AT A MEETING of NEW FOREST HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at the District Council Offices, Lyndhurst on Tuesday 11 March 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Mrs P.G. Banks (in the Chair); F.J. Bright; J.E. Coles; Mrs K. Heron; M.J. Kendal; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; A.W. Rice, TD; T.K. Thornber, CBE.

New Forest District Council

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

13. 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.

14. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

15. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reminded Members that the Panel was for advisory purposes and that scheme prioritisation within the capital programmes was the remit of the Area Transportation Strategy Panels.

16. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

17. 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.

18. THE 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, with an additional £3.5m allocated as a one-off payment for 2003/04 to be directed into footway maintenance and rural roads. 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.

19. 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 21 replacement lighting schemes scheduled for completion in the New Forest area by the end of 2002/03. It was hoped to replace street lighting in Beech Crescent and Water Lane, Hythe and Hounsdown Close, Totton during 2003/04 but this was subject to confirmation.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

20. 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.

21. CAPITAL PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES - STATUS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) which updated Members on the 2002/03 Capital Programmes for the New Forest Transport Strategy and Coastal Towns Transport Strategy.

(i) Fordingbridge High Street

The total cost of the scheme had increased by £37,000 due to additional utilities costs and was subject to approval of the project appraisal.


(ii) Colbury Right Turn and Traffic Management

Members were disappointed to learn that although the scheme had been programmed for 2003/04 it was now likely that works would not begin until 2004/05 due to changes in the capital programme.


(iii) Sway Footways

The study to investigate traffic management measures to provide safer routes to school was now complete.


(iv) Station Road, New Milton

The proposed pelican crossing had been re-advertised on 2 August 2002. Discussions would continue to resolve comments received.


(v) Old Milton/Gore Road/Whitefield Road, New Milton

Public consultation had taken place during December 2002. Early indications showed overall support for the junction improvements.


(vi) Ashley Road/Spencer Road, New Milton

Installation of traffic signals was complete. Members raised concerns regarding continued difficulties with phasing of the signals. Officers advised that a delay in obtaining a telephone line from BT had led to an inability to monitor the junction effectively. It was hoped that this matter would be rectified in the near future.


(vii) North Street, Pennington

Councillor Hickman declared a personal interest as a local resident.

Preliminary plans had been drawn up. Detailed designs were to be progressed. Works were unlikely to begin until 2004/05 at the earliest.


(viii) Totton Town Centre Improvements

Various meetings had taken place in connection with the proposals. Further development of the proposals and preparation of the Supplementary Planning Guidance for adoption by New Forest District Council would be carried out.


(ix) Totton and Waterside Transport Strategy Cycle Routes

Preliminary designs for the extension of the Holbury to Hythe route was being undertaken. The pelican crossing on the A36 Salisbury Road had been upgraded to a toucan crossing. Concerns were raised regarding the advisory cycle lane on the A36. Markings for the route were unclear.


RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

22. CASUALTY REDUCTION AND SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOL CAPITAL PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) which outlined progress of the Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School programmes.

Details of individual schemes were set out in the appendices to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

23. 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 New Forest area in 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Officers answered Members' detailed questions on individual traffic management and parish partnership schemes, as set out in the appendices to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

24. 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 the Government was likely to introduce legislative changes to require authorities to treat ice and snow on the network.

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.

25. 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.

26. 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 reported for 2001/02 concerning the condition of the highway network in Hampshire.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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