Agenda item

1.       That the policy “Setting Local Speed Limits” as set out in Annex 1 be approved.

2.       That the policy “Road Safety Outside Schools” ,as set out in Annex 2 of the submitted report, be approved, with the change relating to Academies and Free Schools being removed.

Reasons for Decisions:

The county council’s policy on “Setting Local Speed Limits” has been updated in light of new government guidance, and in order to improve the existing assessment procedure. A new policy “Road Safety Outside Schools” has also been developed to tackle concerns over road safety outside schools. As part of this the school crossing patrol policy has been updated to ensure that the provision of school crossing patrols is maintained and prioritised at sites where they are most needed.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Environment and Transport Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding Recovery introduced the report, stating that the starting point of any speed policy was Road Safety. In January 2013, the Government issued new national guidance for Local Authorities on setting speed limits and this report presented an update to the council’s policy on “Setting Local Speed Limits” and also presented a new policy “Road Safety Outside Schools” for approval by the Cabinet.

He referred to the current policy and to the Local Committees comments (set out in Annex 3) on the proposed draft policies on setting Local Speed Limits and also Road Safety Outside School. He also highlighted paragraph 28 of the report which relates to calls for a 20mph speed limit outside schools which he said was a relevant consideration at this time of expansion of many Surrey schools.

Cabinet Members debated the issue of changing speed limits and who should make the final decision, as set out in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the submitted report. They considered that professional advice from highways officers and the Police was critical and agreed that the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding Recovery had an overview of the county’s roads and should have the final decision on the rare occasions when local committees disagreed with officer recommendations. However, if there was a dispute in the Cabinet Member’s own local area, it should be referred to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, for decision.

On the proposed policy for Road Safety outside Schools, the Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning advised Cabinet that Academy funding was primarily for education inside schools and therefore she was concerned about the proposal in paragraph 18 of the report, relating to school crossing patrol services, namely:

‘It is proposed that a charge of £3,600 per year will be made to Academies, Independent and Free Schools to cover salary and training costs.’

She asked Cabinet to reconsider this proposal and requested that it was deleted from the report. This was agreed.

Attention was also drawn to the risk assessment undertaken before a decision was taken to recruit a new or replacement school crossing patrol officer and it was confirmed  that this would apply to both maintained and academy and free schools.

RESOLVED (as amended):

1.       That the policy “Setting Local Speed Limits” as set out in Annex 1 of the submitted report, be approved.

2.       That the policy “Road Safety Outside Schools” ,as set out in Annex 2 of the submitted report, be approved, with the charge relating to Academies and Free Schools being removed.

Reasons for Decisions:

The county council’s policy on “Setting Local Speed Limits” has been updated in light of new government guidance, and in order to improve the existing assessment procedure. A new policy “Road Safety Outside Schools” has also been developed to tackle concerns over road safety outside schools. As part of this the school crossing patrol policy has been updated to ensure that the provision of school crossing patrols is maintained and prioritised at sites where they are most needed.