Agenda item

CABINET RESOLVED to note the action taken in respect of the following petitions presented to full Council:

          PETITION TO SAVE THE SCOTT CLOSE RECREATION GROUND            AND RESTORE ITS PLAY EQUIPMENT            

This petition had been presented to Council on 14 October 2009 by Councillor Wilkinson.

The Council’s Neighbourhood Manager, South, had confirmed that the South team Neighbourhood Officer visited the area on 20^th October and had held discussions with residents. They said that they had heard that the land was to be developed for housing and that the area would then be opened up into Harlton Close allowing through access, which was why the majority of the residents of Harlton Close had signed the petition. Residents said that they would prefer if play equipment was put back and the access from Scott Close only to remain, but the officer felt that the main motivation was to ensure that the current situation of no access to Harlton Close from the recreation area remained the same.

There were a number of alleys in the surrounding area and there was an unsuccessful petition request from the residents of Harlton Close and some of the surrounding streets the previous year to have the alley from Harlton Close to Newborn Close closed. Further investigation with the Planning department had not substantiated any plans to develop this land for housing. Section 106 funds totalling £32,000 had been spent on play equipment at Byron Close and Park Farm and the remaining funds had been earmarked for a proposed Skate Park and Youth Shelter in nearby areas of Stanground. There were no current plans to re-install play equipment at Scott Close.

(Cabinet asked that a process be put in place to ensure that members were kept fully informed at all stages of progress on this and other petitions.)

          PETITION TO SAVE THE 403 & 413 BUS SERVICES

This petition had been presented to Council on 14 October 2009 by Councillor Lamb.

The interim Head of Environment, Transport & Engineering had responded to Councillor Lamb advising her that the Executive Director, Operations was due to meet with Councillor Hiller and Teresa Wood, Group Manager for Transport and Sustainable Environment, to discuss the results of the consultation and the proposals emerging from this. He advised that it was proposed to implement the Call Connect service in two phases. The proposal was to initially implement phase one to the west of the Peterborough unitary area. Therefore, for Glinton, it was proposed to retain the 403/413 Local Link service at the current time, perhaps with some timetable changes. Usage of the 403/413 service would be closely monitored to ascertain any increase in passenger numbers. In addition, should the Call Connect service be approved and implemented, it would also be closely monitored to measure its usage prior to any proposals to implement in other areas. A final report on the bus service review would be considered by Cabinet as part of the budget setting discussions.

REASONS

Standing Orders required that Council receive a report about the action taken on petitions.  As the petitions presented in this report had been dealt with by Cabinet Members or officers it was appropriate for the action to be reported in this way so that it could be presented in the Executive’s report to Council.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

The report was presented for monitoring purposes.