Redevelopment of Frideswide Square in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.

On 15 October CEB agreed - To include within the Legal Agreement with the County Council the arrangements for the maintenance and management of Frideswide Square and to delegate to the Executive Director Community Services the responsibility for agreeing such maintenance and management arrangements.

The Head of City Development has submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) to agree a response to the County Council’s consultation on its detailed design proposals for Frideswide Square.

Cllr Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy, Economic Development and Planning presented the report. He explained that Oxfordshire County Council’s proposal was for cyclist to share the space with the other users rather than having designated cycle lanes. The City Council was negotiating with the County that part of the pavement be marked for cyclist use.

Cllr Fooks asked that the Council keep pushing the County for separate cycling lanes.

Cllr Tanner said that the published County report for next week’s meeting did not propose marking the pavement for cyclist. He asked that the City lobby hard for a change in the proposal and that the City consider not contributing some of the city’s funds unless a compromise is made.

The Head of City Development said that the draft legal agreement had not been signed, so the city was not contractually committed to providing any funding. Cllr Price asked that the maintenance and management of Frideswide Square be included in the legal agreement.

Cllr Brown asked if there was any scope in reviewing the timing of the work, as there are a lot of roadworks happening in the city at the moment and we don’t want to compound the traffic problems.

The City Executive Board resolved to:    

1. Express support for the County Council’s aspiration to achieve a high quality design for Frideswide Square, which strikes a balance between open spaces and excessive definition and clutter.

2. Ask the County Council to give further consideration to the following important points in formulating its final design:

·         Clearer differentiation of the shared space routes through the use of colour and specific surfacing materials which will improve the clarity of the designation of shared spaces for cyclists and pedestrians and make the Square user friendly for all groups.

·         Adequate parking and loading bay provision is allowed for traders and businesses in the Square. Proper provision for taxis moving through the Square.

·         The development of an approach to signage that is shared and agreed with the City Council

·         The establishment of an agreed formal structure for the management and control of events and activities in the Square.

·         Engaging artistic and design support for the lamp columns and other important street furniture, and the preparation of a strategy for the lighting of the Square.

·         Re-locating the Ox sculpture that is currently at the side of the Said Business School

·         The retention of some form of water feature on the North side of the Square

·         That a two lane cycle lane be added.

·         That consideration is given to proper phasing of the work, to cause the least disruption possible.

3. To include within the Legal Agreement with the County Council the arrangements for the maintenance and management of Frideswide Square and to delegate to the Executive Director Community Services the responsibility for agreeing such maintenance and management arrangements.