ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the GOSPORT HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY PANEL held at The Town Hall, Gosport on Tuesday, 18 November 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: M S Geddes (Chairman); P J Chegwyn; Mrs M D Snaith; D F Wright

Gosport Borough Council

Councillors: I E Binfield; K L Gill; M W P Hook; P R Edgar

Also in attendance -

C.J. Lait - Environment Department
K. Fuller - Environment Department

P. Bayless - Environment Department

A. Peryer - Environment Department

R. Ryder - Environment Department

A.R. Knight - Chief Executive's Department

D. Duckett - Gosport Borough Council

M. Jeffery - Gosport Borough Council

30. 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.

31. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 17 March 2003 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

32. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman informed Members that the County Council had recently been informed that the Major Scheme bid for the construction of the A3 Bus Priority Scheme had been successful. Members were informed of the recent decision of the Executive Member - Environment where he had agreed the establishment of four new Area Transport Strategies. Gosport will be included within the Solent Area. The existing Highway Management Advisory Panel would be renamed the Highway and Transport Advisory Panel, and have enhanced powers with responsibility for the Capital Programme. It was intended that in addition to the current Member representation, three representatives from the District Local Strategic Partnership would be appointed to sit on this Panel.

Members requested further detailed information concerning these new Panels.

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) 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 had resolved that the Executive Member for Environment and the Cabinet be advised that discussions be undertaken with the Hampshire Districts to implement changes within the following agreed service areas:

· Strategic Planning Applications


· Minor Planning Applications


· Section 106/278 Agreements


· Section 38 Agreements and Advance Payments Code


· Design Checks


· Land Charges Searches


The changes were formally confirmed by the Executive Member for Environment on 23 July 2003, and were being undertaken within the proposed time-scales between 1 October 2003 and 31 March 2004.


It was pointed out that the Executive Member for Environment did not wish to extend the present arrangements beyond next March.

Borough Council Members were critical of the proposed funding mechanism for grass cutting. They were advised that the national standard Code of Good Practice for highway grass maintenance was 5 cuts per annum. Members were informed that the financial allocation for environment maintenance had already increased considerably this year and that further discussions to establish future funding were ongoing.

A formal offer regarding the planning applications was awaited.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

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

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) outlining progress with the 2003/04 Highways Maintenance and Minor Works Programmes and updating on the 2003/04 Highways Maintenance Budget.

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

The total revised Revenue allocation for Gosport for 2003/04 was £294,000.


The Capital Maintenance Budget and Programme allocation for Gosport for 2003/04 was £781,000 which included £63,000 from the £3.5m countywide additional funding previously reported.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

36. STREET LIGHTING

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on 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 throughout the County on at any one time. Three of the five contract Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were currently being met to the standards set down for the first year of the contract.

The 2003/04 Column Replacement Programme in Gosport had been completed. Gosport members drew attention to St Mark's Road which was in a special conservation area. They were critical of the style of columns which had been installed there and Councillor Edgar expressed disappointment with the style of columns and the working relationship with the contractors.

Works were substantially complete to upgrade the lighting on the Old Railway line cycle track. Members were very pleased at the improvements carried out.

The present Energy Supply Contract with Scottish & Southern Energy would finish on 31 March 2004.


RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

37. GOSPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES 2003/04

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) regarding the main traffic management work in the Gosport area in 2003/04.

The Traffic Regulation Order Programme funded by the County Council was approved by the Community and Environment Board on 6 June 2003, and progress on implementing the schemes was set out in the appendix attached to the report.

The Borough Council Traffic Management Team was responsible for licensing tables and chairs by the highway. Seven premises in the vicinity of Gosport High Street and two on Marine Parade were currently licensed. Concern was expressed at the £150 cost of the annual licence fee to cover public liability insurance of £5m which was required from each firm wishing to licence tables and chairs on the highway.


RESOLVED:


That the report be noted.

38. UPDATE ON PROGRESS ON THE CAPITAL TRANSPORT SCHEMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) updating progress on Capital transport schemes approved by project appraisal for implementation in the Gosport Borough area.

The sum of £100,000 of developer contributions was planned to be spent on improving bus stops on the principal routes through Bridgemary. County Council officers were working in consultation with Gosport Borough Council officers to identify the priority sites for improving bus shelters and bus stop poles, providing raised boarding kerbs, and bus stop markings. A project appraisal had been approved by the Executive Member for Environment at his decision day on
11 November 2003 and it was anticipated that work would begin in the New Year.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

39. OTHER PROGRAMMES 2003/04

To consider the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) outlining progress with regard to other programmes and initiatives within the Environment Department.

The ITS Group of the Environment Department was responsible for the feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control and traffic management and traffic travel information systems for Hampshire.

A maintenance scheme for the Bury Road/St Anne's Hill Road, Gosport had been completed earlier in the year, followed by some survey information in relation to how pedestrians found the new, slightly modified arrangements. Options were being worked on for pedestrian facilities and consultations would take place before the next meeting.

The 2003 Casualty Reduction Safety Programme consisted of 62 schemes throughout the county, totalling approximately £1.1m. The installation of safety cameras was progressing well. Members expressed concern at the camera on the A32 Gosport Road and the suitability of the speed limit which officers undertook to review. Approval had been received from the Department for Transport for future fixed cameras and, subject to further analysis, these will be installed this financial year and include the B3333 Marine Parade, Lee-on-Solent. The co-operation and participation in schools, promoting the school travel plans was vital in achieving the aims of the Safer Routes to School Programme (SRTS). The Executive Member for Environment was to publish details of progress in due course.

The Stoke Road phase 4, project in the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme included works to complete the upgrading of footways in the conservation area between Peel Road and Elmshurst Road. Works had started on 6 June 2003 and were substantially; completed with the exception of some private forecourt areas.

The Bridge Works Programme for 2003/04 included two projects in Gosport. Concerns were expressed regarding Ann's Hill bridge and spalling concrete. The situation would be monitored.

Consultations had been undertaken prior to the first phase of the Lee-on-Solent sustainable suburbs project valued at £9,000. This included the provision of welcome signs, finger post direction signs and interpretation panels in the High Street and sea front locations of Lee-on-Solent.


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) regarding the control of Common Ragwort within the confines of the public highway in Hampshire.

The County Council as highways 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 Conduct, 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.

41. THE CONSTRUCTION OF VEHICULAR CROSSINGS FOR PRIVATE ACCESS

The Panel considered the report of Director of Environment (Item 12 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 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.

42. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

This has been changed to Monday, 15 March 2004 at 6.00pm
Wednesday, 10 November 2004 at 6.00pm.


Both meetings to be held in the Council Chamber, Gosport Borough Council, Town Hall, High Street, Gosport.

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