Agenda item

(a)  That Recommendation 1 – “That Option 1 – implementation of a one way system – as outlined in the Significant Decision, be trialled as an Experimental Order for a period of 6 months” not be accepted for the following reasons:

·  It makes no reference to how the Council would deliver the wider regeneration scheme.

·  Should this regeneration scheme go ahead then a full closure of the road would have to be trialled in 2/3 years anyway, and it was considered appropriate to trial this option whilst the order was in place.

·  Implementation of a one way scheme would make it impossible to deliver the additional car park required for the regeneration scheme and would see the extra Crossrail parking pushed back onto residential streets.

·  The rigid timeframe of leaving one order in place for a full 6 months would not be feasible and would not provide the freedom to adapt as and when needed, and potentially run multiple experiments.

(b)  That Recommendation 2 – “That monitoring data regarding the effectiveness of the scheme and its impact on the road network, local residents and businesses be reported to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee after a three month period” – be accepted and that it further be agreed that:

·  Two reports be taken to scrutiny, one after 3 months and a further one after 6 months at the end of the scheme.

·  The working group would meet monthly during the trial period to react and review the data.

·  SBC officers would hold a monthly meeting during the course of the experiment with councillors from affected wards (Haymill & Lynch Hill, Britwell & Northborough and Cippenham Green), and one representative from each of ‘Think Burnham’ and Burnham Parish Council.

(c)  That the recommendations of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel along with Cabinet’s response be forwarded to full Council on 22^nd September 2015 to be discussed as part the petition debate.

The Cabinet considered a reference from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Call-in of the Significant Officer Decision on Burnham Train Station and Road Network Improvements.

Following the assessment of a wide range of options, the scheme involved the closure of Station Road, Burnham under an experimental traffic regulation order along with a range of other traffic measures as part of a scheme to improve Burnham Station ahead of the arrival of Crossrail services.  The decision had been called in by four Members and the Committee had recommended the following:

1. “That Option 1 – implementation of a one way system – as outlined in the Significant Decision (attached at Appendix A to the report), be trialled as an Experimental Order for a period of 6 months.”

2. “That monitoring data regarding the effectiveness of the scheme and its impact on the road network, local residents and businesses be reported to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee after a three month period.”

The Commissioner for Neighbourhoods & Renewal, who had addressed the scrutiny meeting, summarised the key points that had been raised.  In relation to the recommendation to trial a one way system (option 1 of the Significant Decision), it was highlighted that the benefits of the wider redevelopment of the station could not be achieved by adopting this option as it was not release the land required for development and closure would therefore have to be trialled at a later stage.  A one way scheme would also not enable the additional car parking spaces to be delivered which risked adding to parking pressures on residential streets as demand rose when Crossrail services were introduced.  The Commissioner therefore proposed that scrutiny recommendation 1 should not be accepted.

In relation to recommendation 2, it was proposed that this could be accepted and further strengthened by taking two reports to scrutiny after three and six months; by monthly meetings of the working group to review and react to the implications of the closure; and by officers meeting monthly with councillors from the most affected wards and other local representatives, Burnham Parish Council and Think Burnham, to ensure strong communication and engagement during the period of the experiment.  It was also noted that there would be extensive consultation on the scheme as soon as it went live.

The Commissioner also proposed that the scrutiny recommendations and response of the Cabinet be forwarded to all Members ahead of the full Council debate on 22^nd September about the petition received on these matters.

The Cabinet asked a number of questions of officers about the scheme including how the baseline would be measured and data monitored to assess the traffic impacts of the scheme.  It was responded that data would be collected before the experiment was introduced to establish a clear baseline and arrangements were in place to collect and monitor traffic data at appropriate locations in the locality to measure the impacts of the scheme.  The Cabinet asked about the wider traffic management measures to be introduced in response to the anticipated increase in traffic on other routes.  It was responded that the experiment would not begin until both the Leigh Road and Stoke Poges Lane bridges reopened; that traffic signals at the likely diversion routes would be altered; the direction of traffic flow under the Burnham Lane bridge be reversed to allow southbound access to the A4 with a mini-roundabout at the Burnham Lane / Buckingham Avenue junction to improve access; and adjustments to bus stops and parking restrictions to assist traffic flow and avoid additional parking pressure on residential streets.  The experimental order would also include the option to trial the Station Road one way option if the full closure did not work after an appropriate period of experimentation.

Councillor Strutton, one of the signatories to the Call-in, addressed the Cabinet to explain his concerns about the proposed closure which included the lack of prior consultation; failure to take into account the impacts on home care visits and on other health and education provision; the difficulties caused by previous closures of the bridge due to adverse weather and repairs; flood risks; and the fact improvements to the Five Points junction would not take place until or unless a permanent scheme was introduced.  Commissioners and officers responded to each of these points in turn, noting that the reason for consulting during the scheme rather than before it was to listen to experiences and views on the real impacts, rather than perceived impacts; and that there would be engagement with internal departments, including social care, and local organisations such as schools during the experiment.

Commissioners recognised that there was an existing problem with traffic congestion in the area, and that the funding attracted to the scheme and future Crossrail services provided an opportunity to address these longstanding issues and regenerate the station and wider area.  They emphasised that the measures would be trialled as an experiment with sufficient flexibility to react depending on how the scheme worked in reality.  After consideration of all of the points raised by the Committee and during the meeting, it was agreed not to accept recommendation 1 (implement a one way scheme), but to agree and extend recommendation 2 to strengthen communication and engagement during the experiment.  It was also agreed that the scrutiny recommendations and Cabinet response would be reported to full Council prior to their debate on the petition on 22^nd September 2015.

Resolved –

(a)  That Recommendation 1 – “That Option 1 – implementation of a one way system – as outlined in the Significant Decision, be trialled as an Experimental Order for a period of 6 months” not be accepted for the following reasons:

·  It made no reference to how the Council would deliver the wider regeneration scheme.

·  Should this regeneration scheme go ahead then a full closure of the road would have to be trialled in 2/3 years anyway, and it was considered appropriate to trial this option whilst the order was in place.

·  Implementation of a one way scheme would make it impossible to deliver the additional car park required for the regeneration scheme and would see the extra Crossrail parking pushed back onto residential streets.

·  The rigid timeframe of leaving one order in place for a full 6 months would not be feasible and would not provide the freedom to adapt as and when needed, and potentially run multiple experiments.

(b)  That Recommendation 2 – “That monitoring data regarding the effectiveness of the scheme and its impact on the road network, local residents and businesses be reported to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee after a three month period” – be accepted and that it further be agreed that:

·  Two reports be taken to scrutiny, one after 3 months and a further one after 6 months at the end of the scheme.

·  The working group would meet monthly during the trial period to react and review the data.

·  SBC officers would hold a monthly meeting during the course of the experiment with councillors from affected wards (Haymill & Lynch Hill, Britwell & Northborough and Cippenham Green), and one representative from each of ‘Think Burnham’ and Burnham Parish Council.

(c)  That the recommendations of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee along with Cabinet’s response be forwarded to full Council on 22^nd September 2015 to be discussed as part the petition debate.