Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer, which advised on the routing of the bus services for pupils accessing Lochside Academy and on the outcome of the tendering exercise for supported bus services for accessing Lochside Academy.

The report recommended:-

a)            to note the routes to be operated by bus services for pupils accessing Lochside Academy;

b)            to note the outcome of the tendering exercise for supported bus services for accessing Lochside Academy;

c)            to instruct the Chief Officer of Strategic Place Planning to provide a Service Update report in July detailing the final routings of First Aberdeen services 3 and 18;

d)            to instruct the Chief Officer for Operations and Protective Services not to progress with a puffin crossing on Cove Road at this time and to arrange for a follow up survey to be undertaken post opening of the school.  The results of which should be reported as a Service Update;

e)            to instruct the Chief Officer for Operations and Protective Services to progress with the implementation of a puffin crossing on Earns Heugh Road in proximity to its junction with Langdykes Road;

f)             to note the proposed costs of upgrading the path between Charleston Drive and Charleston Crescent and if members are of the opinion that the path should be created, it should be referred to the budget process for 2019/20, to appropriate the necessary funds;

g)            to instruct the Chief Officer for Operations and Protective Services to proceed with the installation of the lighting on South Loirston Road;

h)            to note that Core Path 82 will be upgraded as per the planning conditions; and

i)             to instruct the Chief Officer for Operations and Protective Services to progress with implementing the necessary measures on the ground in relation to the loading ban on Wellington Circle.

The referral from Educational Operational Delivery stated that:-

(1)  Instructs 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;

(2)  Notes 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;

(3)  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;

(4)  Notes 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;

(5)  Instructs 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;

(6)  Instructs 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 -

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

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

a)            to note the referral from the Educational Operational Delivery Committee;

b)            to approve recommendation A to E as contained within the report and G to I; and

c)            to replace recommendation F with” to note the proposed costs of upgrading the path between Charleston Drive and Charleston Crescent and instructs officers to carry out the necessary work as per 3.4.3 in the report up to a maximum sum of £40,000 either from within existing budgets or the Council’s Contingency budget.”

Councillor Flynn, seconded by Councillor Jackie Dunbar, moved as an amendment:-

That the Committee agree to accept the terms within the referral from the Education Operational Delivery Committee; and to approve recommendations A, B, C, E, H and I as contained within the report.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Convener and the Vice Convener, and Councillors Lesley Dunbar, Donnelly, Macdonald, Avril MacKenzie and Jennifer Stewart; for the amendment (6) – Councillors Cooke, Delaney, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, MacRae and Nicoll.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the successful motion.