Meeting documents

            Meeting: Highways Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 1a - 14/06/2007 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A2 Shincliffe C of E Primary School - Proposed relocation of bus stop and proposed refuge outside The Seven Stars Public House, Shincliffe

         

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Highways Committee 14 June 2007 Shincliffe C of E Primary School Proposed relocation of bus stop and proposed refuge outside The Seven Stars Public House Shincliffe
Report of John Richardson, Corporate Director, Environment

1.0 Purpose of the Report

1.1 To seek Members’ approval to reconsider a report presented to this Committee in March 2007 on the relocation of a bus stop and proposed pedestrian refuge outside of the Seven Stars at Shincliffe. Suspending the County Council’s Procedure Rules is necessary following difficulties encountered with the distribution of the previous report.

2.0 Background

2.1 In March 2007 Members of the Highways Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director, Environment concerning the proposal to introduce a pedestrian refuge on the A177 outside of the Seven Stars Public House at Shincliffe. The provision of the refuge required the consequential relocation of a bus stop. Prior to the meeting, and in accordance with current practice, all consultees who had objected to the proposal had been sent a copy of the relevant papers together with information on making representations to the Committee.

2.2 Unfortunately it became apparent after the date of the Committee that due to postal delays several objectors had not received the papers in time and had consequently been denied an opportunity to participate in the process. For information the papers were only received on the 16 March whilst the Committee met on the 14 March. It is understood that there are two reasons for this failure, the incorrect posting of the papers as low priority mail rather than first class, and secondly the poor level of service from the mail provider.

2.3 Following the notification of the problem the Chairman, Local Member and Officers met with some residents and a Parish representative to discuss both the process and the issues raised within the report. It was felt by those attending the meeting that it would be appropriate for the matter to be reconsidered so that interested parties could make their views known in person to the Committee.

2.4 It is also the case that the initial report, copy attached, contained a factual error relating to the views of the Parish Council. In paragraph 3.1 of the report it was suggested that two Parish Councillors had objected when in fact the objection had been on behalf of the entire Parish Council. 2.5 It will be necessary to suspend the County Council’s Procedure Rules as set out in Rule 22.1 in order to allow the Committee to reconsider the attached report within six months of a previous decision.

2.6 Rule 22.1 requires at least one half of the Members entitled to vote to agree to this course of action.

3.0 Recommendation and Reasons

3.1 That the Committee agrees to the suspension of the County Council’s Procedure Rules as set out in Rule 22.1 of the Constitution in order to allow the Committee to reconsider the attached report.

Background Papers

Correspondence in Office File
Report to Highways Committee on 14 March 2007 Item No A4.
Copies of correspondence have been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Contact: Dave Wafer Tel: 0191 383 3442

Attachments

 Item 2.pdf