AT A MEETING of the TEST VALLEY HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at the Borough Council's Offices, Romsey on Friday, 28 February, 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: M.J. Woodhall (Chairman); A.G. Dowden; D.A. Kirk; P.A. Pierce; Mrs. P.A. West.

Test Valley Borough Council

Councillors: R.J. Bailey; M.D. Hatley; Mrs. S. Leach; J.E. Taylor.

18. 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.

19. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November, 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Minute 16 - Other Programmes and Schemes - Status Report.

Richard Chinn advised Members that a date was currently being sought for a visit to the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Group facility in Winchester.

20. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no issues arising under this item.

21. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

22. ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND HIGHWAY NETWORK MANAGEMENT BLUEPRINT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on progress with implementation of the Environment Department Management Structure; the Highway Network Management Blueprint; and the Hampshire Highways West management arrangements.

The post of Assistant Director (Design and Implementation) had now been filled by Stuart Reynolds.

Further to a previous request by Members, a detailed list of contact names and telephone numbers for Hampshire Highways West was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

23. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES 2002/03 AND 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on progress with the 2002/03 and 2003/04 Highway Maintenance Programmes and the 2003/04 Highway Maintenance budget.

The revenue budget allocation for 2003/04 had been maintained at a similar level to 2002/03. The capital budget allocation had however been substantially increased due to Central Government funding achieved through the Local Transport Plan.

Appendix 4 to the report which set out the provisional list of schemes for the 2003/04 Capital Maintenance programme which had inadvertently been omitted from the report was circulated at the meeting.

Officers then answered Members' detailed questions on individual schemes within the programmes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

24. STREET LIGHTING PROGRAMMES 2002/03 AND 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the key areas of the street lighting programmes for 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Officers advised Members that there were no replacement lighting schemes scheduled for completion in the Test Valley area during 2002/03. It was hoped however to replace street lighting in The Harrage, Romsey during 2003/04 but this was subject to confirmation.

Further to paragraph 6.1 of the report, Members requested that copies of the Street Lighting Policy Document be sent to all parish councils in the Test Valley area.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

25. CAPITAL MINOR WORKS PROGRAMMES 2002/03 AND 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on progress with the 2002/03 and the provisional 2003/04 Capital Minor Works Programmes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

26. CASUALTY REDUCTION AND SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOL CAPITAL PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the current position of schemes in the casualty reduction and safer routes to school capital programmes for 2002/03.

Concerns were raised with regard to the A3090 junction with Jermyns Lane, Ampfield. Signing, lining and anti-skid measure had been implemented during 2002 but problems were still occurring due to overhanging vegetation on the south side of the junction. Officers agreed to investigate the situation.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

27. CAPITAL PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES - STATUS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) which provided an update on the Local Transport Plan (LTP) schemes in the strategy area programmes within Test Valley.

The Director of Environment reported that the County Council was still awaiting the outcome of its bid for funding of the A3 bus priority scheme at Havant. The report included a revised integrated transport programme for 2002/03, a new programme for 2003/04 and that all other transport schemes would be reassessed for possible inclusion in the 2004/05 programme.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

28. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES 2002/03 AND 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) which detailed the main programmes of traffic management work in the Test Valley area in 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Details of the individual traffic management schemes and parish partnerships were set out in the appendices to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

29. HAMPSHIRE HIGHWAYS WEATHER EMERGENCIES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) which outlined the current policy and procedures relating to weather emergencies and the impact of adverse weather on the highway network.

It was reported that in an average winter treatment carried out on both priority one and two routes cost approximately £1.7 million.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

30. HAMPSHIRE HIGHWAYS ABANDONED VEHICLES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 13 in the Minute Book) which outlined the issues associated with dealing with abandoned vehicles, the legislative framework and division of responsibilities between authorities.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

31. BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 14 in the Minute Book) which covered the Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) reported for 2001/02 concerning the condition of the highway network in Hampshire and outlined the requirements for 2002/03 indicators and provided comment concerning analysis and use of the data.

For the 2001/02 survey, data was collected for the principal (A) road network; the classified non principal road network (B and C), and the unclassified network (U roads). The 2002/03 survey data will be required for heavily used footways in town centres and those adjacent to schools and hospitals. The BVPI's are required by Government to allocate budgets for highway maintenance.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

32. ROMSEY TOWN CENTRE ENHANCEMENT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 15 in the Minute Book) which updated on the Romsey Town Centre enhancement scheme and detailed the decision taken by the County Council's Executive Member for Environment to proceed with the scheme.

Concerns were expressed by Test Valley Borough Members regarding implementation of the second phase (Market Place, Bell Street and Church Street) of the scheme. Officers advised that implementation of the second phase remained subject to the identification of funding sources and that The Hundred and Latimer Street section was planned to start on site in January 2004. County Members agreed to note the concerns raised and further investigate where appropriate.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

33. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Panel be held on Tuesday, 21 October, 2003 at
10.00 a.m. at The Guildhall, Andover.

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