ITEM 2

AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING of the RUSHMOOR HIGHWAYS MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at Rushmoor District Council, Farnborough on 23 January 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: R Baulk (Chairman); K B Estlin; R J Kimber; Mrs P N Devereaux; M L Sheenan; M J Roberts.

Rushmoor District Council

Councillors: C Balchim; Mrs S A Dibble; J P Matthews; Mrs R Possee

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 Rushmoor Advisory Panel.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

3. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman explained that the Advisory Panel's deliberations were intended to be non-partisan and would enable issues of local interest to be raised.

4. DEPUTATIONS

There were none.

5. BLUEPRINT PROGRESS AND HIGHWAYS NORTH ORGANISATION

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

Agency arrangements for highway maintenance in Basingstoke had ceased on 1 October 2002 and staff transferred to the County Council. The establishment of accommodation for the Area Surveyor North in the Hart District Council offices would deal with day to day highway functions.

Rushmoor Borough Council had indicated that it would, in principle, wish to continue to undertake the delivery of traffic management function under a Partnership Agreement with the County Council.

Rushmoor HMAP - additional wording.

A report would be presented to the March Meeting of the Panel setting out full details of whom to contact under the new arrangement. Members requested that Appendix 1 - Hampshire Highways North (attached to the report) be reproduced with post holder's names included.

The Assistant Chief Engineer post will be advertised. Confirmation was given by Rushmoor District Council that there were no known internal candidates who wished to be considered.

District Councils had been offered the opportunity of entering into an agreement on the delivery of the Traffic Management (T M) function, which would be in accordance with the existing arrangements in the full agency districts. This could, if required, be confirmed for the Borough Council.

Members requested details, when available to staff and whom they should refer queries and seek information within the new arrangements.

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) outlining the current approach for assessing the condition of the road, cycle track and footway network and establishment of highway maintenance needs and assignment of priorities of maintenance treatments according to budgetary provisions.

The report also updated Members on the changes required to the condition assessed 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".

There was, at present, a backlog of countrywide maintenance work to restore the road and footway network to the ideal condition at a cost of £75m, of which £20m was for footways. It was likely that the work would be at an advanced stage by 2004. The Executive Member for Environment advised that he was currently discussing levels of funding with the Cabinet.

The Chairman requested that the resolutions in future reports contain positive recommendations, where appropriate requiring action.

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 countywide and the specific budget and works programme for Rushmoor.

The Highways budget for 2002/03 amounting to approximately £39m had been approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 15 April 2002. The total budget allocation for Rushmoor for 2002/03 was £629,000 (as set out in the appendix to the report).

Members requested that Appendix 2 - Special Maintenance and Resurfacing Programme 2002 (attached to the report) be included with future reports containing the following information:

· The month in which the work was undertaken

· If not completed, an explanation of reasons.

· Outcome.

Assurances were sought that spraying of weeds in the urban area would be continued. It was suggested that the District Council resume this work. The County Council was to discuss the possibility of the Borough Council contributing towards the cost of the spraying operation.

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 issues of Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School programmes; street lighting and the under £100,000 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 large schemes. Schemes are prioritised strictly on the basis of police injury records to give the best value for money in terms of casualties served.

The County Council's target was to reduce fatal and serious accidents at least 780 in 204 from 1,055 I 1994 - 98, which would also assist in achieving a higher level of government funding as part of the County Council's Public Service Agreement.

District Council Members requested more publicity and promotional material. A report was to be taken to the March meeting setting out a strategy for encouraging schools to take up the Safer Routes to School Policy. Twenty schools in the area had been approached. Fourteen had expressed interest in the schemes. Action was requested to link schools located in the same area.

The Chairman requested that a problem caused by coaches blocking roads near the Henry Tindale School be investigated.

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) concerning the main programmes of Traffic Management work in the Rushmoor area, which comprises revenue funded Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and signing schemes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

10. OTHER REPORTS 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 Programmes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

11. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN THE AYLING LANE AND CHURCH LANE WEST AREA, ALDERSHOT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) outlining comments received following an exhibition held for residents of the Ayling Lane, Church Lane West and Rowhill Hill Avenue, setting out possible traffic management improvement for the area, which confirmed significant support for the proposals.

Particular areas of interest included the speed of traffic and Home Zone Areas, which were to be the subject of a report to the March meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the progression of the scheme be noted.

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