the Assistant Director – Property be authorised to start formal consultation on the proposed off-street Traffic Regulation Order, and, following due consideration of any representations received at the consultation stage and in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, to make any decisions and exercise all powers necessary in respect of whether or not to make and/or seal the proposed Order.

The Assistant Director Property submitted a report to promote an off-street Traffic Regulation Order on land the Council owns and has responsibility for outside the entrances to Franklin House including the Travelodge Hotel in order to mitigate the risks to the public at large and to the Council itself caused by unsafe parking and traffic movements in the area.

Resolved

(1)            That the promotion of an off-street Traffic Regulation Order on land the Council owns and has responsibility for outside the entrances to Franklin House including the Travelodge Hotel be approved in order to mitigate the risks to the public at large and to the Council itself caused by unsafe parking and traffic movements in the area.

(2)            That the Assistant Director – Property be authorised to start formal consultation on the proposed off-street Traffic Regulation Order, and, following due consideration of any representations received at the consultation stage and in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, to make any decisions and exercise all powers necessary in respect of whether or not to make and/or seal the proposed Order.

Reasons

Approval of the promotion of an off-street Traffic Regulation Order as described will remove obstructions caused by unregulated parking and obstructions to traffic needing to access service areas.

This will improve safety for pedestrians and ensure that the existing taxi drop offs and disabled parking space are accessible and available to use.

The costs associated with promoting and implementing the Traffic Regulation Order can be met from existing budgets. Enforcement of this Off-Street Traffic Regulation Order and issue of Penalty Charge Notices will be carried out by Oxfordshire County Council at no additional cost to the Council.

Alternative options

Option 1: Do nothing.

This option has been rejected. Not promoting the off-street Traffic Regulation Order means proper enforcement to manage parking will not be available and car users will continue to abuse parking. Furthermore, the Council runs the risk of possible claims from the public if an accident were to happen.