The Chair introduced the item and members were asked to give consideration to two further areas of spend identified by officers:

1.  David Rees drew members’ attention to section 2.4.1 and asked Members to consider spending £20,000 for speed warning signs to enable speed data to continue to be captured.

Councillor R Abbey questioned whether the Police should be liable for providing funding for speed signs.

David Rees clarified that the police do not have the resources to provide speed signs, but they could work with the Council to target specific areas.

Councillor Chris Blakeley stated that he was opposed to spending £20,000 for speed data, as data figures could often be misleading.

Councillor R Abbey agreed and stated that he opposed spending £20,000 on data for data’s sake.

Councillor L Fraser stated that money could be better spent.

David Rees stated that the Police would welcome the data to enable more proactive targeting of enforcement activity at locations where public concern has already been expressed.

Councillor R Abbey stated that the data would not provide the Police with any more information.

Councillor C Blakeley stated that the Council was here to provide road safety, not data. Therefore 25% of the fund should not be spent on data collection.

Councillor C Blakeley proposed discarding the £20,000 allocation for data collection.

The motion to discard the £20,000 funding for data collection was put and won (8:1)

Resolved- That the £20,000 allocated funding for data collection be discarded.

David Rees drew members’ attention to section 2.4.2 and asked members to consider spending £3,500 for additional cycleway signs and associated markings on the footway.

Councillor R Abbey questioned whether the signs were going to be enforceable and argued that they would have limited effect if not.

David Rees clarified that these would be advisory signs and that the Police stated that they would help them to police the area, but would not be enforceable.

Councillor C Blakeley asked why the Police couldn’t pay for this signage.

David Rees clarified that highways were the responsibility of the Council and therefore should be funded by the Council.

Councillor A Jones highlighted that there had been resurgence in bike usage and a revival in the bike culture and therefore he supported the funding.

Councillor R Abbey stated that there was a bigger issue over how the Council is managing signage and asked Emma Degg to speak to the relevant Officers regarding his concerns.

Emma Degg confirmed that the relevant Officers would be informed of Cllr R Abbey’s request.

The motion to allocate £3,500 funding for additional cycleway signs was put and won (6:4).

Resolved- That the £3,500 allocated funding be spent on additional cycleway signs.

David Rees drew Members’ attention to potential schemes, within each ward, which could be eligible for road safety funding. 

1.  Leasowe and Moreton East Ward

Members discussed the potential schemes in Appendix 1.

Resolved – That £1,600 be awarded to Pine Tree Grove/ Chapelhill Road, £5,500 for Blackhealth Road and £5,400 for Sandbrook Lane/Chapehill Road area.

2.  Liscard Ward

Members discussed the potential schemes in Appendix 2.

Resolved – That £10,000 be awarded to the corner of Marlowe Road, approached from Mill Lane.

3.  Moreton West & Saughall Massie Ward

Members discussed the potential schemes Appendix 3.

Resolved – That £7,000 be awarded to Bermuda Road and £7,000 to Saughall Road.

4.  New Brighton Ward

Members discussed the potential schemes Appendix 4.

Resolved – That £10,000 be awarded to Seabank Road /Vaughan Road/ Ormiston Road and £7,000 to Rowson Street.

5.  Seacombe Ward

Members discussed the potential schemes Appendix 5.

Resolved – That £7,000 be awarded to Wheatland Lane.

6.  Wallasey Ward

Members discussed the potential schemes Appendix 6.

Resolved – That £13,000 be awarded to Claremount Road and £1,600 to Claremount Road/ Taunton Road.