DELEGATED POWERS REPORT NO.

1622

SUBJECT: Introduction of waiting restrictions Control sheet All of the following actions MUST be completed at each stage of the process and the signed and dated report MUST be passed to Governance Service for publishing
All reports 1. Governance Services receive draft report Name of GSO Date 2. Governance Services cleared draft report as being constitutionally appropriate 3. Finance clearance obtained (report author to complete) 4. Staff and other resources issues clearance obtained (report author to complete) Name of GSO Date Name of Fin. officer Date Name of Res. officer Date Name of SPO Date Name of Legal officer Date Name of P&P officer Date Name of officer Date Name Date Name of GSO Date Name of GSO Date Name of GSO Date Chileme Hayes 05/03/2012 Andrew Nathan 22/02/2012 Andrew Nathan 22/02/2012 Pam Wharfe 20/3/12 Paul Frost 28/3/12 Paul Frost 28/3/12 N/A N/A Andrew Charlwood 24/02/2012 Paul Frost 19/03/2012 Jayne Fitzgerald 13/03/2012 N/A

5. Strategic Procurement (report author to complete) 6. Legal clearance obtained from (report author to complete) Policy & Partnerships clearance obtained (report author to complete) Equalities & Diversity clearance obtained (report author to complete) The above process has been checked and verified by Director, Head of Service or Deputy (report author to complete)

7.

8.

9.

10. Signed & dated report, scanned or hard copy received by Governance Services for publishing 11. Report published by Governance Services to website Officer reports: 12. Head of Service informed report is published and can be implemented. Cabinet Member reports: 13. Expiry of call-in period 14. Report circulated for call-in purposes to COSC members & copied to Cabinet & Head of Service

Date Name of GSO Date

N/A N/A

ACTION TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS BY OFFICER IN CONSULTATION WITH CABINET MEMBER(S) (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)

Subject Officer taking decision Date of decision

Summary

Introduction of waiting restrictions Interim Director of Environment, Planning and Regeneration 20 March 2012
This report details the necessity to proceed to statutory consultation proposals to introduce waiting restrictions in Bittacy Hill NW7 in order to ease traffic congestion.

Officer Contributors Status (public or exempt) Wards affected Enclosures Reason for exemption from callin (if appropriate)

Karen Grinter, Engineer Public Mill Hill Drawing Number 21729/742 Not applicable

Contact for further information: karen.grinter@barnet.gov.uk tel. no. 020 8359 7908 Serial No. 1622

1. 1.1 2. 2.1

RELEVANT PREVIOUS DECISIONS None CORPORATE PRIORITIES AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS Introducing waiting restrictions in the borough will contribute to the One Barnet Plan and Corporate Plan priority A Successful London Suburb by keeping traffic moving. The London Mayors Transport Strategy also addresses these areas through: Proposal 30: The Mayor, through TfL, and working with the London boroughs and other stakeholders, will introduce measures to smooth traffic flow to manage congestion (delay, reliability and network resilience) for all people and freight movements on the road network, and maximise the efficiency of the network. These measures will include c) keep traffic moving , e) Planning and implementing improvements to the existing road network, to improve traffic flow on the most congested sections of the network, and to improve conditions for all road users I do not consider the issues involved are likely to give rise to policy considerations as the waiting restrictions would reduce congestion, and improve traffic flow and safety by deterring obstructive parking. I consider the issues involved may lead to some level of public concern by commuter type motorists who are customarily used to parking in close proximity to local transportation services, such as train stations. Therefore, the introduction of waiting restrictions could lead to displaced parking and/or adverse publicity. However, reducing the opportunity of parking in close proximity to local transportation links, could encourage the use of alternative modes of transport, such as cycles, walking and buses, thereby reducing the number of vehicles travelling through the area, and also restricts higher volumes of vehicles parking in relatively close proximity causing obstruction to other road users. It is not possible to mitigate entirely the risk that an accident or accidents may take place at this location after implementation of the measures, and by reducing the level of parking allowed at by the introduction of waiting restrictions could lead to an increase in vehicle speeds; however, the 30 mph speed limit on this residential road should be sufficient in deterring the majority of motorists who might otherwise be inclined to speed. EQUALITIES AND DIVERSITY ISSUES The introduction of waiting restrictions in order to improve traffic flow and road safety will benefit all road users equally and are not envisaged to disadvantage any members of the community. USE OF RESOURCES IMPLICATIONS (Finance, Procurement, Performance & Value for money, Staffing, IT, Property, Sustainability) The introduction of new waiting restrictions would require an amendment to a Traffic Management Order. Statutory procedures require a public consultation to

2.2

3.1

3.2

3.3

4. 4.1

5.

5.1

take place. Estimated costs for the necessary statutory process, including advertising, printing and all officer time which would be rechargeable, including consideration of any comments received and report writing are estimated to be 4300.00, the costs of which can be met from S106 funding secured for the purpose of making improvements to the Mill Hill East area. 5.2 5.3 Estimated costs for the introduction of the yellow lines are approximately 320.00 The introduction of new waiting restrictions requires periodic ongoing routine maintenance. LEGAL ISSUES The Traffic Management Act 2004 places an obligation on authorities to ensure the expeditious movement of traffic on their road network. Authorities are required to make arrangements as they consider appropriate for planning and carrying out the action to be taken in performing the duty. The Council as Highway Authority has the necessary legal powers to introduce or amend Traffic Management Orders through the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS The Councils constitution, in Part 3, Responsibility for Functions, paragraph 6.1 provides for Chief Officers to take decisions in consultation with the Cabinet Member concerned to discharge the functions allocated to them or dealt by them or their staff. BACKGROUND INFORMATION In June 2011 the Council completed a scheme whereby all Free parking bays were converted to permit holder or paid for parking bays in the boroughs Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs). As a result of the changes made to the Mill Hill East CPZ, a proportionate level of displaced parking is occurring on both sides of Bittacy Hill on the outskirts of the CPZ boundary. The council has been contacted by roads users and local residents, complaining of the congestion being caused as through vehicles are being obstructed by the displaced parking. London Buses have reported to the council that the displaced parking is obscuring sightlines and obstructing through traffic, preventing their buses from gaining suitable access through the road, resulting in the delay of their services. They also stated that this situation has caused major congestion in both directions on Bittacy Hill and therefore, have had to temporarily put some of their buses on diversion. In addition, the Police have also expressed concerns regarding this location, and have requested for waiting restrictions to be introduced. Following investigations including site observations, Officers concluded that major congestion occurs on the hill at this location, and in order to keep traffic moving

6. 6.1

6.2

7. 7.1

8. 8.1

8.2

8.3

8.4

8.5

through the borough considered that the provision of waiting restrictions would be appropriate given the obstructive parking which is taking place. 8.6 Therefore, proposals to introduce lengths of at any time waiting restrictions on certain lengths of Bittacy Hill including around its junctions with Bittacy Close and Engle Park, were designed in order to deter obstructive parking and improve traffic flow, sightlines and safety. In anticipation of the statutory consultation, Mill Hill Ward Members were consulted on the proposals with all advising of their agreement and support of the measures for the area. In particular, Councillors Khatri and Hart stated that they had also received complaints on this matter or have experienced problems themselves. Councillor Hart did raise the issue that more restrictions may cause more problems to the wider area as did Councillor Schama. However, Officers consider that any displaced parking that may occur as a result of the introduction of the restrictions can be absorbed into the local network with minimal impact. In mid August it was necessary to introduce emergency temporary waiting restrictions on the eastern side of Bittacy Hill, as nearby Devonshire Road was closed to allow for essential maintenance works to take place, which resulted in an increased traffic flow on Bittacy Hill that exasperated the problems occurring at the location. Traffic cones were placed on street to indicate the temporary waiting restrictions, and the location was monitored by Officers. Observations showed that displaced parking was minimal and what did occur had little impact on the area. It was concluded that the removal of the parked vehicles at this location was very effective in relieving the congestion normally experienced. Additional supporting evidence underlining the concern via photographs showing buses being obstructed and the congestion experienced were sent to the council and a petition signed by all residents of Bittacy Close was also submitted, asking for waiting restrictions to be implemented at the junction of Bittacy Close and Bittacy Hill. Councillor Khatri and Councillor Hart have since also reaffirmed their views and support for the proposals. In particular, they advised of their concerns regarding safety being an issue at this location. Councillor Hart also re-iterated his concerns for residents of Bittacy Close, who suffer from obstruction at the junction of Bittacy Close and Bittacy Hill. LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS Drawing Number 21729/742 illustrates the proposals.

8.7

8.8

8.9

8.9

8.10

8.14

9. 9.1

10. 10.1

CONSULTATION WITH CABINET MEMBER(S) The Cabinet Member for Environment has been consulted and has advised of his agreement to proceed as per the details of this report