Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the evacuation and housekeeping procedure.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 15 Janauary 2024.

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Select Committee considered a draft scope and project plan and received a presentation setting out context and background to the review. The presentation included:

•           Types of unauthorised roadside advertising:

o          Banners and event advertising

o          Fly posting

o          Roadside trailers

o          A Boards

•           Existing Powers and our response

•           Current response

•           Permitted signage

The main issues highlighted and discussed were as follows:

• Defined by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, advertising fell into three main categories:

O Those permitted without requiring consent from the Authority

oThose with deemed consent – 16 categories

o Those which required the express consent of the Local Authority

• A small handful of distribution companies were responsible for flyposting across the Borough

• A Public Space Protection Order could be explored, however, guidance was clear that other options should be actively considered before a PSPO was pursued

• Permission was needed to remove unauthorised advertising on private land

• Signage on roundabouts was assessed by road safety

• Where an event was not on a set date, this would not be covered by deemed consent and express consent would be required through the planning process. Members questioned whether the definition of the duration of an event could be reviewed and agreed that this be explored with planning

• Members felt that there would be merit in providing more information and guidance online

• There had only been 161 requests for service from the public since 1 January 2022 which represented 0.7% when compared to all requests for community safety services during the same period. Flyposting was the main area of concern linked to commercial areas and no complaints relating to banners had been received since 2022 with the introduction of a clearer planning position

With regard to the draft scoping document, Marc Stephenson undertook to seek input from the Officer Traffic Group, Road Safety Team and feed this back to the Select Committee. It was also agreed that the Royal National Institute of the Blind People be asked for comments to be fed back to a future meeting. Members asked that input from planning was sought for the next meeting. The Committee’s final report was scheduled to be presented to Cabinet in September 2024 although it might be possible to bring the reporting date forward.

AGREED that the presentation be noted and the scope and project plan be approved, subject to the above comments.

Consideration was given to the Work Programme.

The next meeting would be held on Monday 11 March 2024.

AGREED that the Work Programme be noted.