Issue - meetings

(i)       note the outcomes of the survey work and data collection done to date, but that due to lockdown restrictions remaining in place until recently (16th of April for Level 3 and 17th of May Level 2) only limited data was available by the committee report deadline;

(ii)       note that the data collection has continued to show increased levels of pedestrians and cyclists using recreational routes and recreational destinations;

(iii)      note the recommendations from the Director of Public Health for NHS Grampian that due to the improved public health position and significant vaccination coverage that once the city moves to Level 0 of the Scottish Government’s route map, that NHS Grampian would support the phasing out of the neighbourhood interventions at Rosemount, Torry and George Street;

(iv)      note that research is being undertaken by the Scottish Government into the need to maintain physical distancing which is expected to report later in the summer;

(v)      note continued 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 emergency services to ensure that the interventions do not impact on their service provision;

(vi)      note the instructions from City Growth and Resources in relation to the City Centre Masterplan reviews, the BHS and Market Buildings proposals as well as their relationship with Spaces for People measures, and that these are due to be reported to City Growth and Resources Committee in August;

(vii)     note the recommendations of the Low Emission Zone report, presented to this committee;

(viii)    instruct the Chief Officers of Strategic Place Planning, Capital and Operations and Protective Services that in the context of the above to maintain the current interventions at this time but after the city moves to Level 0 that work commences on removal of the neighbourhood interventions; and

(ix)      instruct the Chief Officers of Capital and Operations and Protective Services following consultation with the convener of City Growth and Resources, to agree the sequencing of the removals based on the timetable provided below, that timetable being three weeks to initiate works post instruction, and approximately 13 weeks to remove the interventions;

(x)      note that in relation to current interventions, that the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services would investigate the possibility of improving parking in the proximity of the Art Gallery for Blue Badge holders; and

(xi)      note that officers would engage with local Ward Members prior to the removal of the neighbourhood interventions.

With reference to article 12(ii) of the minute of the previous meeting of 11 May 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which outlined the current situation with respect to COVID-19 pandemic and to make recommendations in relation to the current Spaces for People interventions.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the outcomes of the survey work and data collection done to date, but that due to lockdown restrictions remaining in place until recently (16th of April for Level 3 and 17th of May Level 2) only limited data was available by the committee report deadline;

(b)      note that the data collection has continued to show increased levels of pedestrians and cyclists using recreational routes and recreational destinations;

(c)      note the recommendations from the Director of Public Health for NHS Grampian that due to the improved public health position and significant vaccination coverage that once the city moves to Level 0 of the Scottish Government’s route map, that NHS Grampian would support the phasing out of the neighbourhood interventions at Rosemount, Torry and George Street;

(d)      note that research is being undertaken by the Scottish Government into the need to maintain physical distancing which is expected to report later in the summer;

(e)      note continued 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 emergency services to ensure that the interventions do not impact on their service provision;

(f)       note the instructions from City Growth and Resources in relation to the City Centre Masterplan reviews, the BHS and Market Buildings proposals as well as their relationship with Spaces for People measures, and that these are due to be reported to City Growth and Resources Committee in August;

(g)      note the recommendations of the Low Emission Zone report, presented to this committee;

(h)      instruct the Chief Officers of Strategic Place Planning, Capital and Operations and Protective Services that in the context of the above to maintain the current interventions at this time but after the city moves to Level 0 that work commences on removal of the neighbourhood interventions; and

(i)       instruct the Chief Officers of Capital and Operations and Protective Services following consultation with the convener of City Growth and Resources, to agree the sequencing of the removals based on the timetable provided below, that timetable being three weeks to initiate works post instruction, and approximately 13 weeks to remove the interventions.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to approve the recommendations;

(ii)       to note that in relation to current interventions, that the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services would investigate the possibility of improving parking in the proximity of the Art Gallery for Blue Badge holders; and

(iii)      to note that officers would engage with local Ward Members prior to the removal of the neighbourhood interventions.