Issue - meetings

Recommendations to the Joint Committee to introduce bus lane camera enforcement in two areas within Guildford where issues of non-compliance have been identified.

Guildford Joint Committee:

       i.          Agreed that it is supportive in principle of the introduction of bus-lane enforcement at Onslow Street and Woking Road and would like to see it introduced by the beginning of the 2020/21 financial year, subject to the approval by this committee of the final financial arrangements relating to schemes within the borough.

     ii.          Recommended further discussion on both the delivery mechanism and the financial mechanism for the distribution of any surpluses.

Result of vote on the new recommendations:

For 14

Against 0

Abstentions 2

Reasons for recommendations:

The Joint Committee recognises the value of bus-lane enforcement and would like to see control over the timing and location of its deployment, responsibility for its operation and the use of any surpluses generated remaining with the borough.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Andy Harkin, Parking Manager, Guildford Borough Council

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Member Discussion – key points:

The Chairman provided a summary of the activity leading to the wish to introduce bus-lane enforcement in Guildford, including the SCC Cabinet report from October 2018, allocation of funds for ‘pump-priming’ the project, agreement on sourcing office support, and selection of the locations for enforcement cameras. Completion by GBC of a non-compliance survey in September 2019 had resulted in the report being considered at this meeting.

Following submission of a statement by the Cabinet Member for Highways describing SCC’s preferred revised approach to the management of the bus-lane enforcement county-wide, members expressed their dissatisfaction with the new approach. Particular concerns were that the desired installation deadline of April 2020 would be missed if a tender process were undertaken to agree on a county-wide service provider, and that any surplus generated would go to SCC for distribution on projects across the county rather than remaining in Guildford for local projects.

The Cabinet Member gave assurances that the Joint Committee’s £35,000 that had been allocated to this project would be rolled forward and included in its award for 2020/21. The target for implementing the scheme remained April 2020; the preference was for a local authority to operate it, which would allow for an agreement to be set up relatively quickly. Appointment of a private service provider was not being ruled out.

Following a review of the original recommendations presented in the report, revised recommendations were proposed by the chairman and seconded by the vice-chairman, and a vote was held.

Cllr Moseley left the meeting at the end of this item.

Resolved:

The Guildford Joint Committee:

    i.   Agreed that it is supportive in principle of the introduction of bus-lane enforcement at Onslow Street and Woking Road and would like to see it introduced by the beginning of the 2020/21 financial year, subject to the approval by this committee of the final financial arrangements relating to schemes within the borough.

   ii.   Recommended further discussion on both the delivery mechanism and the financial mechanism for the distribution of any surpluses.

Result of vote on the new recommendations:

For 14, Against 0, Abstentions 2

Reasons for recommendations:

The Joint Committee recognises the value of bus-lane enforcement and would like to see control over the timing and location of its deployment, responsibility for its operation and the use of any surpluses generated remaining with the borough.