AT A MEETING of the SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORTATION PANEL held at the Civic Offices, Fareham Borough Council on Monday 11 November 2002.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); R.H. Price; K.P.J. Searle; J.D. Wride

Councillor T.G. Knight was also in attendance.

East Hampshire District Council

Councillors: P.E. Bradbury; Mrs D.K. Denston; K. Graham

Fareham Borough Council

Councillors: Mrs D.M. Burton-Jenkins; A. Mandry; Mrs D.R. Harrison; D. Swanbrow; D.J. Murray

Gosport Borough Council

Councillors: I. Binfield; P.R. Edgar; K. Edwards; A.H.G. Hayward

Havant Borough Council

Councillor K. Moss

10. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations made under this item.

11. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

12. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman informed the Panel that the County Planning and Surveyor Departments were currently undergoing a reorganisation. Both departments had merged to become the Environment Department. Mrs Alison Quant had been appointed as the Director of Environment and Mr David Tarrant as Deputy Director. Mr Alan Mills and Mr Merrick Denton-Thompson had been appointed as Assistant Directors for Management and Performance and Innovation respectively. The third vacancy for Design and Implementation had yet to be filled.

13. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

14. STRATEGIC PARK AND RIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE

The Panel received a presentation by Mr Peter Harris of WS Atkins on Strategic Park and Ride opportunities for South East Hampshire. The Park and Ride study began a year ago and the main factors considered prior to a short list of sites being compiled were accessibility, environment, economy, integration and safety. The study had looked at the impact Park and Ride would have on traffic volumes at the various locations and also usage forecasts.

15. SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY - CONSULTATION

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which highlighted the key issues of particular interest to South East Hampshire in respect of the draft Regional Transport Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

16. SOUTH COAST MULTI-MODAL STUDY AND SOUTH HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STUDY

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which updated on the current position regarding the South Coast Multi-Modal and South Hampshire Transport Studies.

The Director of Environment reported that the South East England Regional Assembly's (SEERA) Regional Planning Committee had made its recommendations on the South Coast Multi-Modal study to its Plenary Session of 20 November. Further information from SEERA was awaited. With regard to the South Hampshire Transport study, the second phase was well underway.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

17. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN - ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2002

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the delivery of the Local Transport Plan and the content of the County Council's second Annual Progress Report submitted to the Government Office for the South East and the Department for Transport on 31 July 2002. A formal response was expected during December 2002.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

18. TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME AND SCHEME PROGRESS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) which set out progress on schemes included in the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy programmes until 2005/06.

The Director of Environment reported that assessment work on Cycle Network Priority had been completed. A Study Report was being prepared and due for completion by the end of October 2002. Discussion on the subject planned for the meeting was subsequently deferred until the next meeting of the Panel.

Indications from Government were that only limited funding for major schemes would be available until the second Local Transport Plan began in 2006/07. Under the circumstances the Chairman advised the Panel that they should take the opportunity to indicate their preferred scheme. General consent was given to Stubbington Bypass being the preferred scheme.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that the Stubbington Bypass major scheme be the preferred priority for progression.

19. SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) which updated on progress on the South Hampshire Rapid Transit (SHRT) Light Rail scheme and development of the wider SHRT network. Tender documentation had been issued to the three bidders in June 2002 and bids were due to be returned in December 2002. Selection of the successful bidder would be announced in autumn 2003 and construction was likely to commence in early 2004.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

20. A3 PUBLIC TRANSPORT CORRIDOR

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) which updated on the progress of the current phase of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Network.

The Director of Environment reported that a corridor-specific Quality Bus Partnership was taking shape and was expected to be finalised for signing in early 2003. He also advised that Section 1 of the scheme - Widley to Purbrook was under construction and that a project appraisal for Section 2a - Purbrook Village was likely to be submitted to the Executive Member for Environment in early 2003.

At a previous meeting officers had been requested to re-investigate the bus routes for London Road and Swiss Road. The Director of Environment confirmed that this had been carried out and if available he would circulate draft plans at the SHRT Working Party meeting on 14 November 2002.

RESOLVED:

That progress on the elements of this scheme be noted.

21. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Panel be held in The Wellington Room, The Castle at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday 26 March 2003.

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