AGENCY ARRANGEMENTS WITH DISTRICT COUNCILS

1. The County Council is currently engaged in the preparation of new Agency agreements for the district councils following the transfer of highway maintenance functions back to the County Council. To avoid any discontinuity during this period and to achieve a smooth transition in the delivery of services, it was felt prudent to extend the existing arrangements for those functions still undertaken by the district councils for a further six months from 1 October 2003 or until such time as these arrangements are superseded, whichever is the sooner.

2. Progress has been made on new draft Agreements for Traffic Management and a review of the Development Control function has been held. It was recognised that separate agreements with district councils would also need to be considered for the continuation of grass cutting and tree maintenance and for the delivery of some capital programme schemes.

3. To date, a new Traffic Management Agency Agreement has been concluded with New Forest District Council and Winchester City Council. Discussions with other district councils are continuing.

KEITH B. ESTLIN,

Executive Member

for Environment

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