Venue: Civic Suite, Town Hall, Runcorn. View directions
Contact: Caroline Halpin on 0151 471 7394 or e-mail caroline.halpin@halton.gov.uk
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Minutes Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2009 having been printed and circulated were signed as a correct record. |
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Public Question Time PDF 27 KB Minutes: The Board was advised that no public questions had been received. |
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Executive Board Minutes PDF 15 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board
considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board and Executive
Board Sub Committee relevant to the Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board. RESOLVED:
That the Minutes be received. |
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SSP Minutes There are no SSP minutes for this meeting. Minutes: The Board was advised that there were no SSP Minutes for this meeting. |
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Quarter1 to Period End 30th June 2009 PDF 25 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board received a report of the Chief Executive which detailed the 1st quarter performance management reports on progress against service plan objectives and performance targets, performance trends/comparisons and factors affecting the services for: –
In receiving the 1st quarterly monitoring reports the following comments arose from the discussion:- Major Projects · Page 28 - Emerging Issues (Para 3.0) – Re the Homes and Community Agency (HCA) informing the Council that it would not maintain its commitment to the Canal Quarter development – the reasons and implications of this action was noted; and ·
Page 38 – Clarity was sought on the spend of the ‘ In reply it was reported that this information would be circulated to Members of the Board. Environmental and Regulatory · Page 70 – Clarity was sought on spend against financial allocations on the Growth Points programme. In reply it was reported that this information would be circulated to Members of the Board. RESOLVED: That (1) the 1st quarter monitoring report be noted; and (2) information on the Growth Points Award be circulated to all Members of the Board. |
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Working Neighbourhood Fund Outturn Position and Achievements 2008/2009 PDF 17 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Urban Renewal Co-ordinator which outlined the final financial outturn position and achievements of Urban Renewal projects receiving Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) support. The report also reflected a re-profiling of the 08/09 budget. The Board was advised that the Partnership approved the 2008/09 funding allocations for projects receiving WNF in January, 2008. This report had been deferred from the 17th June 2009 Board meeting, due to the high volume of business already being considered on that occasion. The Board was further advised that Appendix XXb showed the project’s estimated expenditure position at the end of March 2009. This could be compared with the original allocations and the level of over/underspend. It was noted that, despite an overprofiling element having been added into the
allocations profile (of £12,040), the total Urban Renewal project spend outturn
position was almost on target, with a mere £132 overspend. RESOLVED: That the report be noted. |
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Castlefields Regeneration Programme Review PDF 80 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report
of the Strategic Director, Environment, which gave an update on progress of the
Castlefields Regeneration Programme and outlined the
potential next development phases which would continue to drive forward the
regeneration of the area. The Board received a presentation
from Chris Leyshon, Castlefields Regeneration Programme
Manager which:- ·
Outlined
the reasons for the need for the Castlefields Regeneration; ·
Gave an
update on the key projects and the delivery of housing renewal; ·
Showed
images of before and after regeneration in respect of Caesars Close, ·
Set out
an aeriel view taken in the late 1980’s and what the
area would look like in 2012; ·
Highlighted
the place making – ·
Showed
images of ·
Highlighted
that the regeneration was more than just housing, it included apprentiships, the Enterprise Game, Community Arts
Projects, the Youth Squad and promoting civic pride; and ·
Set out
the challenges ahead. RESOLVED: That (1)
the
presentation be received; and (2) the
Board supports the Castlefields Re-generation
Programme. |
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The Implications of De-linking the Silver Jubilee Bridge – Topic Group Progress Report PDF 58 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment which reported back to the Board on the matters examined by the Topic Group set up to consider the implications of de-linking the Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB) in support of the Mersey Gateway Project. The Board was advised that the Members of the Group concluded that the
Topic Group meetings had enabled an open and frank discussion on the
implications of De-linking the SJB. It
was agreed that it made sense to await the outcome of the Public Inquiry before
looking to influence proposals in Runcorn.
It was concluded that there was no need for the Topic Group to continue
in the immediate future, that support continue to be given to the various MG
Applications and Orders to be considered by the Public Inquiry, and that
support be given for the Preferred Options of the MG RS but that more work be
undertaken on these and alternative options once the result of the Inquiry was
known. It was further recognised that in
order to consider any further evaluation of these options, the Topic Group may
need to be reconvened subject to approval of this Policy and Performance Board. The Board thanked everyone who had been involved in the Topic Group for
the excellent work that had been undertaken on the review. RESOLVED: That (1) the Board note the progress made by the Topic Group
in examining the issues associated with the proposed de-linking of the Silver
Jubilee Bridge; and (2) endorse the Group’s conclusion that any further consideration be deferred until the outcome of the Public Inquiry into the Mersey Gateway Project is known. |
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Receipt of Petition - Relocation of Bus Stop at Derby Road, Widnes PDF 23 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment which informed Members of a petition which had been received from the residents of Claremont Avenue, Claremont Drive, Derby Rd, Marsh Hall Road, Windermere Avenue and Windermere Street, following the relocation of a bus stop by approximately 100 metres from its original location on Derby Road, at the junction with Clarement Drive, Widnes. The Board
was advised that Halton Borough
Council had received a petition on the 10th August 2009, signed by
49 residents, concerning the relocation of a bus stop on The Board was further advised that the bus stop was served by the
Halton Transport Ltd service 17a, which operated on an hourly frequency Monday
to Saturday between The bus stop was originally relocated as part of a Borough wide scheme
to improve access to stops and to bring the bus stop up to Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) compliance. Part 3 of the DDA gave people with
disabilities the right to access goods, facilities, services and premises.
Unfortunately, the bus stop, in its initial location could not accommodate the
necessary improvements to make the stop DDA compliant (bus shelter, raised
kerbing and bus box markings) and as such an alternative location was sought. It
was reported that as a result of the
concerns raised in the petition, a site visit had been carried out by the
Executive Board Member for Planning, Transportation, Regeneration and Renewal
and relevant Council Officers, to assess the situation and if appropriate,
identify an alternative location. It was subsequently agreed that for a trial
period of six months, an alternative bus stop should be sited on It was also reported that further
consultation with the residents occupying frontage properties on Derby Rd,
affected by the alternative bus stop location, would be undertaken. RESOLVED: That (1)
the
petition be noted; and (2) the proposed course of action to relocate the bus stop ... view the full minutes text for item 26. |
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Receipt of Petition - Parking Problems at Southway, Widnes PDF 363 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of
the Strategic Director, Environment which reported the receipt of a petition
from residents of Southway and Ash Grove, The Board was advised that a
petition by 19 residents of Southway and Ash Grove, The Board was further advised that there had been a history of parking problems in Southway and Ash Grove. The majority of houses in these streets were laid out generally perpendicular to the carriageway, with the fronts of properties accessed by a footpath only. There is limited carriageway space available for parking, Previously, car parking bays had been provided within grassed amenity areas in the Borough by the previous Housing Department. However, there was insufficient space to cope with current demand. In addition, a written holding reply had been sent to the organiser of the petition on 19 June 2009. The response had referred to previous involvement by the Council in similar parking issues at Southway. It explained that grassed verges were owned by Halton Housing Trust and that their views on the proposal would be sought. Given the responsibilities of Halton Council for carriageway, footway and road safety in Southway and Halton Housing Trust’s responsibilities for both the grassed amenity areas and for estate management, any scheme to provide parking spaces on the grassed verges would need to be developed in partnership. Also, any scheme to provide parking spaces would need planning permission and the issue of who should fund such a scheme also needed consideration. It was reported that a preliminary design sketch had been prepared which showed how parking spaces could be provided, and Halton Housing Trust had been asked for initial views. RESOLVED: That (1) the petition be received; (2) the Board notes that the initial design sketch had been submitted to Halton Housing Trust for its views on whether a parking scheme could be progressed; and (3) a further report be presented to the Board when the views of Halton Housing Trust on the feasibility of a parking scheme have been received. |
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Residents-Only Parking Schemes PDF 41 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment, which sought to review the Council’s policy in relation to residents only parking schemes. The Boards comments on the scheme were requested prior to being considered by the Executive Board. The Board was advised that parking on Halton’s roads was free and open to all highway users on an equal basis, provided their vehicles were street legal. The highway, it was reported was for the passing and re-passing of traffic and not for parking. The Board was
further advised that in Halton, there was no charge levied for the use of the
limited number of Council owned car parks and thus there was no income from
these facilities. In this respect, they
represented a financial liability to the Council, due to their ongoing
maintenance costs. Most parking provision associated with the town centre and
supermarket shopping was in private ownership and again carried no charge,
currently. However, there was charging by the owners of car parks at some
locations such as the hospital and at Runcorn mainline railway station. It was
noted, however, that the Council had commissioned parking studies in Runcorn
and Widnes Town Centres and in Halton Lea. These studies provided the base data
and analysis to enable consideration by the Council, in conjunction with
private car park operators, of a future car parking management policy. In addition,
enforcement of on-highway parking restrictions is the responsibility of
Cheshire Police. Cheshire Police had been consulted to ascertain if they
would be prepared to enforce a Residents Only Parking (ROPS) scheme in Halton,
if one were introduced. The request had been declined as the Police indicated
that the "Force’s position on residents only parking is that it was solely a local
authority issue. It
was reported that using powers introduced by
the Road Traffic Act 2004, it would be possible for Halton to take on
responsibility for enforcing on-street parking restrictions instead of the Police,
including any ROPS. These Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) powers would mean
that the majority
of parking offences, including parking on yellow lines and misusing disabled
person parking bays, would no longer be criminal offences. A total of 247 local
authorities had taken on CPE powers to March 2009, freeing some Police resources to tackle more serious crime.
It was reported that Council were
in the process of considering the feasibility for introducing CPE in Halton and would include an assessment of the
financial implications as well as any enforcement benefits. However, it was highlighted that the Council
had no parking income against
which it could offset the cost of a Resident Only Parking Schemes within a
Civil Parking Enforcement regime. It was noted that many of The Holloway’s residents saw the introduction of ROPS as a simple solution provided that the restrictions were enforced robustly. However, it was also noted that based on the reported experiences of other local authorities available via the internet, such schemes had a number of associated problems and impacts that ... view the full minutes text for item 28. |
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Halton Lea and Runcorn and Widnes Town Centre Parking Studies PDF 4 MB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment which advised of the key results and recommendations of Town Centre Parking Studies and sought approval to a number of actions which would enable a new parking strategy to be developed that would seek to sustain the viability of the Borough’s Town Centres. The Board was advised that Halton was one of only two boroughs in
Merseyside (the other being Knowsley) where car
parking was free. Therefore, the implications of imposing parking charges,
parking enforcement and amending parking supply would need to be carefully
considered in relation to their potential impact on the attractiveness (and
hence economic viability) of the town centres, and on nearby residents. In
determining a car parking policy, the Council faced an unusual situation, due
to a large number of the car parks within the Borough being privately owned. It
was therefore essential, in developing new ‘on’ and ‘off’-street car parking
strategies, for the Council to work closely with the owners of these car parks
to ensure that a consistent, practical and enforceable approach was adopted. The Board was further advised that to progress this work, parking studies had been commissioned at three key locations within the Borough (Runcorn and Widnes Town Centres and Halton Lea). These studies provided the base data and analysis for consideration by the proposed Parking Partnership and thereby a foundation upon which decisions could be taken by the Council on future parking management policy and formation of a revised strategy. Whilst the existing strategy made some mention of parking management, charging and residents only parking, it was important that up to date parking study data continued to be collected to allow updating of the strategy following the proposed formation of the Parking Partnership, particularly in the light of recent and proposed developments. A parking strategy which responded to the current needs of visitors to the town centres would help ensure that the town centres’ attractiveness as destinations was maintained, particularly in the light of new development and the current economic climate. In addition, it was reported that in commissioning the parking studies, comprehensive
briefs had been provided to the consultants, which detailed the broad aims
& objectives. The consultants had identified the parking patterns and problems for each of the centres. Whilst various recommendations were made, any decisions taken would need to take into account a range of factors and potential impacts. These included: · town centre (economic) viability; · the current economic downturn; · impacts on residential parking; · proposed tolling of the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge; · the costs and potential income from CPE; · promotion of sustainable transport; and · public reaction to the imposition of charging and/or parking restrictions. There were considerable
differences between the parking patterns and ownership in the three town centres.
In |
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Local Transport Plan Progress Report PDF 38 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment which advised on the progress that had been made during 2008/09 on implementing the programmes contained within Halton’s second Local Transport Plan (LTP2) and on the targets that underpin LTP’s policies and strategies. The Board was advised that in March 2006, Halton submitted its second
LTP to the Department for Transport (DfT) for
approval which covered the five year period from 2006/07 to 2010/11. The Board was further that for the first financial year of LTP2,
(2006/07), a brief progress report had been required and submitted to the DfT, the contents of which were presented to Urban Renewal
PPB on the 19th September 2007. In the subsequent financial year a
more comprehensive progress report (Local Transport Plan 2006/07 to 2010/11,
Mid Term Review) was required covering the first two years of delivery and this
was approved by Executive Board and submitted to DfT
in September 2008. It was reported that the report summarised the programme of works and
initiatives that had been undertaken in 2008/09 and also described the progress
that had been made against the performance indicators contained within LTP2. It
was noted that the DfT did not require a report on
2008/09 progress. It was also reported that during 2008/9 good progress had been made
towards the achievement of the targets set.
An analysis of progress against all the targets that could be reported
on revealed that 67% of mandatory indicators were on target and that 73% of all
indicators were on target and this provided a good base upon which further
improvements could be made. RESOLVED: That the progress made during 2008/09 on the LTP2 be welcomed. |