AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING of the HART HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at Hart District Council, Fleet on 18 November 2002.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: J.W. Stocks (Chairman); A.P. Collett; Mrs C. Leversha

Hart District Council

Councillors: R.G. Benford; Carr; L. Fullbrook; S. Holden; Mrs S. Wheale

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

2. PANEL, CONSTITUTION AND PURPOSE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment detailing the terms of reference for the Hart Advisory Panel.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

3. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were none.

4. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

5. BLUEPRINT PROGRESS AND HIGHWAYS NORTH ORGANISATION

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) outlining Blueprint progress, including progress in district areas; Traffic Management and Development Control and Searches.

The establishment of accommodation for the Area Surveyor North, in the District Council Officer to deal with day to day highway functions, was discussed and were yet to be finalised. Agency arrangements for highway maintenance in Basingstoke had ceased on 1 October 2002 and staff had transferred to the County Council.

The cost implications for the District Council were clarified, and had been agreed in principle on a fair rental basis.


RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

6. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE HIGHWAY CONDITION IN HAMPSHIRE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the current approach in respect of the highway condition in Hampshire and the changes that were required to these arrangements in the light of the County Council's Best Value Review, the implementation of the National United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS), and the National Code of Practice `Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance'.

The report outlines the systematic approach in place to assess the condition of the road, cycle track and footway network and the establishment of highways maintenance needs and assignment of maintenance treatments according to budgetary provisions.

The new method of assessment covered the entire UK network. Finance would be allocated against performance indicators. The County Council would, if successful, receive £1.7m over a 3 year period. The location of County Council highways staff at the Hart Civic Offices would improve communications and Member involvement at District level. Draft maintenance programming to be presented to future meetings and a clearer picture of local schemes included would emerge from 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

7. HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE BUDGET 2002/03

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) outlining the Highways Maintenance budget county-wide and specific budget and works programme for Hart.

Information was sought regarding the length of guarantee attaching to newly built roads associated with development and was stated to be one year.

The Highways budget for 2002/03 amounting to approximately £39m had been approved by the Executive Member for Environment.

The total allocation for Hart for 2002/03 was £1.15m (as set out in the appendix to the report).

Concerns were expressed that the cost of minor works, but it was agreed that overall road conditions had improved.



RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

8. OTHER NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) concerning the issues of Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School programmes; street lighting and the under £10,000 programmes.

The 2002/03 programme for Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School programmes totalled £1.6m, which would include some 90 low cost schemes and three larger schemes.

Members requested a list of schools in Hampshire expressing an interest in the scheme and would be encouraged to develop School Travel Plans.

An item was to be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting - "Co-ordination between Hampshire County Council and Hart District Council".

A number of schemes in the Low Cost Casualty Reduction Programmes 2002/03 were discussed.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

9. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME 2002/03

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) covering the main programmes of traffic management in the Hart area.

Traffic Management issues were routinely raised by Parish Councils; local District or County members or by the public. The schemes are prioritised, investigated and included in the programme only after analysis of the criteria and salient issues. Schemes produced in partnership with parish councils had been successful in promoting traffic calming in villages which would not otherwise have achieved priority in County Council programmes. Over 70 schemes had been included in the programme county-wide.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

10. OTHER PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES STATUS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) covering issues in respect of the Bridge Works Programme 2002/03, Intelligent Transport Systems Programme 2002/03, North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS) schemes and the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme.

A programme of load assessment and strengthening had been instigated by EU legislation, which had permitted 40 tonne lorries on British roads since 1 January 1999. Strengthening of substandard bridges was in progress, and 50 remained for completion, funding permitting.

The Intelligent Transport Systems Group (ITS) had been formed in January 2000, and work identified in the ITS programme for Hart was set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

The emerging B3272 Route Management Strategy (RMS) and the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA) programme had common objectives, and the County Council would be working in partnership with Hart District Council on projects, including the Village Design Framework.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

11. ELVETHAM ROAD, FLEET - TRAFFIC CALMING - REVIEW OF SCHEME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) detailing the results of monitoring the traffic calming scheme in Elvetham Road, Fleet.

Surveys had indicated that the scheme had achieved a significant reduction in traffic speed but concerns were expressed at the safety of the measures in particular the possibility of a head-on collision between vehicles. Councillor Gotel had produced a paper, the contents of which were discussed.

Further monitoring would be undertaken and reported to the Panel.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That the scheme be comprehensively reviewed and monitored and brought back to the next meeting.

12. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday 10 April 2003 at 10.00 a.m. at Hart District Council.

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