AT A MEETING of NEW FOREST HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at the District Council Offices, Lyndhurst on Wednesday 4 December 2002.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Mrs P.G. Banks (in the Chair); F.J. Bright; J.E. Coles; B.D. Dash; M.J. Kendal; Mrs E.M.F. Randall

New Forest District Council

Councillors: K. Ault; F.R. Harrison; P.E. Hickman; Mrs A.M. Howe; J. Hoy; M. Pemberton; D. Scott; M.J. Shand; M. Thierry; P. Woods; Mrs P. Wyeth.

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should declare their personal interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, any declaration to be made at the time of the debate.

2. PANEL CONSTITUTION AND PURPOSE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 2 in the Minute Book) which set out the Terms of Reference for the New Forest Highway Management Advisory Panel.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

3. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no issues arising under this item.

4. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

5. ENVIRONMENT GROUPING REORGANISATION

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the reorganisation of the Environment Grouping. The County Planning and Surveyor's Departments had recently merged to become the Environment Department. Alison Quant had been appointed as the Director of Environment and David Tarrant as Deputy Director. Alan Mills and
Merrick Denton-Thompson had been appointed as Assistant Directors. The post of Assistant Director (Design and Implementation) had yet to be filled.

Members requested a list of contact names and telephone numbers.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

6. BLUEPRINT PROGRESS AND HAMPSHIRE HIGHWAYS WEST ORGANISATION

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress of the Blueprint, including progress in District/Areas and the issues of traffic management and development control and searches.

The Director of Environment advised that agency arrangements for highway maintenance in the New Forest were due to cease on 1 January 2003, when staff would transfer to the County Council.

An offer had been made to the 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. New Forest District Council had agreed in principle with the new arrangements expected to commence January 2003.

The internal review of the Development Control Service was nearing completion. A Review Group including engineering and planning representatives from various Councils had been considering options for delivery of the various activities. A draft report had been prepared and circulated to stakeholders for comment. A final report was likely to be considered by the County Council's Environment Policy Review Committee and Executive Member for Environment in early 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

7. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE HIGHWAY CONDITION IN HAMPSHIRE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which outlined the systematic approach currently in place to assess the condition of the highway network in Hampshire. In addition the report updated Members on changes required to the condition assessments in light of the County Council's Highway Network Management Pathfinder Review, implementation of the National United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) and the National Code of Practice `Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance'.

The Director of Environment explained that general highway inspections were routinely carried out to assess footway, cycle track and carriageway conditions and that this system provided a mechanism to identify sites for larger scale planned maintenance works. These sites were then submitted for a more detailed condition assessment called Highway Assessment Maintenance Priorities (HAMP). All schemes were assigned a rating score and from this a planned maintenance programme was prepared.

During the last five years the national focus had been on developing a single national systematic network condition assessment called UKMS. In addition to calculating network maintenance needs it would provide Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs), which were required by the Department for Transport (DfT). Funding by the DfT for all roads would be based on BVPIs.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

8. HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE BUDGET 2002/03

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which outlined the Highways Maintenance budget county-wide and the specific budget and programme of works for New Forest.

During the course of the ensuing discussion, officers answered detailed Member questions regarding surface dressing, resurfacing and gully cleansing.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

9. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES 2002/03

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) which set out the main programmes of Traffic Management work in the New Forest area.

Details of the individual traffic regulation orders, signing and parish partnership schemes were set out in Appendix 1 and 2 to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

10. OTHER NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) which detailed key issues in respect of the Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School, Street Lighting and Minor Works programmes.

The Director of Environment reported that the casualty reduction schemes, which had risen to over 70 schemes per annum in recent financial years, had produced encouraging accident reductions and financial rates of return. These results had attracted increased levels of funding from the Department for Transport. Schemes would be prioritised on the basis of police recorded injury accident records. Details of twelve schemes within the New Forest area were set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Councillor Mrs Randall requested a copy of Hounsdown School's Travel Plan.

With regard to the Minor Works programme, Members were asked to contact Richard Chinn with their preference of schemes from those listed in paragraph 4.6 to be included in the 2003/04 programme.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

11. OTHER PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES STATUS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the current positions of various programmes and schemes within the New Forest area.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Panel be held on Tuesday 11 March 2003 at 2.00 p.m. at New Forest District Council offices, Lyndhurst.

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