ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the RUSHMOOR HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at Rushmoor Borough Council, Farnborough on 15 October 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

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

Rushmoor Borough Council

Councillors: R.L.G. Dibbs; C. Bulchin; J.P. Matthews; J.J. Wall.

26. 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.

27. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2003 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Minutes 7 - Highways Maintenance Budget 2002/03

A small group of Members and officers had met to discuss the hot spot in weed growth in the Borough of Rushmoor.

28. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman announced that Councillor Jonathan Glen had been appointed Executive Member for Spatial Strategy and deputy Executive Member for the Environment in the North and West of the County. He also introduced Phillip Churchwood, Assistant Chief Engineer at Rushmoor Borough Council.

He also stated that this Panel should be considered not just as a talking shop but that it should be proactive and seek to introduce items to the agenda which were the subject of the Transport Strategy and contained aspects within the remit of the Panel. The Chairman requested that suggestions be sent to him by the end of the year for inclusion in the following round of budget negotiations.

29. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

30. WEED CONTROL IN RUSHMOOR

The Panel considered the joint report of the Director of Environment and the Head of Street Scene Services (Item 5 in the Minute Book) regarding weed control arrangements in Rushmoor Borough. The report outlined the general problems of weed control on highways county-wide. Weed treatment on the highway was now carried out by the Hampshire County Council term maintenance contractor. A review had been carried out to find out the causes of the problems this season and how things might be improved in future years. The policy on weeds was not to eradicate but to control weeds on highways and their growth to an acceptable level. Problems had resulted from the extended growing season this year. The Borough Council had wished for the transfer of weed killing back to them as it was felt that this would be more cost effective and that the timing and chemicals used in the eradication process could be more effectively controlled. The County Council stated that management problems with weed control and street cleansing were being addressed. It was accepted that there had been poor co-ordination with the contractor and that the situation would be resolved within the present contractual arrangements.

RESOLVED:

That Councillors Baulk and Dibbs would meet with the officers to consider the resolution of the situation in Rushmoor and that a report would be made to the Executive Member for Environment after consideration of the paragraphs 4.1(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) on the improvement of the service.

31. DEVELOPMENT CONTROL SERVICE REVIEW AND UPDATE ON DISTRICT AGENCY ARRANGEMENTS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) outlining progress on District Agency arrangements.

Members were advised that a report had been presented to the Environment Policy Review Committee (EPRC) in May 2003 following formal consultation with District Council officers and members.

Before giving their advice to the Executive Member for Environment the EPRC resolved that the Executive Member for Environment and the Cabinet be advised that discussions be undertaken with the Hampshire Districts to implement the following agreed service changes:

· Strategic Planning Applications


· Minor Planning Applications


· Section 106/278 Agreements


· Section 38 Agreements and Advance Payments Code


· Design Checks


· Land Charge Searches.

The changes were formally confirmed by the Executive Member for Environment on 23 July 2003, and undertaken in the proposed timescale between 1 October 2003 and 31 March 2004.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

32. HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE AND MINOR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) outlining progress with the 2003/04 Highways Maintenance Budget.

Schemes set out in Appendix 1 to the report were all on schedule and schemes previously regarded as on hold would now occur during that period. The Working Group set up to resolve the control of weeds in Rushmoor would also consider the cleaning of gullies in Aldershot.

The Highways Maintenance Budget for 2003/04, approved by the Executive Member for Environment was £46,889,000. This sum comprised £19,615,000 revenue funding and £27,274,000 funding from the capital programme provision.

The minor capital works programme scheme for the B3014 Fleet Road, Farnborough West from Howard Drive (provision of new footway) would be phased as it would now cost more than £10,000. The scheme for the provision of a new cycleway on the U339 Sandy Lane, Farnborough would require more detail before it could be commenced, it was anticipated that this would be dealt with before the end of the year.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

33. STREET LIGHTING

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment and progress made in Street Lighting Maintenance, Column Replacement, Community Safety Initiative and purchase of energy from April 2004.

The maintenance contract continued to produce good results with over 99% of all lights on at any one time. Three of the five contract Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were currently being met the standards set down for the first year of the contract.

Regarding the proposed lighting improvement for Ellis Road, Farnborough, Members wished to know why the work would not take place until March 2005 as they felt additional lights were needed in that area. The officers were to investigate this and notify all Members of the result. Further advice would be required in order to determine if the computer programme could be adapted reasonably cheaply to give Members additional information regarding KPIs in Rushmoor area rather than the County as a whole.

The Chairman felt that the Panel should have input into Rushmoor LSP and how to link into the community strategy for Rushmoor.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

34. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment regarding the main traffic management work in the Rushmoor area in 2003/04 (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

Traffic Management issues were raised in a number of ways, usually by the District or County Members or the public. These issues were prioritised and investigated which resulted in schemes being proposed for the inclusion in the programme. The current list of potential schemes for the 2003/04 programme in the Rushmoor area was shown in the appendix attached to the report.

Reference was made to the speed limits in Welsley Road, Aldershot; Church Lane, East Aldershot and Fleet Road, Farnborough and that these should be linked to schools travel plans. Problems have been experienced with taxis and vehicles waiting in the narrow road at Church Lane, Aldershot and the provision of a visual tow away sign was to be investigated.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

35. PROGRESS TO UPDATE ON CAPITAL SCHEMES APPROVED

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) updating progress on capital transport schemes approved by project appraisal for implementation in the Rushmoor Borough Council area. It was reported that the Executive Member for Environment was to authorise an experimental regulation order to be put in place for taxis to use the bus lanes in Farnborough. This was to be monitored for a period and then reviewed.


The Borough Council was reminded that they had agreed to stage three of the draft capital programmes which included a proposed allocation of £400,000 for stage 3 work on the A325/A30 bus corridor in 2005/06. It was intended that proposals would be formulated for the Farnborough/Aldershot section of the route, in liaison with Rushmoor Borough Council, the bus operators, the police and other stakeholders.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

36. OTHER PROGRAMMES 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) outlining progress with regard to other programmes and initiatives with the Environment Department. The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) group of the Environment Department was responsible for the feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control and traffic and travel information systems for Hampshire. The group was to investigate the infrastructure requirements on the Connaught Road project, i.e. what is there, who reports, and what the cost and phasing would be. There was to be a report at the next meeting.

Members requested further details regarding accidents where schemes were proposed within the casualty reduction programme.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

37. CONTROL OF RAGWORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) regarding the control of Common Ragwort within the confines of the public highway in Hampshire.

The County Council as highway authority had a duty to control ragwort on roadside verges and other public highway land and, more generally, on land that it owns. The ragwort control bill was shortly to become law, placing a duty of responsibility on public authorities, such as highway authorities, "to take all reasonable steps to remove ragwort from relevant land occupied by them and to prevent the growth or regrowth of ragwort on such land".

It was expected that a draft Code of Practice, having been the subject of a consultation during the summer, would be laid before Parliament early in 2004, thus placing further responsibilities on to the County Council.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

38. THE CONSTRUCTION OF VEHICULAR CROSSINGS FOR PRIVATE ACCESS

The Panel considered the report of Director of Environment (Item 13 in the Minute Book) detailing the changes to the procedure for dealing with the construction of vehicular accesses, enabling works to be carried out by either Hampshire Highways or an approved private contractor.

The new arrangements gave the customer choice to residents or occupiers, who could either have the work carried out by the County Council or an accredited contractor, and would give more flexibility in methods of payment, which would include payment by credit card. (American Express excepted).

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

39. DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

Thursday, 18 March 2004 at 10.00 a.m. at Rushmoor Borough Council Offices, Thursday, 14 October 2004 at 10.00 a.m. at Rushmoor Borough Council Offices.

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