ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the RUSHMOOR HIGHWAYS MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at Rushmoor Borough Council, Farnborough on 12 March 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: R Baulk (Chairman); Mrs P M Devereux; M J Roberts; M L Sheenan.

Rushmoor Borough Council

Councillors: Mrs S A Dibble; R L G Dibbs; J P Matthews; Mrs R A Possie.

12. 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.

13. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2003 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the inclusion of Councillor R L G Dibbs in the attendance list.

Arising thereon:

Minutes 7 - Highways Maintenance Budget 2002/03

Members mentioned the spraying of weeds and were advised that the County Council would undertake this twice during the year in the Borough. Mr Petitt reported that residual spraying would be considered by the Borough in the near future and that the Borough would welcome funding towards the cost of additional weed clearance. Members were advised that whilst the cost of spraying during the year might have increased, the total package of works within the Borough would amount to a considerable saving on the previous year. It was decided that a small group of members and officers would meet to look at the weed growth "hot spot" in the Borough and agree a strategy and costs required to resolve the problem. The group would comprise one County Councillor, one Borough Councillor and relevant Officers and the Agenda would contain one item only.

14. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The role of County and Borough Councillors was discussed. Whilst members representing both Councils were likely to focus on different aspects of highway matters in the Borough, it was explained that as County Councillors they also had local responsibilities within the Borough. There might be occasions where County Councillors wished to raise local issues on behalf of their constituents who had contacted them. It was not always possible to have a clear distinction between the two levels.

15. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

16. ENVIRONMENT REORGANISATION AND BLUEPRINT UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment regarding the reorganisation of the Environment Department and the Blueprint update (Item 5 in the Minute Book).

The Director of Environment reported on the completion of appointments following the reorganisation of the Environment Department. He drew Members' attention to the Management Board and next tier posts set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report.

Arrangements with Rushmoor were being finalised and the date for ending the Agency arrangement was 1^st April 2003. The process for transferring staff to the County Council was underway. The Borough Director of Environment explained the review of highways which had taken place and the Cabinet's focus on street scene improvements. The Head of Street Scene Services would be Mr Pettit. A new Highway Sub-Unit would be responsible for many of the new arrangements. A briefing note would be issued to Rushmoor Councillors in the near future showing the number of people and their areas of responsibility in the new unit.

RESOLVED:


That the report be noted.

17. HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES 2002/03 AND 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment outlining progress with the 2002/03 Highways Maintenance Programme; details of the 2003/04 Highways Maintenance Budget and Highways Management programme.

The total revenue allocation for Rushmoor for 2002/03 was £354,000 and the Programme was expected to completed before the end of the Financial Year. A Budget statement was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The total capital allocation for 2002/03 was £629,000 and the programme was nearing completion. Members requested that they be informed of work being carried out within their areas in Rushmoor and that Board Members be supplied with details of schemes together with the dates for the coming year. The Chairman requested that County Members also receive the information.


RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

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

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) regarding Street Lighting Maintenance Contract; column replacement programmes for 2002/03 and 2003/04 Energy Contract; Community Safety Initiative 2002/03 and 2003/04; and Street Lighting Policy.

During 2002/03 Street Lighting in the following roads had been replaced :

(i) Worcester Close, Farnborough

(ii) Highfield Road, Farnborough

(iii) Sedgemore Road, Farnborough

(iv) Maston Drive, Farnborough

(v) London Road, Farnborough; and

(vi) Cranmore Gardens, Aldershot.

Street lighting in the following roads were expected to be replaced during 2003/04 and Members would be advised of the time scales:

(i) Fieldway, Aldershot

(ii) Brookfield Road, Aldershot

(iii) Kings Road, Aldershot

(iv) Westmead, Farnborough

(v) Giffard Drive, Phase 2, Farnborough; and

(vi) Houseman Road

Members requested a mapping investigation of faults on lighting columns in the Borough to compare areas. Such profiles would be used to impact on the bidding system, and give a clear picture of the state of lighting columns and the time scales they would need to be replaced. A report was requested for the next meeting.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

19. UNDER £10,000 MINOR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES 2002/03 AND 2003/04.

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) reporting progress on 2002/03 schemes and outlining proposed schemes for 2003/04, under £10,000 Minor Capital Works Programme, requesting members to prioritise the schemes for implementation, subject to budget constraints.

The validity of 30 mile per hour repeater signs and yellow signs on the A325 was discussed, and the reason that these signs had been erected was explained. The Director of Environment, would, if necessary, liaise with the Borough Council to resolve any issues relating to the signs.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that the following schemes, listed in order of priority, be included in the Minor Works Capital Programme for 2003/04:

(i) Fleet Road, Farnborough - new footpath to link local facilities and local bus stops.

(ii) Sandy Lane, Farnborough - provision of new cycle lane

(iii) Eggars Hill, Aldershot near Bridge Road - pedestrian refuges or build outs.

20. STATUS REPORT FROM OTHER HIGHWAYS RELATED CAPITAL SCHEMES FOR 2002/03 AND PROPOSED SCHEMES FOR 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on Bridge Works Programme for 2003/04; Intelligent Transport Assistance Programme for 2003/04; North East Transport Strategy (NEHTS) Schemes and the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme. The Bridgework Programme for 2003/04 included works in the Rushmoor Borough Area. It was intended to strengthen and refurbish one of two bridges which carry the A325 Farnborough Road over the Basingstoke Canal in Aldershot.

Revised Transport Capital Programmes 2003/04 and 2003/04 were set out at the Appendix to the report. It was proposed that all other schemes be reassessed for possible inclusion in the 2004/05 and beyond programme.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

21. CASUALTY REDUCTION AND SAFER ROADS TO SCHOOL

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment outlining details of the proposed 2003/04 Programme (Item 10 in the Minute Book).

The Low Cost Casualty Reduction Programme of 2002/03 was set out at Appendix 1. All schemes in the programme had been completed.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

22. HAMPSHIRE HIGHWAYS WEATHER EMERGENCIES

The Panel deferred the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) outlining current policy and procedures relating to weather emergencies and the impact to adverse weather on the Highway Network, until the next meeting.

23. HAMPSHIRE HIGHWAYS ABANDONED VEHICLES

The Panel deferred the report of the Director of Environment outlining the issues associates with dealing with abandoned vehicles, the legislative framework and the divisional responsibilities between authorities (Item 12 in the Minute Book), until the next meeting.

24. BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The Panel deferred the report of the Director of Environment covering the Best Value Performance Indicators (Item 13 in the Minute Book) until the next meeting.

25. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF THE NEXT MEETING

The next meeting was to take place on Wednesday, 15^th October 2003 at 2pm in the Committee Room in the Council Chamber, Rushmoor Borough Council, subject to the room being available.

8KM38403