AT A MEETING of FAREHAM HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL of Hampshire County Council held at The Civic Offices, Fareham Borough Council, Fareham, on Monday 1 July 2002.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); J.V. Bryant; Dr R.J. Ellis; Mrs D.M. Harrison; T.G. Knight; R.H. Price

Fareham Borough Council

Councillors: B. Bayford, P.J. Davies; A. Mandry; D.C.S. Swanbrow; Mrs K.K. Trott

1. PANEL CONSTITUTION AND PURPOSE

The Panel considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 1 in the Minute Book) detailing the Terms of Reference for the Fareham Highway Management Advisory Panel.

In response to a request from Fareham Borough Council Members, the Chairman stated he was willing to allow the Borough Council to appoint deputies for the meetings. However he advised that it would not be the County Council's intention to do the same.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

2. BLUEPRINT PROGRESS AND AREA SOUTH ORGANISATION

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 2 in the Minute Book) on the progress of Blueprint, including progress within the districts and areas, the issues of traffic management and development control and searches and in addition the details of the organisation of the newly created Area South.

Following the agency arrangements for highway maintenance in Fareham, Gosport and Havant ending on 1 May 2002, the County Surveyor advised that 23 staff had been transferred from Fareham, Gosport and Havant Borough Councils to Hampshire County Council. The remaining vacancies were currently being filled.

Concern was expressed by Members that the public might find the new arrangements confusing, the out-of-hours service was cited as an example. The County Surveyor confirmed that for highway emergencies the system remained the same, although a new system for Area South was being trialled. Calls made to the Police would be relayed to a contractor appointed by the County Council. Fareham Members requested that details of the emergency service be supplied for inclusion on the Borough Council's website. The Chairman requested that the system be monitored until October.

An offer had been made to the district councils to enter into an agreement on the delivery of the Traffic Management function, which would be in accordance with the existing arrangements. Although Fareham Borough Council had previously indicated their support, the Fareham Members pointed out that it had been made subject to the satisfactory resolution of some detailed issues and a copy of the draft agreement was still awaited. The County Surveyor confirmed the document would be available very soon. The Chairman stressed that there should be a common standard for all the areas across Hampshire.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

3. ASSESSMENT OF THE HIGHWAY CONDITION IN HAMPSHIRE

The Panel considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 3 in the Minute Book) outlining the systematic approach currently in place to assess the condition of the highway network in Hampshire and the changes required to the condition assessment arrangements due to the County Council's Best Value Review, the implementation of the National United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) and the recently launched National Code of Practice `Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance'.

The County Surveyor explained that general highway inspections were carried out routinely and sites identified for larger scale planned maintenance work. These sites were then submitted for a more detailed condition assessment called Highway Assessment Maintenance Priorities (HAMP) to be carried out by the County's Highways Laboratory. All schemes were assigned a rating score and from this a list was compiled identifying the ones most in need.

In response to Fareham Borough Council's concerns that continual small scale remedial or emergency repairs might keep a scheme from being rated more highly, the County Surveyor assured the Members that every endeavour was made for ratings to be allocated prior to works being carried out and would then remain in the three year rolling programme.

The Chairman suggested that a further presentation could be arranged to assist Members in understanding the nature of the work carried out.

Fareham Borough Council expressed disappointment at the level of funding for the current year. The Chairman agreed that it had been slightly below the Standard Spending Assessment level but he hoped that this would improve in the following years.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

4. HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE BUDGET 2002/03

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 4 in the Minute Book) outlining the Highways Maintenance budget county-wide and the specific budget and programme of work for Fareham.

The officers amplified the report and answered Members' detailed questions on the budget, street lighting and the maintenance programme.

In response to a Member's request it was agreed that the previous year's budget figures would be included for comparison purposes in the presentation of future Highways Maintenance budget reports.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

5. OTHER NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing the key issues in respect of other Network Management programmes.

The County Surveyor reported that the County Council's casualty reduction and safer routes to school programme comprising over 70 schemes per annum had produced encouraging accident reduction and financial rates of return. The results had attracted increased levels of funding from the Department for Transport. It was emphasised that the schemes included were prioritised on the basis of police recorded injury accident results and that to qualify for extra funding the targets for lower accident rates had to be met. The report set out details of six schemes within the Fareham area.

Schools were being encouraged to participate in the Safer Routes to School Programme. The Chairman advised it was his intention to give priority to those schools which had submitted School Travel Plans.

In respect of the Pedestrian Crossing Programme, Members' requests for schemes would be considered in accordance with the agreed procedures. However their ultimate inclusion would be dependent on meeting the necessary criteria.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

6. FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME 2002/03

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Planning and Transportation for Fareham Borough Council (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the traffic management programme for 2002/03 to be undertaken by Fareham Borough Council.

In response to a Member's question, the Director of Planning and Transportation (Fareham Borough) advised that requests for schemes to be included in the programme were assessed for priority and would normally be undertaken within two to three years.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

7. STATUS REPORT ON OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED CAPITAL SCHEMES

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the key issues in respect of other highway related capital schemes.

The County Surveyor introduced the report which referred to the South Hampshire Transportation Strategy Schemes, Home Zone and the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas.

Concern was expressed that Hill Road, Portchester was still on the list of schemes. The Director of Planning and Transportation (Fareham) explained there were a series of options being considered and the public's views were currently being taken into account. The Chairman advised that it was presently the subject of a project appraisal. It was suggested that the public should be advised of the reason for the delay.

In respect of the Home Zone scheme, Councillor Price requested that Jubilee Road be considered for inclusion.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

8. (A) SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE CYCLE STRATEGY AND PRIORITY
ASSESSMENT

(B) A27 PORTCHESTER ROAD (DELME ROUNDABOUT TO
BEAULIEU AVENUE), FAREHAM - CYCLEWAY PROVISION,
FOOTWAY, PEDESTRIAN/CYCLE CROSSING AND STREET
LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 8 in the Minute Book). Part A detailed the current position in respect of a review of the Cycle Networks and Strategy in the South East Hampshire Transport Area. Part B detailed the policy context and objectives for the A27 Portchester Road, Fareham scheme.

The County Surveyor explained that a review of the Cycle Networks and Strategy in the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy (SEHTS) area including a priority assessment of proposed routes had recently commenced and outlined the current position as contained in Part A of the report.

In respect of the A27 Portchester Road Cycleway Provision, Footway Pedestrian/ Cycle Crossing and Street Lighting Improvements the County Surveyor advised that the A27 Scheme with its benefits for both cyclists and pedestrians was the type of scheme favoured by the Government. Surveys had indicated that 500-700 cyclists a day use the route.

The Chairman expressed his concerns that there should be a substantial increase in the number of cyclists to justify the cost of the scheme. Although the Members were also concerned about the number of additional cyclists it would attract, they advised that the present facilities between Delme Arms roundabout and Shearwater Avenue were of poor quality and the proposed improvement, which would provide a safer route to school, was the type of scheme needed to encourage more cyclists and pedestrians to use it. Hence, Members supported implementation of the scheme. They also recognised the provision of a new cycleway between Shearwater Avenue and Beaulieu Avenue would be beneficial.

Officers confirmed that the scheme would not prejudice the potential for bus lanes on the A27. The County Council's position on the request by local residents for a right turn into Shearwater Avenue would be clarified in the A27 Portchester Road Project Appraisal.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed A27 cycleway, footway and street lighting improvements be supported.

9. CARTWRIGHT DRIVE, SEGENSWORTH - REQUEST FOR PROVISION OF EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES BY THE BRITISH HORSE SOCIETY

The Panel considered a report by the County Surveyor (Item 9 in the Minute Book) concerning a request from the British Horse Society for equestrian facilities along Cartwright Drive, Segensworth

Members expressed the opinion that there was no safe provision for horses arriving at the A27 and bringing horses to the A27 was not to be encouraged. It was considered that the appropriate time to consider the request would be when Fareham Borough Council conducts its Local Plan Review 2006-2011.

RESOLVED:

10. DATE, TIME AND VENUE FOR NEXT MEETING

The date of the next meeting of the Panel was confirmed for Thursday 24 October 2002 at 9.00 a.m. at the Civic Offices, Fareham Borough Council.

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