Issue - meetings

Reference from the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Placing Objects on the Highway Policy Review

Meeting: 07/08/2018 - Cabinet (Item 4)

4 Placing Objects on the Highway Policy Review PDF 228 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Background:

This report provided a review of the pilot scheme undertaken in Chatham High Street which applied the Placing Objects on the Highway Policy, agreed by the Cabinet in March 2016. The Policy intended to regulate the placing of tables and chairs, A-boards and shop front displays on the highway. The full review of the pilot was set out at sections 3 of the report. The report advised that residents, traders and the Kent Fire and Rescue Service gave positive feedback on the pilot.

The Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the outcome of the pilot on 23 January 2018 and its comments and recommendations were set out at section 4 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed on the proposal to make the scheme permanent in Chatham and was set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

Decision number:	Decision:
	The Cabinet noted the comments and recommendations of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out in section 4 of the report.
	The Cabinet noted the outcome of the review of the trial in Chatham High Street, as set out in section 3 of the report and Appendix 1 to the report.
100/2018	The Cabinet agreed to apply the Placing Objects on the Highway Policy in Chatham High Street, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, on a permanent basis.
101/2018	The Cabinet instructed officers to: a) explore options to reduce the costs of the scheme, as identified in paragraph 9.2 of the report; b) monitor the implementation of the scheme; c) investigate the viability of expanding the scheme across Medway and; to report back the outcomes to the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.

Reasons:

The pilot scheme has been a success in Chatham, improving the visual environment of the high street, allowing the Council to better manage objects placed by shops on the high street, improving access for emergency vehicles, and removing trip hazards. Making the scheme permanent will retain the success of this scheme for the long term and allow officers to investigate scheme improvements as part of the implementation process, including steps to make the scheme more cost neutral.

There may be scope to replicate the successes in Chatham in other areas and high streets in Medway. However, this will be subject to officers investigating the viability of scheme expansion and reporting back once any investigation has been conducted.