AT A MEETING of the BASINGSTOKE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORT MEMBERS PANEL held at the Civic Offices, Basingstoke on 12 February 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); J.K. Glen; M.J. Roberts; J.G.L. Wall

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Councillors: M. Biermann; Mrs A. Court; R.J. Hussey; A. McCormick; D. Putty.

Also in attendance:

Councillor K.G. Chapman as a local Member.

23. 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, normally at the time of the debate, declare their 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

24. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

(i) Minute No. 20 Basingstoke and Deane Borough Local Plan Review - Progress Report

Councillor Roberts asked Officers for a brief update on this item. It was reported that the first round of public consultation had been very successful and they were at present looking at the responses. A report with more information would be submitted to a future meeting of the Panel.

25. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no issues arising under this item.

26. DEPUTATIONS

No requests to make a deputation had been received.

27. CAPITAL PROGRAMME - UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which set out the revised integrated transport programme for 2002/03, a new programme for 2003/04 and the proposed reassessment of schemes for possible inclusion in the 2004/05 programme.

The Panel were informed that although the Government capital settlement for Hampshire had been satisfactory, the decision on the major scheme bid had not yet been made. The consequence was that much of the allocation had been taken up for 2003/.04 on existing projects and that there was a shortfall of monies for new starts. It was, therefore, important to discuss the priority of new start schemes for 2003/04. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Councillors and officers voiced their concern that it was very hard to prioritise schemes without knowing finalised figures. Both Basingstoke and Deane Councillors and officers also voiced their disappointment in how the Panel was running, they felt that the strategic overview for the Basingstoke and Deane area had been lost and that they had been asked to select individual schemes that were out of context. This was disputed by the Chairman and Hampshire Officers.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council members and officers wanted the opportunity to meet with their Executive Members to decide on a way forward on dealing with the prioritisation process proposed to them. It was felt that the money identified for the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport (BEST) Panel a year ago, for this financial year had been diverted. It was expressed that if the last meeting of the Panel had not been cancelled, there would have been greater understanding.

After much debate it was proposed that officers of both Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council meet in the next few days to try and find a way forward and break the deadlock. After this meeting it was proposed that Executive Members and Councillor Glen as Chairman of Hampshire County Council's Environment Policy Review Committee would meet informally to discuss the way forward and prioritisation of schemes. The Panel were content with this and it was agreed that the outcome of this informal meeting would be reported to the meeting of the Basingstoke and Deane Highway Management Advisory Panel in March.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) Basingstoke and Deane Borough and Hampshire County Offices meet in the next few days in an effort to find a way forward over the concerns voiced by Basingstoke and Deane.


(iii) A meeting involving Cabinet Members of both authorities be arranged as soon as possible to discuss the way forward and prioritisation of schemes and the outcomes be reported to the Basingstoke and Deane Highway Management Advisory Panel.

28. CURRENT ISSUES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment and Director of Planning, Environment and Transport (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council) (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing a number of proposals being considered for the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport area.

Officers answered members' detailed questions and members were happy with the responses given.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

29. BUS QUALITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRESS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment and Director of Planning, Environment and Transport (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council) (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the progress made in developing the Bus Quality Partnership for Line 1 between Hatch Warren and Tadley via the town centre and North Hampshire Hospital.

It was reported that the local bus operator had recently won a bid to bring in lowered floor buses. It was an aim of the Partnership to try and modernise the infrastructure, but was a case of gaining funding to aid this aim. Councillor Hussey believed that this was aspirational and would welcome seeing an action plan. He also queried Hampshire County Council's involvement in 2003/04.

It was the consensus of the Panel that not enough information was in the public domain regarding this scheme. Members again voiced their concerns about the lack of linkage between this scheme and the rest of the Capital Programme.

RESOLVED:

That the improvements proposed in paragraph 5.9 of the report be supported, with implementation subject to further evaluation of value for money of each element of the programme against other items in the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport.

30. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS - UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment and Director of Planning, Environment and Transport (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council) (Item 8 in the Minute Book) reporting on current and proposed Intelligent Transport Systems in the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport area.

Issues were raised concerning the quality of information currently given at Basingstoke Bus Station and felt it was important for this to be improved.

Basingstoke and Deane Officers stated that this concern would be raised with the local bus operator.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

31. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Panel be held at the Civic Offices, Basingstoke at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday 8 October 2003.

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