Contact: Peter Bayless, ext 6882 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That, unless superseded by new agreements, existing Agency arrangements with District Councils for the delivery of highway-related services on Traffic Management, Development Control, grass cutting and tree maintenance, and capital programme scheme preparation, design and implementation, continue from 1 April 2004 for a period of three months, or until such time as these arrangements are superseded, whichever is the sooner. With regard to Development Control, the existing agreements to be varied, in a letter to all District Councils, to reflect the return of the land searches from the former island agencies and all Section 38 functions to the County Council from 1 April 2004.

2. Reasons

2.1 This decision supports Aim 5 of the Corporate Strategy ( Improving services) by ensuring effective continuation of these services pending signing of new Agency agreements with District Councils.

2.2 At the Decision Meeting on 16 September 2003, the Agency arrangements with District Councils which remained following the transfer of highway maintenance functions to the County Council were extended for a period of six months from 1 October 2003.

2.3 Discussions were already in progress at that time on new draft Agreements for Traffic Management and a review had been undertaken of the Development Control function. At the same time, it was recognised that separate agreements with District Councils would need to be considered for the continuation of grass cutting and tree maintenance, and also for the delivery of some capital programme schemes.

2.4 New Traffic Management Agency Agreements have been concluded with New Forest District Council and Winchester City Council. Separate draft agreements have been sent to the District Councils for consideration, to cover the other functions as well as Traffic Management. Many of the Districts wished to consider all the agreements together, rather than conclude Traffic Management in advance. The timescale required for approvals through the District Councils' decision making processes has meant that new agreements will not be signed before 31 March 2004.

2.5 To avoid any discontinuity and allow for a smooth transition in the delivery of services, it would be sensible to extend the existing arrangements for those functions still undertaken by District Councils for a further period of three months, to allow for new arrangements to be finalised.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 To allow the current arrangements to expire on 31 March 2004, before new agreements with District Councils or suitable alternative arrangements are in place, would lead to immediate difficulties in the delivery of these services.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

8598/PDB