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 6 March 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

28.

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no issues arising under this item.

29.

DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

30.

LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN - ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2003

The Panel received a report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) updating Members on the delivery of the Local Transport Plan which was the chief mechanism for reporting back to Central Government on how Hampshire was implementing the Plan, and showing progress in working towards national and local objectives and targets.

Members debated the priorities to be given within the strategy area, and the success of the monitoring schemes set up to assess progress against core performance indicators, Public Service Agreement targets and the County Council's own headline targets.

RESOLVED:

That performance on transport improvements as set out in the Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Report, and County Council performance in relation to meeting its objectives and targets, be noted.

31.

ANDOVER TRANSPORT STRATEGY MONITORING AND TRANSPOL

The Panel received a report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the results of the latest round of biennial monitoring of the Andover Transport Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

32.

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) on the indicative programmes for the Integrated Transport Capital Programme for 2004/05 and 2005/06.

The Panel directed particular attention to the draft capital programmes shown in Appendices 4 and 5. Some Members expressed concern at the prominence of bus priority and junctions in the Andover Transport Strategy having regard to the generally low user rates. The high priority given to the Foxcotte Road/Charlton Lane/Hatherden Road scheme was welcomed having regard to the imminent construction of the County Council's new 60 bed nursing home at the Andover Hospital site. The officers were requested to investigate further the possibility of adding the Winchester Road Traffic Management measures to the programme, and report back to the Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That the views of the Panel be noted for consideration in formulating future Local Transport Plan programmes.

33.

POLICY AND PROGRESS UPDATE

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) that outlined progress on key planned schemes and developments in feasibility projects in the Andover and Western Hampshire Transport Strategy Areas.

Further to the report the Panel was advised that at his meeting on

15 October 2003 the Executive Member for Environment had approved the submission of Andover as the County Council's preferred town for the Department of Transport's Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town bid (Paragraph 9.3 refers). In addition officers would be discussing further the design of the pedestrian/cycle informal crossing of Stockbridge High Street in the light of concerns expressed by Stockbridge Parish Council (Paragraph 12 refers).

The officers amplified the report and answered detailed Member questions.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

34.

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) detailing proposals to reorganise the current Area Transportation Strategy Panels, to determine the best way forward for implementing transport policy for Hampshire.

Members were in broad agreement on the proposals for the way forward, recognising the need for change. They stressed the importance of maintaining the current levels of good communication with the public, and the need for cross border working between the Panel, in any new arrangements.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the outline proposals for the review of transport strategy areas and

Transportation Strategy Panels be noted and the comments made in

discussion by this Panel be considered for inclusion in the subsequent reports

to the Executive Member for Environment and the County Council, as

appropriate.

(ii) That copies of the report to the Executive Member for Environment on the

proposals be forwarded to the relevant portfolio holders of all Hampshire

District Councils.

35.

RESULTS OF TRANSPOL TRAVEL SURVEY 2003 - WESTERN HAMPSHIRE

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) outlining the key findings of the Test Valley travel attitude survey (Transpol), conducted in February 2003 for Western Hampshire, and the significance of the survey's findings for the local transport plan targets and objectives set out for the Western Hampshire Transport Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the results of the 2003 Transpol Household Travel Survey in Western Hampshire be noted.