EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT

PART 1

HIGHWAYS NETWORK AGENCY REVIEW - MEMBER

LIAISON WITH DISTRICT COUNCILS

1. A key issue in relation to the development of the new arrangements for the management of the County Council's highway network is the need for close contact and liaison with the district councils. The new management arrangements begin to take effect from 1 May and it is necessary, therefore, to put in place now the framework within which local highway matters will be discussed and developed between the County Council and each district council.

2. It is proposed that formal liaison arrangements be established with each district council and accordingly it is necessary to revise the Constitution to take those into account. All of the County Councillors whose County Electoral Divisions fall within the area of the district in question will be involved; the districts will be asked to appoint an equal number of district councillors in each case. A lead member to chair meetings will be nominated for each district by the Executive Member for Environment from among the County Councillors. Meetings would take place twice a year on dates to be agreed in advance but timed so as to allow full discussion and review of programmes. It is envisaged that the district councils would normally host meetings. The modus operandi has yet to be settled in detail but the terms of reference for approval by the Council are:

(i) To receive reports on highway management topics and programmes, to offer advice and recommendations to the Highway Unit Manager and to monitor and review highway management activities;


(ii) To receive reports on the implementation of traffic management schemes in the Area Transport Strategy programmes relating to that district, to monitor and review progress on those schemes and offer advice and recommendations as appropriate to the relevant project managers.


The Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 exclude arrangements of this nature from proportionality requirements.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Part 1: Chapter 10 of the Constitution be revised by the addition of the following section to establish Highway Management Advisory Panels and that the terms of reference set out above be approved:-

Keith B. Estlin

Executive Member for Environment

8ER15302