AT A MEETING of HAVANT HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL of Hampshire County Council held at The Civic Offices, Havant Borough Council on Tuesday, 4 November 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); E.F. Gale; R.C. McIntosh; Mrs V. Steele; Miss J.D. Wride.

Havant Borough Council

Councillors: Mrs G. Blackett; R.A. Bolton; D.M. Farrow; C. Hilton; K.M. Moss

30. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

31. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising:

Minute 22 - Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School Capital Programme

Members were advised that Pook Lane Junction, Emsworth was under investigation and improvements were expected to be implemented shortly.

32. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman was pleased to report that the County Council's Major Scheme Appraisal bid for the construction of the A3 Bus Priority Scheme had been successful with a grant of £25.1 million awarded by the Department for Transport. This would be over a 4 year period with £4.4 million for the year 2003/2004.

33. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

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

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the review of the Highways Development Control Service and an update on District Agency arrangements. Of particular note was the main change to the model Section 38 Agreement which now transferred the design checking and inspection to the County Council's Hampshire Highways Offices. Discussions were continuing on grass cutting, tree maintenance functions and delivery of some of the Capital Programme schemes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

35. HAVANT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Technical Services, Havant Borough Council (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the main traffic management work in the Havant Borough area for 2003/04.

Members were advised that the Southleigh Road (Phase 2) cycleway scheme had been delayed due to land acquisition problems. Negotiations to use a part of Warblington School's playing field for a section of the local cycle route were currently being conducted. It was hoped that matters would soon be resolved for the Southleigh Road Scheme and this would commence hopefully early in the New Year.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

36. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND MINOR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress made on the Highway Maintenance Minor Capital Works Programmes for 2003/04 and on the Highway Maintenance budget 2003/04.

It was noted that the revised budget allocation for Havant for the revenue maintenance budget and programme was £514,000 and that progress throughout the year had been in line with the spending profile. It was expected that the programme would be completed on time and within budget. Members were advised that £20,000 under the heading `Environmental' for tree maintenance had been transferred to a centrally held budget.

Concern was expressed about the lack of effective weed control during the summer months. In view of the problems encountered efforts were being made to discover more effective herbicides and to ensure that the contractors carried out weed spraying at more appropriate times. The Chairman requested a progress report be brought to the next meeting of the Panel.

In response to a concern raised about subsidence, the Panel was assured that a contingency fund was available.

Members noted the following amendment to the report: paragraph 4.1(ii) delete `£8,000' and substitute `£10,000'.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That a progress report on weed control measures be brought to the next meeting of the Panel.

37. UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF APPROVED TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME SCHEMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) detailing progress made on transport schemes with the Capital Programme previously approved by project appraisal for implementation within the Havant area.

The Director of Environment referred to the successful grant award of £25.1 million by the Department for Transport bid for the A3 Bus Priority scheme and explained that Capital Programme funding would no longer be required which released money for other projects within the county.

The Panel was pleased to note the reduction in speed levels on Section 1, however attention was drawn to the problem of speeding buses in the bus lanes, which it was reported drivers found disconcerting. In respect of concerns about flooding assurance was given that a maintenance programme was in place for the local surface water drainage system.

A particular concern was raised about the level of substitute tree planting and a request made to view the planting schedule.

Councillor Mrs Blackett congratulated the officers on the excellent standard of work carried out on the first phase of the project.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

38. OTHER PROGRAMMES 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress on other programmes and initiatives within the Environment Department, in respect of Intelligent Transport Systems, the Casualty Reduction Programme, the Hampshire Safety Camera Partnership, the Safer Routes to School Programme and Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme.

The Director of Environment amplified the report and answered Members' detailed questions.

The Chairman urged the Members to encourage schools within their areas to submit School Travel Plans. In cases of local concern over child casualty issues, risk assessments would always be carried out whenever they were reported.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

39. STREET LIGHTING

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress on street lighting maintenance, column replacement, community safety initiative and the purchase of energy from April 2004 onwards.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

40. CONTROL OF RAGWORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the problems associated with common ragwort and the measures taken to control the weed within the confines of the public highway within Hampshire.

The Panel noted that a highways authority the County Council had a duty to control Ragwort on roadside verges, other public highway land and that it was the responsibility of landowners to control injurious weeds on their own land.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

41. THE CONSTRUCTION OF VEHICULAR CROSSINGS FOR PRIVATE ACCESSES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) which detailed changes to the procedure for dealing with the construction of vehicular access by Hampshire Highways or an approved contractor.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

42. DATES, TIMES AND VENUES FOR NEXT MEETINGS OF THE PANEL IN 2004

It was noted that the meetings for 2004 will be held on Wednesday 24 March 2004 and Tuesday 2 November 2004, both meetings to be held at the Civic Offices, Havant Borough Council.

8KM941103