Archived decisions

Contact: Richard Chinn, tel 02380 427000

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers the following issues:

(i) Progress with the implementation of the Highway Network Management Blueprint, including management arrangements in Test Valley and New Forest;

(ii) Traffic Management;

(iii) Development Control and Searches.

2. Blueprint Progress

Background

2.1 During 1999/00 the County Surveyor undertook a pathfinder review of the Highway Network Management Service. The review followed Best Value principles and included a public consultation exercise conducted by MORI. The main findings of the review formed the basis of the Highway Network Management Blueprint which set out a framework for improving the management and delivery of the Highway Network Management service in Hampshire. The following paragraphs summarise progress with the implementation of the Blueprint.

2.2 Highways Unit West

Test Valley and New Forest fall within the area managed by Highways Unit West and Agency arrangements for highway maintenance in Andover ceased on 1 May 2002. No staff transferred from the Borough Council and the County Council has appointed staff to those posts. The target date for ending agency arrangements in New Forest is 1 January 2003, or sooner, depending on discussions with New Forest District Council. Staff will transfer to the County Council on the agreed date. The situation in other parts of the County is as follows.

2.3 Highways Unit North

The target date for ending agency arrangements in Basingstoke is 1 October 2002, at which time staff will transfer from the Borough Council to the County Council. Arrangements with Rushmoor Borough Council are still to be finalised; a transfer date of April 2003 is expected. Highway maintenance in Hart will continue to be provided by the County Council as has been the case historically.

2.4 Highways Unit East

Agency arrangements in Winchester ceased on 1 May 2002 and staff transferred from the City Council to the County Council on that date. As with Hart, highway maintenance in East Hampshire will continue to be provided by the County Council. The target date for ending agency arrangements in Eastleigh is 1 October 2002 at which time staff will transfer from the Borough Council to the County Council.

2.5 Highways Unit South

Agency arrangements for highway maintenance in Fareham, Gosport and Havant ended on 1 May 2002 and district/borough council staff have transferred to the County Council.

Management Arrangements within Highways Unit West

2.6 The new management arrangements within Highways Unit West are centred around the Unit's main office at Totton and local offices at Beech Hurst, Andover and ultimately at Lymington. The service provided by these offices will be badged `Hampshire Highways' followed by `Test Valley' or `New Forest', as appropriate. In total there are 32 posts within the establishment; an organisation chart is attached as Appendix 1.

2.7 The process of `slotting in' and selection for existing staff followed a protocol that was agreed with trade unions and which allowed staff to be placed in the best position according to their experience and work location. The positions of Chief Engineer, two Assistant Chief Engineers and Administration Manager form the Hampshire Highways West Management Team. However, six posts remain unfilled for which the recruitment process has commenced. In addition, given that highways staff currently employed by New Forest District Council will not transfer until later in the year, it will be several months before the organisation can operate at its optimum efficiency.

2.8 All three offices will be staffed to deliver the day to day network management and highway maintenance functions including:

(i) routine maintenance such as pot-hole repairs, minor works, gulley cleaning, drainage etc;

(ii) special maintenance encompassing larger, planned maintenance schemes,

(iii) resurfacing and surface dressing;

(iv) routine highway inspections;

(v) signs and road markings;

(vi) coordination and routine inspection of utility works;

(vii) licences for skips, scaffolding, banners, temporary signs and road openings;

(viii) notices for overhanging vegetation, unauthorised signs, vehicle accesses etc;

(ix) highway status enquiries; and

(x) public and local Member enquiries.

2.9 At Totton additional strategic functions will be carried out including:

(i) detailed highway and utility inspections;

(ii) administration of street lighting faults and repairs;

(iii) coordination and management of winter maintenance and other highway emergencies;

(iv) financial and administrative support and management; and

(v) Member liaison.

2.10 The three offices will work in an integrated way sharing resources and operating across boundaries to deliver priorities. In this regard Assistant Chief Engineers, in addition to their district or borough responsibilities, have strategic functions across the whole of the area.

3. Traffic Management

3.1 The offer has been made to district councils to enter into an agreement on the delivery of the Traffic Management function which would be in accordance with the existing arrangements in the full agency districts. The agreement will include reference to the County Council for reserved matters (see attached schedule- Appendix 2) and issues on County interest roads (see attached map - Appendix 3), together with the agreement of local County Councillors for all traffic management matters (see attached flowchart - Appendix 4).

3.2 A number of districts have indicated support for this arrangement in principle, subject to considering the details of a new legal agreement, whilst from some a response is still awaited.

3.3 In the case of Test Valley, the Borough Council has indicated that it wishes to provide traffic management across the whole of the borough in partnership with the County Council, subject to a formal decision being made. The Borough Council will determine this at a meeting on 17 July 2002 and an oral update will be given at the meeting. It is therefore essential that a coordinated approach is adopted for the delivery of this function and regular liaison meetings will be established with appropriate officers.

4. Development Control and Searches

4.1 An internal service review using Best Value principles is presently under way for the activities that are undertaken as part of the Highway Development Control function. The review will cover the main aspects of work, including land charge searches, major planning applications, minor planning applications, agreements for highway works and contributions, Section 38 Agreements and the Advance Payments Code.

4.2 The work that is being undertaken may ultimately form part of a corporate Development Control Review which could commence in 2003. A Review Group was set up, comprising engineering and planning representatives from the County Council, New Forest District Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council and Winchester City Council. The group also had links to the Hampshire Chief Engineers' Group (HCEG) and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chief Planning Officers' Group (HIPOG). The group is also linked into a Bench Marking Group from other counties in the South of England.

4.3 The first stage of the review was the preparation of scoping papers covering the various topic areas. These were then the subject of a Challenge Day, involving a range of stakeholders, including Councillors representing County and District Councils, developers, consultants, housing associations, district council representatives and design engineers. Following the Challenge Day the scoping papers were then modified to reflect the issues that emerged.

4.4 The Review Group has now been reconstituted to consider the options for delivery of the various activities and to provide enhanced links to both the CEG and HIPOG. Its membership has been reviewed and now includes the Chief Engineers from Test Valley and Eastleigh, replacing those from Hart and New Forest, together with the Head of Development Control from New Forest District Council.

4.5 The second stage work is under way considering various options for delivery and the strengthening of links to the stakeholders. The Executive Member for Environment has asked that this work be completed by September.

4.6 The ongoing work is being reported to both the CEG and HIPOG. On completion reports will be submitted to the County Council's Environment Policy Review Committee and the Executive Member for Environment.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

7237/RC

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