Archived decisions

Contact: Chris Lait, tel: 01329 824485

1. Summary

1.1 This report details progress with implementation of:

(i) the Environment Department management structure;

(ii) the Highway Network Management Blueprint; and

(iii) Hampshire Highways South management arrangements.

2. Environment Department Management Structure

2.1 When the Panel met on 24 October 2002 the operational activities of the former County Surveyor's and Planning Departments had been restructured into four broad operational areas and three of the five posts forming the Environment Department Management Board were in the process of selection.

2.2 At that point only the former Deputy County Surveyor, David Tarrant had been appointed to the post of Deputy Director of Environment, with responsibility for Strategy and Resources.

2.3 Appointments have been made to the Assistant Director posts, as follows:

(i) Alan Mills - Management;

(ii) Stuart Reynolds - Design and Implementation; and

(iii) Merrick Denton-Thompson - Performance and Innovation.

The revised structure, broken down by function, is shown in Appendix 1.

2.4 Minor restructuring of some operational branches and teams will be required but the new management arrangements for the delivery of the network management and highway maintenance service will remain unchanged.

3. Highway Network Management Blueprint

3.1 As previously reported, the County Council commenced implementation of the Highway Network Management Blueprint in May 2002. The new arrangements have involved the transfer of highways maintenance staff from district and borough councils to the County Council. Currently, only Rushmoor Borough Council continues to deliver the highways maintenance service within its administrative area under a highway agency agreement. This agreement will cease on 31 March 2003, at which time the new arrangements will have been implemented in full and the service will be delivered in a consistent fashion county-wide under `Hampshire Highways'.

3.2 The draft traffic management agreement, including clauses to permit capital works design and environmental maintenance, has been forwarded to Fareham Borough Council for consideration. However, it is not expected that the full legal agreement will be signed and in place by March 2003. In order to ensure continuity of service a further letter of extension to the existing agency arrangements has been issued.

3.3 Consultation on the review of Development Control Services is still ongoing. District Councils had requested an extension to the period for response to enable full consultation to be carried out. The County Council has therefore extended the period for responses and on conclusion will report to future meetings of the Environment Policy Review Committee and the Executive Member for Environment.

4. Hampshire Highways South

4.1 An updated establishment chart for Hampshire Highways South is attached as Appendix 2. In addition, a detail of staff and their main duties within Hampshire Highways Fareham, together with useful contact telephone numbers, is attached as Appendix 3.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

7854/CL

APPENDIX 3

Principal Duties - Hampshire Highways Fareham Staff

Ralph Grant (Assistant Chief Engineer) Overall management of Fareham local office, coordination of special maintenance programme and UKPMS inspections area-wide.

Roger France (Principal Engineer) deals with claims against the highway authority, road opening agreements, NRSWA coordination and general overseeing and advice on day to day work.

Routine highway maintenance, including inspections and general enquiries, in Fareham is dealt with by three Assistant Highway Engineers.

Trevor North looks after Sarisbury, Park Gate, Locks Heath, Titchfield Common and Warsash Wards.

Ray Chidgey looks after Fareham North, South, West and East and Titchfield Wards.

Nick Jones looks after Portchester West, Portchester East, Stubbington and Hill Head Wards.

Blair Cochran (Highway Engineer) prepares, manages and supervises the construction of special maintenance schemes and special projects.

Denis Tillman (Assistant Highway Engineer) deals with skips, material on the highway, hoarding and scaffolding licences, highway boundary enquiries and maintenance of advanced direction signs.

Mazhar Munir (Technician) deals with applications for vehicle crossings and requests for tactile paving and dropped kerbs for pedestrians.

Derek Rawle and Keith Howkin (Technicians) give assistance on a variety of highway maintenance functions, including unauthorised vehicle crossings and overgrown vegetation. Carry out the new UKPMS inspections area wide, when introduced.

Julie Coffin, Geraldine Obeney, Nasrin Ahmed, Linda Vaal Provide Administrative support.

All officers can be contacted by telephone on 01329 824519

office hours 8.45 - 17.15 (16.45 Friday )

or email at [email protected]

Out of Hours calls for highway emergencies are handled by the police call centre 0845 045 45 45