AT A MEETING of the LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday 29 January 2002.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); M.S. Geddes; T.G. Knight; R.H. Price, JP;

K.P.J. Searle; W.H. Wheeler.

Portsmouth City Council

Councillors: J. Patey (Vice-Chairman); N. Lacey; P. Shaddock

Fareham Borough Council

Councillors: Mrs D.M. Burton-Jenkins; M.A. Prior; N.J. Walker

Gosport Borough Council

Councillor: Mrs I. Binfield;

1. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman welcomed Members to the inaugural meeting of this Panel and invited Steve Nicholson, SHRT 1 Project Director, to give the Panel an overview of the current situation in respect of the Project.

The Project Director confirmed that the final sign-off from the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to commence the procurement process had been received on 28 January 2002 and the Project Team would now invite expressions of interest from the private sector by advertising the SHRT 1 procurement opportunity in the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEC) at the earliest opportunity. Candidates would have until 25 March to submit specific information in the form of a detailed questionnaire to enable their suitability to be assessed. The four most suitable organisations would then be invited to bid for the SHRT 1 Concession.


2. PRESENTATION ON WIDER SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID

TRANSIT


Members received a very interesting presentation from Tony Ciaburro, Head of Transport Policy in the County Surveyor's Department. The presentation provided Members with facts and figures on passenger transport in South Hampshire. In addition the SHRT concept of creating an integrated network of public transport routes providing a modern, high quality service and a high level of accessibility in key transport corridors was detailed along with the technology involved and a suggested way forward involving an integrated management approach.

3. SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT 1 - URBAN DESIGN AND

LANDSCAPE GUIDANCE


The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor and City Engineer (Item 2 in the Minute Book) following a summary of the report by the County Surveyor. In particular, Members attention was drawn to the points contained within Section 3 of the report. The views of Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council was noted and consultation with the Portsmouth Landscape Architects, commissioned to expand the Urban Design Guide, would continue.

During the ensuing discussions, Members detailed points were noted and reflected in the appended resolutions as appropriate.

RESOLVED:


(i) that the Panel noted the background to the development of an Urban Design and Landscape Guide for the scheme and endorsed the actions taken thus far to progress the matter;


(ii) that the Panel have the opportunity to consult on the Urban Design and Landscape Guide and their comments be sent to the SHRT 1 Project Office by a date to be specified;


(iii) that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Panel agree the Urban Design and Landscape Guide prior to final approval by the Procurement Project Board for the Guide to be included within the contract documents in consultation with officers of the three planning authorities.


4. SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT 1 - CODE OF

CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE

The Committee considered the report of the County Surveyor and City Engineer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) following a summary of the report by the County Surveyor. A full discussion ensued during which the views of Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council was noted and Members questions were answered.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel noted the background to the development of a Code of Construction Practice for the scheme, endorsed the actions taken thus far to investigate whether the Code can be strengthened and authorised the Project Procurement Board to approve a revised Code for inclusion within the contract documents, in consultation with Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council officers.

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