AT A MEETING of the SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORTATION PANEL held at The Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Fareham Borough Council on Wednesday, 15 October 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); R.H. Price; Mrs E.M. Byrom

Fareham Borough Council

Councillors: Mrs D.M. Burton-Jenkins; A. Mandry; D.J. Murray

Gosport Borough Council

Councillors: I. Binfield; K.L. Gill; A.H.G. Hayward

Also present Councillor P. Edgar.

31. DECLARATIONS ON INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where 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 declarations to be made at the time of the debate.

32. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising:

Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth (Minute No. 30)

Members were advised that 26 months ago a consultation process was carried out in respect of new development at the Hospital. The matter was now at the stage of being considered as reserve matters. Another planning application had been received for additional facilities which were beyond the line of the outline application currently being determined. Within the area the demand for hospital services had increased between 6-10% a year and there was concern at the considerable impact the traffic would make on the surrounding areas. A new traffic assessment survey was requested. The Director of Environment advised that the survey was the responsibility of the developer. The Chairman requested that the Department of the Environment and Portsmouth City Council be made aware of the concerns.

33. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no matters arising under this item.

34. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

35. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN - ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2003

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the delivery of the Local Transport Plan and the content of Hampshire County Council's third Annual Progress Report submitted to the Government Office for the South East and the Department for Transport on 31 July 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

36. SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY MONITORING

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which detailed the results of the latest round of biennial monitoring of the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

The Director of Environment advised Members that the traffic, pedestrian, cycle and public transport surveys had been undertaken in 2002. The data collected on a day in November 2002 could only provide a snapshot situation of one day. Gosport Members queried the comparative results obtained for the A32 Gosport Lane, which had indicated an inexplicable downward trend in traffic flow for November 2000. The Director of Environment agreed that there were some concerns over some of the data collected and stated that the process of data collection was currently under review.

It was suggested that when considering bus patronage levels, account should be taken of the effect of reduced bus services for those periods under consideration.

Councillor Mrs Binfield requested a copy of the Gosport data.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

37. DRAFT TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2004/05 AND 2005/06 FOR CONSULTATION

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which outlined the indicative programmes for the Integrated Transport Capital Programme for 2004/05 and 2005/06.

Members were reminded that the programmes appended to the report were indicative only and was dependent upon the Department of Transport's settlement letter to be received in December.

No preferences were indicated by Fareham Members. Their Executive Member would respond by 14 November 2003.

The Panel was advised that Havant Borough Council supported the scheme identified in the report.

East Hampshire District Council were supportive of the Safer Routes to School programme. The Chairman stressed that only those schools which had submitted travel plans would be given priority within the Safer Routes to School programme.

Fareham Members offered to contact the schools within their area to urge them to submit travel plans. The Chairman welcomed their offer of assistance. A copy of the County Council's assessment criteria for schools developing and implementing School Travel Plans was circulated at the meeting. (A copy is appended to these Minutes).

Members noted that the Newgate Lane area was under detailed investigation and therefore no project funding would be made available within the 2004/05 programme.

Station Road, Portchester was proposed as a low cost safety scheme needing the installation of traffic lights.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That further responses by the District Council be sent to the County Council's Executive Member for Environment by 21 November 2003.

38. POLICY AND PROGRESS UPDATE

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which outlined progress on key planned schemes, and developments in feasibility projects, in the South East Transport Strategy area.

The Director of Environment reported that work was proceeding on the development of the wider network for the South Hampshire Rapid Transit network and associate developments under the Solent Transport Partnership arrangement. The A3 Public Transport Corridor project was progressing well. It was noted that the response of the Department for Transport regarding the Major Scheme Appraisal bid was still awaited. Once this was known the project and programme would be reviewed to determine its progression within the available budget. The Chairman confirmed that because of the delay in the bid announcement, this would affect the prioritisation of other schemes.

Concern was expressed about the feasibility study undertaken by Atkins, in particular the proposal to ban right-hand turn facilities into Salterns Lane from the A32, which would necessitate traffic using the Mill Road roundabout, a local blackspot.

In respect of the Quality Bus Partnership, Councillor Murray declared a personal interest as the First Bus depot was within his constituency.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

39. REVIEW OF TRANSPORT STRATEGY AREAS AND TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY PANELS

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) reviewing the current Area Transportation Strategy Panels.

The Director of Environment stated that at present it was a series of Area Transportation Strategy Panels which determined the priorities and programmes for each strategy area. He explained that although the existing arrangements had served very well, due to current issues, which affected the delivery of the transport policies and strategies and also other external factors, it was necessary to review the current arrangements. Members' comments were sought on the issues outlined in the report and these would be the focus for consultation with the district councils prior to new arrangements next year.

The Chairman envisaged the South East and South West Panels amalgamating to include the four districts Havant, Gosport, Eastleigh and Fareham plus parts of East Hampshire, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester districts. Officers would consider the comments which would then be included in a report to a full County Council meeting in December 2003.

The following were among the main issues raised in discussion:

· there was a measure of concern about the size of the area to be administered by the new Panel, and thus its manageability


· Members favoured a representation of 4 members from the wholly included districts and 2 members from each of the partly included districts


· it would be important to establish appropriate protocols and working relationships on cross boundary issues.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel proposals for the new Advisory Panel be noted and comments made in discussion by the Panel be included in the subsequent report to the Executive Member for Environment and the County Council, as appropriate.

40. PROGRESS ON THE STUBBINGTON BYPASS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) which updated Members on the progress and way forward for the design of the Stubbington Bypass.


Mrs Burton-Jenkins declared a personal interest in this item.

RESOLVED:

That the progress of the project be noted.

41. PSA BUS MARKETING PROGRAMME

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) which summarised the intensive marketing programme that would commence shortly on a number of the best performing bus routes in the County.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

42. THE FUTURE OF FERRY SERVICES

The Panel received a presentation by Councillor P.R. Edgar of Gosport Borough Council on the possibilities of starting a ferry service between Gosport and Southampton. In response to a consultation which had been conducted, 500 people had indicated their interest in commuting to Southampton by this means. The Chairman welcomed the new initiative and extended an invitation to Councillor Edgar to put forward his proposal at the next meeting of Solent Transport in December 2003.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Peter Edgar be invited to the next meeting of the Solent Transport Partnership on 2 December 2003 to give an oral presentation on the proposal for a future ferry service.

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