AT A MEETING of the EAST HAMPSHIRE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL of Hampshire County Council held at the Civic Offices of East Hampshire District Council at Petersfield on Tuesday, 16 March 2004.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: J.K. West (Chairman); Mrs E.M. Byrom; W.J. Filer; A.R. Ludlow

East Hampshire District Council

Councillors: M. Ashton; Mrs D.K. Denston; S.C. James; Mrs J.J. Gray; A.P. Pattie

Mrs S. Williams of the District Local Strategic Partnership Panel was in attendance.

42. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

43. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising:

Minute No.32 - Development Control Service Review and Update on District Agency Arrangements

The Director of Environment advised that to meet the new service arrangements in respect of the Section 38 Agreements two members of staff had moved to the County Council from Winchester City Council. No decision had yet been reached on whether East Hampshire District Council would take up the offer of a Traffic Management Agency. A report would be brought to the Members in due course.

Minute No.38 - Weed Control in Hampshire

The Director of Environment reported that due to the weed control problems encountered the previous year, changes had been made to improve the service. Spraying in the East Hampshire area would commence on 1st June with a second treatment in September; both sessions would cover a three week period. A third weed treatment would take place in the urban areas, if it was considered to be necessary. Attention was drawn by Members to the problem of ragwort growing on private land over which it was recognised the County Council had no jurisdiction, and it was suggested that assistance of the National Farmers' Union or the Country Land and Business Association could possibly be sought to bring pressure to bear on recalcitrant landowners. The Chairman commented that some weed killing had been carried out in Petersfield recently.

44. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that the Environment Department's Highways web site

was now operational. In addition to the information available, the new service would enable members of the public to report highway defects on line.

45. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

46. REVISED ROLES OF THE PANELS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which considered the revised roles of the Panels, the scope of the new Highway and Transport Advisory Panels and their relationship with the area transport strategy panels.

The Director of Environment drew attention to the revised terms of reference and scope for the new Highway and Transport Advisory Panels and explained their relationship with the new area transport strategy panels, which had been set up in line with the Government's Regional Spatial Strategy, and had reduced the number of strategy panels from 8 to 4. The East Hampshire District would be covered in part by both the new Central Hampshire and Solent Strategy Panels. The strengthening of the Advisory Panels would enable them to concentrate on the delivery of all transport issues including the capital programme as well as local maintenance and traffic management matters. Members expressed their concern that the new strategy panels might concentrate on the needs of the coastal and central areas of Hampshire and not give sufficient weight to the East Hampshire area.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

47. ALLOCATION OF THE HIGHWAY STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE BUDGET AND ASSESSMENT OF HIGHWAY CONDITION

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which outlined the process for allocating the highway structural maintenance budget using current condition measurement techniques, and summarised the indicators used for assessing the condition of the network.

In response to a point raised, the Director of Environment explained that although the County Council did not have a qualitative policy on highway maintenance, the Highway Authority's mandatory duty was to maintain the highway network ensuring that the highways were safe and that the public could use them without obstruction. The programmes of highway maintenance were based on the availability of funding with the top priority being given to safety. An overall structural condition standard would commit the County Council to spend more money than would probably be available. The present system of "independent" assessment was considered to be fair as it allocated funding where the need was greatest. Eventually the new system of Best Value Performance Indicators would enable the authority to assess the condition of the entire network and make comparisons with other counties nationally.

It was requested that where particular sections of roads required regular year on year infilling of potholes, investigations be carried out to reveal the underlying problems.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

48. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES 2003/04 AND 2004/05

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the traffic management programme completed and on-going in the East Hampshire area for 2003/04, and the proposed programme for 2004/05, which included the revenue funded Traffic Regulation Order schemes and the capital funded Parish Partnership schemes.

The Director of Environment introduced the report and responded to Members' detailed questions.

Sue Williams paid tribute to the officers in resolving the problems of disability access in Petersfield, which had resulted in a considerable improvement.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

49. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES 2003/04 AND 2004/05

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which informed Members of the progress made on the 2003/04 Highway Maintenance Programme and the details of the Highways Maintenance Programme and Budget for 2004/05.

Members' attention was drawn to the costs incurred for emergency works at clay heave sites, which had meant schemes having to be deferred in the Eastleigh and Winchester areas. However the County Council had been successful in bidding for emergency Government funding.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

50. CAPITAL MINOR WORKS PROGRAMMES 2003/04 AND 2004/05

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the progress made with the 2003/04 Capital Minor Works Programme and on the details of the 2004/05 Capital Minor Works Programme.

Members requested that the budget figure for individual minor works schemes be raised from £10,000 to £20,000. After much discussion the Members indicated their preference for the Capital Minor Works Schemes in 2004/05.

They also prioritised proposed schemes for 2005/06:

(i) new footway for about 100 metres along School Lane, Sheet from the junction with Farnham Road;


(ii) widen existing narrow footway along the eastern end of Long Lane to match remainder of road;


(iii) reconstruct narrow rural footway at B3004 Hill House Hill and Standford Lane, Standford; and


(iv) reconstruct narrow rural footway along Dean Lane, Finchdean and
Finchdean Road, Rowlands Castle.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that the following schemes, listed in order of priority, be included in the Capital Minor Works Programme for 2004/05:

(i) New footway from Anstey Bridge to Bentley Station, Bentley; and

(ii) New footway from South Green Farm to Anstey Bridge, Bentley.

51. OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the programmes for Regeneration of Older Urban Areas, the Intelligent Transport Systems and Bridgeworks.

The Director of Environment informed Members that 400 objections had been received to the A3 Hindhead Tunnel scheme. Very few people had objected to the new route's alignment, most were concerned with the issue of the side roads and the retention of the old A3 route. Local public exhibitions on the side road proposals would be held on 29 and 30 March in Grayshott and at The Edge, Hindhead on 2 and 3 April 2004. The Highways Agency public inquiry to consider the objections received would be held in June.

Members pointed out that the new cross channel ferries coming into operation would be able to carry four times the previous capacity and considered that this would have a greater traffic impact on the new route than had been envisaged. Of additional concern was the lack of provision for horse riders to cross the new route.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

52. PROGRESS UPDATE ON SCHEMES IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress made on transport schemes within the 2003/04 and 2004/05 Capital Programme previously approved for implementation within the East Hampshire area.

The following points were raised by the Members during the course of discussion of the schemes:

(a) Members were assured that the Parish Council would have the opportunity to comment on the Horndean School Stage 3 scheme.

(b) Concerns were raised about road safety at the Hylton Road/Dragon Street junction in Petersfield. Officers reported that they would monitor the situation.

RESOLVED:

That the progress made on schemes in the Transport Capital Programme be noted and the schemes approved for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2004/05 be supported.

53. STREET LIGHTING PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the current position on street lighting maintenance, column replacement, community safety initiative and the purchase of energy from April 2004 onwards. The Director of Environment informed the Members that 99% of street lights were on at any time, however the contractor was currently experiencing some difficulty in keeping up with the level of work. Members noted that the new energy contract would provide for 100% green energy and that the cost overall had increased by 20%, although this reflected the general increase in industry prices. The four schemes for column replacements in the current year 2003/04 had been completed, however there was no work programmed within East Hampshire for 2004/05.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

54. CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME AND SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOL CAPITAL PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 13 in the Minute Book) on the progress made on the Casualty Reduction Programme; the Hampshire Safety Camera Partnership and Safer Routes to School.

The Director of Environment outlined the report and drew Members' attention to the current position regarding development of School Travel Plans by schools in the East Hampshire area. It was encouraging to see that many of the schools in the area were participating.

A copy of Safety Camera Partnership Newsletter 2002/03 was circulated to Members for information.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

55. DATE, TIME AND VENUE FOR NEXT MEETING OF THE PANEL

It was noted that the next meeting of the Panel would be held at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday, 28 October 2004 at the Civic Offices of East Hampshire District Council.

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