Agenda item

2022 Commonwealth Games - Sandwell Aquatics Centre - Management and Operation of Highways for Commonwealth Games

To approve Concurrent Powers for Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders and Notices to enable safe and efficient operation of the highways during the Commonwealth Games.

 

Minutes:

It was reported that West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) had been appointed by the Secretary of State to produce the Games Transport Plan. In order to enable a successful Games, a number of traffic management measures would be required at all the venues across the region and partners were working closely to ensure the network operated as an integrated whole. 

 

Approval was sought to sign a Concurrent Powers consent letter with the West Midlands Combined Authority to allow them to make related Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders to enable safe and efficient operation of the highways during the Commonwealth Games over a period of up to 4 weeks from mid-July 2022 to mid-August 2022. 

 

Approval was also sought to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with WMCA to identify and quantify the network management requirements to be delivered and implemented on the Games Route Network (GRN) to enable safe and efficient operation of the relevant highways during the Commonwealth Games.      

 

 

Reason for Decision

                 

In order to enable a successful Games, a number of traffic management measures would be required at all the venues across the region and partners were working closely to ensure the network operated as an integrated whole. 

 

Although in normal circumstances Sandwell would undertake the necessary legal requirements to bring about Games Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders and issue Games Temporary Traffic Regulation Notices required for the Aquatics Centre venue, during the Games it was possible that there would be scenarios where, due to unforeseen circumstances, TTROs/TTRNs were required at exceptionally short notice (for example, on a Sunday or overnight).

 

To guard against this risk it was requested that TfWM should have the ability to exercise concurrent powers, as outlined in the Games Act 2020, in consultation with the local Highway Authority, if the need arose. 

 

The successful management of the West Midlands road network was critical to the success of the Commonwealth Games. During the Games the road network including the Games Route Network  would need to function efficiently to balance the travel movement priorities of athletes, other Games family and spectators with minimal disruption to businesses, residents and background users of the network.

        

                  Alternative Options Considered

                 

The only alternative option available was not to sign the concurrent powers agreement letter. Consequently, if during the Games a scenario occurred where TTROs/TTRNs were required at exceptionally short notice to allow the games to continue without interruption (e.g. on a weekend or overnight), then the local authority may not have the resources to implement these within the required emergency timeframes.

 

The WMCA would have the resources available at very short notice to coordinate the required emergency activity on the GRN and across local authority boundaries, in consultation with the relevant Highway Authorities.  In addition, this would also result in reputational harm as the only relevant Highway Authority not to enter into the wider agreement to help facilitate the operation of the Commonwealth Games.

 

Not entering into a Memorandum of Understanding would miss the opportunity to agree the mechanisms for efficient functioning of the Games Route network during the games period. This could result in competitors and officials being delayed and potentially missing or delaying programmed events. This would inevitably result in widespread reputational harm.


 

 

                           Agreed:-

 

(1)          that approval be given to sign a Concurrent Powers consent letter with the West Midlands Combined Authority to allow them to make related Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders to enable safe and efficient operation of the highways during the Commonwealth Games over a period of up to 4 weeks from mid-July 2022 to mid-August 2022, dates to be specified in the agreement;

 

(2)          that approval be given to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with WMCA to identify and quantify the network management requirements to be delivered and implemented on the Games Route Network to enable safe and efficient operation of the relevant highways during the Commonwealth Games;      

 

(3)          that the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer be authorised to sign both the concurrent powers consent letter and the memorandum of understanding with the West Midlands Combined Authority;

 

(4)          that the (Interim) Director Borough Economy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Connected and Accessible Sandwell, be authorised to make any necessary amendments to the content of the Memorandum of Understanding following completion of any reviews and inspections to the existing highway network and be authorised to agree any necessary amendments to the Concurrent Powers Letter, including the final dates on behalf of the Council.

 

Supporting documents: