UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE

TRANSPORT POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE

7 November 2006

MINUTES

Chair / Professor Temple, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Resources)
Present / Ms Akinde, Mr Banks, Mr Barnard, Mr Nightingale, Dr Rich, Dr Sellens, Mrs Totman, Mr Wakeman
Apologies / Mr Blackshaw, Ms Brook, Ms Harrup
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None / 75/06
STARRING OF AGENDA ITEMS
Noted / The unstarred item on the agenda was deemed to have been received and approved by Committee. / 76/06
MINUTES
Approved / Minutes of the 6 July 2006 meeting amended to note that Mrs Totman was in attendance. / 77/06
2020 TRAVEL PLAN CLUB REPORT
Received
Noted / The report from Ms Brook was received.
Mr Wakeman reported that he had received a complaint from one of his members regarding buses travelling at excessive speed on Boundary Road. Mr Nightingale reported that Ms Brook has re-contacted the bus companies to raise this with them. In addition, arrangements were being made for Patrol Staff to use the University’s radar gun on Boundary Road at irregular intervals in order to act as a deterrent to potential speeders. / 78/06
79/06
CAR PARKING REGISTRATION AND INCOME 2006/07
Noted
Action / As at 31 October 2006 registration was 519 lower compared to the full registration year 2005/06. This was predominantly due to a reduction in the number of 3rd year undergraduate and postgraduates registering. The number of 1st and 2nd year undergraduates registering had both increased.
It was noted that there were currently no income figures available but these would be presented to the next meeting.
The Chair identified three groups of drivers that could not easily be accommodated within the existing structure for parking registration without being severely disadvantaged by the charging mechanisms:-
1. Members of the general public who wished to use the Sports Centre during the working day.
2. Volunteers providing support for the families of overseas students.
3. Students in the HHS department who were on work placements which could be at unsocial hours. It was noted this category might also include some graduate students.
It was agreed that Mr Nightingale would discuss the Sports Centre users with the Director of the Sports Centre and establish an appropriate way for reimbursing users through the Sports Centre. With regard to volunteers Mr Nightingale was requested to investigate ways of reimbursement similar to the arrangements that already exist for Talking Newspaper members. Mr Nightingale reported that negotiations were underway with B&Q to try and find an arrangement for HHS students to park at their store in Lightship Way and this would continue.
Mr Nightingale to pursue the ongoing initiatives and circulate Committee with the subsequent proposals. / 80/06
81/06
82/06
83/06
84/06

UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX TRANSPORT POLICY CO-ORDINATOR

Noted / Mr Nightingale reported that following advertisement a shortlist of candidates had now been identified and they would be interviewed on 20 November 2006. / 85/06
TRANSPORT RELATED PROJECTS FOR FUNDING FROM YEAR 2006/07
Noted
Action / The list of projects previously identified had now been amended as requested by the last meeting.
Mr Nightingale reported that the scheme for the provision of a motorcycle parking shelter at North Towers together with a way of securing motorbikes had been requested to be expedited by a member of staff. The Committee agreed that no further projects could be afforded in the current year and therefore all projects would be discussed at the next meeting when funds available for 2006/07 would be known.
Details of any further schemes to be advised to Ms Brook or Mr Nightingale for addition to the list along with schemes identified as Long Term Maintenance projects for 2006/07. / 86/06
87/06
88/06
STAFF/STUDENT TRANSPORT QUERIES
Noted
Agreed
Noted
Noted
Noted / Mr Nightingale reported that he had received a request for the barrier on Boundary Road to be raised for cyclists towing a child buggy. He advised Committee that similar requests in the past had not been supported because of the risk from motor vehicles tailgating cyclists.
The restriction on the barrier being raised for cyclists to remain.
Mr Nightingale reported that complaints had also been received regarding shrubs and trees overhanging footpaths leading to the campus. It was noted that work to maintain these footpaths was not the responsibility of the University but Mr Nightingale would pursue this in the appropriate forum with the relevant local authorities.
Mr Nightingale reported that he had been approached by Wivenhoe Town Council regarding the University contributing towards the construction of a cycle path between Wivenhoe and the campus running parallel to the existing highway. The University had previously indicated its support for this project and once a scheme was designed and the land acquired would look favourably towards providing some funding for the project.
Mr Nightingale reported that the North Towers barrier controlled car park did not appear to be used to capacity at the present time. He was in the process of investigating whether or not the area allocated to the barrier controlled could be reduced. / 89/06
90/06
91/06
92/06
93/06
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Noted / Mr Banks reported that he had received complaints that there have been an abnormal number of incidents where vehicles in the car parks have been damaged. He enquired whether statistics as to the number of damaged vehicles were available. Mr Nightingale reported that statistics for the number of damaged vehicles were available although the relevance depended on reports being made to the Information Desk for recording in the Security Occurrence Book. / 94/06
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Noted / Tuesday, 27 February 2007, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm, in Room 4N.6.10A (Estate Management Meeting Room) / 95/06