Contacts: Tim Cheesebrough, ext 7114 email: [email protected]

Ernie Sage, ext 6886 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the School Crossing Patrol site for Hamble Lane, Eastleigh Borough be decommissioned and removed from the list of `active' School Crossing Patrol sites in Hampshire.

1.2 This report seeks approval for the decommissioning of the School Crossing Patrol site at B3397, Hamble Lane, Hamble, serving Hamble Primary School. Children, parents and carers crossing Hamble Lane at this location will continue to be served by a signal controlled pedestrian (Pelican) crossing at the same location.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision specifically supports Aim 5 of the Corporate Strategy, (Improving services) by making the most efficient use of resources in the School Crossing Patrol service.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to decommission the site and to seek a replacement School Crossing Patrol Officer to operate at this signal-controlled crossing location.

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

7. Background to the School Crossing Patrol Service

7.1 In April 2002 and as the result of a Best Value Review of the County Council's School Crossing Patrol Service, the service transferred from the County Education Department to the (then) County Surveyor's Department. Among a number of high priority service improvement aims were the establishment of a programme of Health and Safety risk assessments, improved arrangements for the day-to-day management of the service and new arrangements for staff induction and training.

7.2 Leading up to the service transfer in late 2001 and early 2002, a detailed site-specific risk assessment was undertaken by independent Health and Safety Advisers at all School Crossing Patrol sites. Each assessment identified any relevant health and safety issues to be addressed, such as improvements to staff training and information, requirements for uniform or equipment, and matters relating to the operation of individual sites. These included, where relevant, the adequacy of local highway infrastructure to ensure child and adult pedestrian crossing safety at all times.

7.3 At locations where the patrol operated at a signalled crossing and a `lollipop' sign was used, there was concern that the staffed operation itself posed potential risks to both the member of staff and crossing pedestrians. This was because of the potential for the Officer's displayed sign (the familiar `lollipop') to present a different message from that of the prevailing signal to approaching traffic, by indicating a `Stop' sign when the signals might be green. This was considered to give a contradictory and potentially confusing message to approaching drivers at those times. The suggestion of the Risk Assessments was therefore that the need for these sites to be staffed should be reviewed when an opportunity arose, and in the meantime patrol officers should not use a `lollipop' sign but simply help children to use the crossing correctly.

7.4 At the time of the county-wide risk assessment study, some 13 sites across Hampshire were similarly identified at signalled crossings. Since service transfer, two School Crossing Patrol operations have been withdrawn at signalled crossing sites, one at a new Toucan crossing (The Butts, Alton) and one at an existing Pelican crossing (Titchfield Road, Stubbington). Where patrols still operate at signalled crossings, they do not use `lollipop' signs but assist children to use the crossing as recommended. This was already the practice at the Hamble Lane site.

7.5 The service improvement plan achieved substantial implementation within the first 12 months of service transfer, with new service management arrangements, new training and communications methods with School Crossing Patrol staff, complete replacement where appropriate of uniforms and equipment and new staff recruitment systems. Through the improved management of the service budget and funding through the associated Safer Routes to School programme, good progress is also being made in addressing any necessary infrastructure improvements at patrol sites. This

has resulted in a prioritised programme of improvements directed towards those sites with the greatest need in terms of pedestrian crossing numbers, traffic speed and volume.

8. B3397 Hamble Lane Crossing

8.1 The independent Health and Safety Risk Assessment completed for the Hamble Lane site on 13 June 2001 suggested that, as the crossing was already a signal-controlled (Pelican) crossing, the need for a School Crossing Patrol Officer could be reviewed.

8.2 Following the resignation of the School Crossing Patrol Officer for the Hamble Lane site in late November 2003, a detailed review of the continuing need for this location was undertaken. This showed that the majority of children were accompanied by adults who made safe use of the crossing facility. Of the 80 children who used the crossing only 12 were unaccompanied. These children were from the higher age group in the school, and two of them were on pedal cycles. Throughout the survey it was seen that these older, unaccompanied children used the crossing safely and gave no cause for concern. The study concluded that the site should be decommissioned and therefore no attempt has been made to recruit a permanent replacement Crossing Patrol Officer to the site.

9. Site Decommissioning Consultations

9.1 To ensure adequate information and consultation takes place with users and the locally-affected community over any existing School Crossing Patrol sites no longer considered desirable for operation, in each case a decommissioning consultation process is undertaken. The proposal to decommission is conveyed to the directly-affected schools, local Member, Hampshire Constabulary and, if appropriate, relevant District Council and Parish/Town Councils.

9.2 In respect of the Hamble Lane site, Hamble Primary School has been consulted over the proposed decommissioning through its Headteacher and has expressed reservations about any younger children using the crossing unaccompanied. The local Member, Councillor House, has also expressed reservations over the proposed removal of the Crossing Patrol Officer, reflecting also the views of a local Residents' Forum which has campaigned for the reinstatement of the Crossing Patrol Officer at the site. Hampshire Constabulary has agreed that decommissioning the site is appropriate under the circumstances.

9.3 Despite these views, it is considered that the site should be decommissioned. The understandable concerns regarding younger children using the crossing unaccompanied were not borne out by the risk assessment. The recent review concluded that the Pelican crossing does provide an appropriate facility for the children and adults crossing Hamble Lane on their way to and from school. However, it did identify the need for further local infrastructure improvements to improve the safety and convenience of pedestrian activity in the vicinity of the crossing, including consideration of an additional pedestrian barrier, and these measures will be prioritised for implementation as part of the 2004/05 programme. The detail of the proposed measures will be the subject of further consultation with the school, local Member, Eastleigh Borough Council and Hampshire Constabulary.

8564/TLC/ES