Issue - meetings

(i)       to note the outcomes of the survey work and data collection done to date and that due to moving into lockdown it has not been possible to collect meaningful data or undertake surveys over late December and January to feed into the report;

(ii)       to note that where data collection has been possible it has shown a significant increase in pedestrians and cyclists using recreational routes and recreational destinations;

(iii)      to note the recommendations from the Director of Public Health for NHS Grampian that the interventions should remain in place, particularly in light of the new more transmissible variant;

(iv)      to note support from both Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue in relation to the interventions, in particular that council officers continue to work with the emergence services to ensure that the interventions in no way impact on their service provision;

(v)      to note that Sustrans have confirmed that the funding for the maintenance and removal of the interventions can be carried forward beyond the May deadline; and

(vi)      to instruct the Chief Officers of Strategic Place Planning, Capital and Operations that in the context of the above, and the current lockdown, to maintain the current interventions and to circulate Service Updates or report back as necessary to the next appropriate Committee on the requirement for the measures to remain in place.

With reference to article 15 of the minute of the previous meeting of 28 October 2020, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which provided an update on the temporary urban realm works, and recommended the next steps in continuing to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)      note the outcomes of the survey work and data collection done to date and that due to moving into lockdown it has not been possible to collect meaningful data or undertake surveys over late December and January to feed into the report;

(b)      note that where data collection has been possible it has shown a significant increase in pedestrians and cyclists using recreational routes and recreational destinations;

(c)      note the recommendations from the Director of Public Health for NHS Grampian that the interventions should remain in place, particularly in light of the new more transmissible variant;

(d)      note support from both Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue in relation to the interventions, in particular that council officers continue to work with the emergence services to ensure that the interventions in no way impact on their service provision;

(e)      note that Sustrans have confirmed that the funding for the maintenance and removal of the interventions can be carried forward beyond the May deadline; and

(f)       instruct the Chief Officers of Strategic Place Planning, Capital and Operations that in the context of the above, and the current lockdown, to maintain the current interventions and to report back to the next CG&R with a update of the requirement for the measures to remain in place.

The Committee received a presentation from Chris Littlejohn, Deputy Director of Public Health, NHS Grampian who provided an update on the pandemic situation within the city.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to approve recommendations (a) to (e); and

(ii)       to instruct the Chief Officers of Strategic Place Planning, Capital and Operations that in the context of the above, and the current lockdown, to maintain the current interventions and to circulate Service Updates or report back as necessary to the next appropriate Committee on the requirement for the measures to remain in place.