Agenda item

With reference to article 10 of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 16 November 2017, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided an update on the actions taken in response to instructions issued by the previous Committee to address road safety concerns for pupils travelling to Lochside Academy.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)       welcome the briefing sessions in May, June and July and in particular the session in June with Police Scotland regarding speeding, and instructs the Director to bring back a report after six months of the school being opened to ensure concerns regarding speeding were being addressed; and

(b)       instruct the Director to continue support to Lochside Academy’s six associated group primary schools with P4-7 and in particular P7 pupils who will continue to transition to Lochside Academy in 2019/20 and during the following school year until 2021/22.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Boulton moved:-

That the Committee:-

(a)   welcome the briefing sessions for May, June and July and in particular the session in June with Police Scotland regarding speeding, and instruct the Director to bring back a report on 17 January 2019 to ensure safety concerns are being addressed; and

(b)   instruct the Director to continue support to Lochside Academy’s six associated group primary schools with P4-7 and in particular P7 pupils who will continue to transition to Lochside Academy in 2019/20 and during the following school year until 2021/22.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Catriona Mackenzie moved as an amendment:-

            That the Committee:-

(i)     welcome the briefing session in May and notes the proposed sessions to be held on June and July.  Further welcomes the proposed session in June with Police Scotland representatives regarding speeding vehicles on the safe routes to school for Lochside Academy and instructs the Director of Operations to bring back a report after six months of the school being opened to ensure concerns regarding speeding vehicles are being addressed;.

(ii)    instruct the Director of Operations to continue support to Lochside Academy’s six associated primary schools with P4-7 and in particular P7 pupils who will transition to Lochside Academy in 2019/20 and during the following school years until 2021/22.

And to recommend to the Operational Delivery Committee that the following are considered -

(iii)      instruct the Chief Officer for Operations and Protective Services to proceed with the installation of a puffin crossing on Cove Road between its junctions with Charleston Road and Cove Crescent using funding from the Lochside Academy Infrastructure capital budget to an estimated cost of £35,000;

(iv)      note the proposed costs of upgrading the path between Charleston Drive and Charleston Crescent and instructs the works be undertaken at the earliest opportunity to meet the opening of Lochside Academy in August this year using funding from the Bus Lane Enforcement – 2019/20;

(v)       instruct the Chief Officer of Operations and Protective Services to proceed with the installation of the lighting along South Loirston Road and commence the flood alleviation works required on that part of the road near to Dunlin Road using funding from the Infrastructure Capital budget to an estimated cost of £5,000;

(vi)      note that as a Planning Condition works were required to provide a formalised path between West Tullos Road and Abbotswell Crescent near the Northsound Radio building.  Further notes that this Condition formed part of the safe walking routes to Lochside Academy for pupils attending the school from Torry and Kincorth and that this has been superseded by the decision to provide subsidised transport for pupils attending the school from Torry and Kincorth.  Instructs the Director of Operations to take no further action in progressing these works meantime and offer a saving of £15,000 to £20,000;

(vii)    instruct the Director of Operations to implement the provision of Pedestrian Guard Railing along the stretch of Wellington Road, between Charleston Road North and Souterhead Road roundabout identified as part of the Safe Routes to School from pupils attending Lochside Academy from the Cove, Charleston and Lochinch areas using funding from the Lochside Academy Infrastructure capital budget;

(viii)   instruct the Chief Officer Operations and Protective Services to urgently undertake a review of the safe routes to school for pupils attending Lochside Academy from the Altens area of the catchment and in particular the arrangements for them to cross Souterhead Road safely;

And to recommend that the Operational Delivery Committee refer the matter to the City Growth and Resources Committee to -

(ix)   instruct the Director of Operations to confirm and identify the necessary funding to give effect to these instructions.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Donnelly, Imrie, Laing, Macdonald and Malik; for the amendment (10) – Councillors Flynn, Greig, Henrickson, Catriona Mackenzie, McLellan, Nicoll, Mrs Brock, Mr O’Riordan, Ms Scott and Reverend Steel.  Absent from the division (1) – Mr Murray.

The Committee resolved to:-

approve the amendment.