Agenda item

Colour copies have been circulated separately

With reference to Article 21 of the minute of its meeting of 5 March 2014, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which advised of the result of the transportation assessment and traffic modelling undertaken for the City Centre Masterplan interventions for Broad Street, Schoolhill/Upperkirkgate, Golden Square, Bon Accord Square, Schoolhill Pocket Park and Queen Street.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          agree the outcomes of the transportation and traffic modelling of the above named City Centre Masterplan interventions;

(b)          agree that the preferred option for Broad Street is a bus and cyclist only route between Upperkirkgate and Queen Street and instruct officers to undertake the necessary statutory procedures for the Traffic Regulation Order, reporting back to the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee on the outcomes;

(c)          note the public transport mitigations identified as necessary along Union Terrace to support the preferred option for Broad Street and instruct officers to develop a traffic management plan for Union Terrace and report back to elected members at the first possible opportunity;

(d)          instruct officers to engage with Muse with a view to developing a preferred design and layout for Broad Street and to report back to members as soon as practically possible for approval, and agree that Muse be appointed to undertake the design and construction on the Council’s behalf subject to the costs being monitored by officers on an ‘open book’  basis;

(e)          agree that Castlegate should not be reopened to traffic and Queen Street should not be opened to through traffic at the junction of West North Street; and

(f)           instruct officers to develop and consult on options for Golden Square, Schoolhill Pocket Park and Castlegate and return to members with a full business case including engagement outcomes, a preferred option, detailed design and costs, any Traffic Regulation Order implications and proposed time line/resources for implementation.

Councillor Laing moved, seconded by Councillor Taylor:-

That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report.

Councillor Boulton moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Thomson:-

            That the Council -

(1)      note the outcomes of the transportation assessment and traffic modelling undertaken for the City Centre Masterplan interventions for Broad Street, Schoolhill/Upperkirkgate, Golden Square, Bon Accord Square, Schoolhill Pocket Park, Castlegate and Queen Street;

(2)      instruct officers to revoke with immediate effect the temporary traffic order stopping traffic from Virginia Street entering Guild Street and adjust traffic light sequences as necessary;

(3)      instruct officers to revoke with immediate effect the temporary traffic order stopping traffic on Broad Street and adjust traffic light sequences as necessary;

(4)      instruct officers to engage with Muse with a view to developing detailed designs for the layout of Broad Street, on the basis of:-

(a)   status quo (full vehicle access)

(b)   public transport and bicycle only access

(c)    full pedestrianisation;

(5)      agree that all of the above options be designed with the opportunity for Broad Street to be closed so it may be transformed into an event ready space for special events/occasions - and report back to the Council meeting on 2 March 2016 for approval. All options will be subject to public consultation;

(6)      agree that a structured approach to city centre public realm works is required and that full traffic modelling is required for all public realm works identified in the Masterplan before any decision of full/part pedestrianisation is taken by Council; and to instruct officers to report back with traffic modelling, timelines and options to the Council meeting on 2 March 2016; and

(7)      agree that all pedestrianisation options go out for full public consultation before final decisions are taken by Council.

Members asked a number of questions of officers, during the course of which it was emphasised that the temporary traffic orders for Broad Street and Trinity Quay had been put in place under delegated powers for road and pedestrian safety reasons.

At this juncture, the Council agreed to suspend Standing Order 22(1) to enable future reports to be submitted to the Council instead of the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee as had been agreed by the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting of 15 September 2015.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (17)  -  Lord Provost; and Councillors Allan, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Lesley Dunbar, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Taylor and Young.

For the amendment  (25)  -  Depute Provost; and Councillors Boulton, Cameron, Copland, Corall, Cormie, Delaney, Dickson, Donnelly, Jackie Dunbar, Finlayson, Flynn, Greig, Hutchison, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Thomson, Townson and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Malone.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the amendment.

            In accordance with Standing Order 15(6), Councillor Milne intimated his dissent against the foregoing decision.