AT A MEETING of the NEW FOREST HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL held at the District Council Offices, Lyndhurst on 16 March 2004.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Mrs P.G. Banks (in the Chair); F.J. Bright; B.D. Dash; Mrs K. Heron; M.J. Kendal; A.W. Rice, T.D.; Mrs E.M.F. Randall.

New Forest District Council

Councillors: K.F. Ault; M.H.G. Fiddler; F.R. Harrison; P.E. Hickman; J.M. Hoy; B.M.F. Pemberton; M.J. Shand; P.R. Woods; Mrs P.A. Wyeth.

Also in attendance: Councillors D.A. Hibbert; Dr. M.N. Whitehead.

39. 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, normally at the time of debate declare their interest, and having regards 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.

40. MINUTES

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

Arising thereon:

Item 31 - Development Control Service Review and Update on District Agency Arrangements

Officers informed Members that the review had now been completed and that from 1 April 2004 Hampshire County Council would be undertaking works in connection with Sections 38 and 278 of the Highways Act 1980. In addition to this the County Council would also be responsible for advising on the highways aspects of planning applications in the New Forest area. This followed a decision by the District Council to cease undertaking such work on the County Councils behalf from the end of March 2004.

Item 37 - Control of Ragwort

Since the previous meeting the legislation in relation to Ragwort had been enacted and the County Council had amended its procedures accordingly.

Item 38 - The Construction of Vehicular Crossings For Private Accesses

Following Members requests Officers had investigated the viability of informing local Members of all applications for vehicular crossings in their division. It had been concluded that, due to the large numbers of applications received, this would not be practical. However where Officers felt that the crossing might be contentious the local Member would be informed.

41. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that structural problems on the highways network could now be reported online via the County Council's website (www.hants.gov.uk/highways).

42. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

43. REVISED ROLES OF PANELS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 5 in the Minute Book) setting out the revised terms of reference and scope for the new Highways and Transport Advisory Panels (HTAP's) and their relationship with the Area Strategy Panels.

Members were informed that contrary to paragraph 3.2 of the report the HTAP's would be chaired by a County Councillor nominated by the Executive Member for Environment.

Members were informed that the terms of reference for the HTAP's had been expanded to include all `in year' Capital Programme schemes and that three Local Strategic Partnership Members would be invited to sit on each of the Panels.

Concerns were raised that neither Portsmouth City Council or Southampton City Council, both of whom were felt to be an integral part of any transport strategy for the south coast, were represented on the Solent Transport Strategy Panel. In response to this it was reported that both City Councils were represented on other bodies which discussed transportation strategy in the Solent area, such as the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Network Panel and the Solent Transport Partnership.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

44. ALLOCATION OF THE HIGHWAY STRUCTURAL MAINENANCE BUDGET AND ASSESSMENT OF HIGHWAY CONDITION

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

Officers described the Highway Assessment of Maintenance Priorities (HAMP) system which was used to prioritise proposed structural maintenance schemes. Highways were also inspected to determine the overall condition of the network and to ascertain whether it was improving or deteriorating. It was reported that on the minor road network the intervention level (the point at which it was economically viable to begin works on a stretch of highway) was currently at approximately 18 percent which was an average level when compared to other Highway Authorities.

Following Members questions it was reported that maintenance work on the A35 was due to commence early in the next financial year.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 7 in the Minute Book) covering the main programmes of traffic management work in the New Forest area in 2003/04 and 2004/05.

In the ensuing discussion the following major points arose:

· In response to Members support for a 30 miles per hour speed limit in all villages within the New Forest, Officers commented that such schemes tended to be ignored by drivers, and that advice on this issue had recently been published by the Department of Transport;

· Speed reactive signing schemes (signs which display the speed limit or a hazard warning when a speeding vehicle is detected) had been installed in Hampshire, however it was considered that these would be most effective if they were targeted only as an accident remedial measure;

· Prohibition of Driving orders could be considered in appropriate circumstances as a method of controlling the flow of traffic or some types of parking problem. However they needed to be used very sensitively;

· It was confirmed that the experimental traffic calming measures at Godshill had affected the pattern of accidents in the village and that the scheme would be discussed shortly at a meeting involving the Parish Council;

· Members requested a review of the speed limit on the B3055 with a view to considering the implementation of 30 miles per hour limit.

· Requests for a roundabout at the junction of the A337 and B3058 at Everton were noted. The success of a safety scheme which had been implemented on the junction in 2003 was being monitored. The possibility of a roundabout at this junction could be considered when preparing the next Local Transport Plan.

The Chairman in consultation with the Panel agreed to suspend standing orders and invited Councillor Dr. Whitehead to comment on the report. As the local Member for Martin, Rockbourne and Damerham, Councillor Dr. Whitehead asked that speed reduction measures relating to those villages be implemented as soon as possible.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 8 in the Minute Book) outlining the progress with the 2003/04 Highway Maintenance Programme, and detailing the 2004/05 Highway Maintenance budget and 2004/05 Highway Maintenance Programme.

Officers informed Members of the following updates to the report;

i) Paragraph 5.2 - the New Forest had been allocated £1,045,000 in the 2004/05 Revenue Maintenance Programme (rather than the reported £1,050,000)

ii) Paragraph 5.4 - the New Forest had been allocated £2,390,000 in the 2004/05 Capital Maintenance Programme (rather than the reported £2,363,000)

An updated version of appendices 3 and 4 (items 8x and 8y in the Minute Book) to the report were circulated at the meeting, the amended appendices can be found in the minute book.

It was expected that by the end of the current financial year the programme would be 100 percent complete.

Members questions focused on:

i) haunching on the B3058 which was being investigated subject to negotiations with the owners of land adjacent to the highway.

ii) Salisbury Road, Totton which, even though it had recently been resurfaced still had pot holes along it.

iii) improvements to Totton Town Centre which had been discussed at the Solent Transport Strategy Panel and was being considered for a possible major schemes bid to the Department for Transport.

iv) the allocation of £3,239,500 in the 2003/04 budget to the New Forest District, which was seen as an unsatisfactory proportion of the total £51 million budget. However it was explained that a significant part of the overall budget was managed centrally and that the report focused on those elements of work that were predominantly locally managed.

Members also highlighted several minor errors in the appendices relating to the electoral division in which the schemes were located. Officers thanked Members for their corrections and asked that any similar anomalies be bought to their attention after the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 9 in the Minutes Book) outlining the progress with the 2003/04 Capital Minor Works Programme and detailing the 2004/05 Capital Minor Works Programme.

Officers agreed to report back to the local Member concerning the nature and location of the A337 Goose Green scheme as mentioned in the appendix to the report. There was a general consensus that the report was very transparent and that the format of the appendix was very useful.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member be advised that the following schemes from the rolling programme be included in the Capital Minor Works Programme for 2004/05:

(i) C97 South Street Hythe

Provision of new footway

(ii) A337 Queen Street, Lymington

New pedestrian crossing point

(iii) U121 The Bickerley, Ringwood

Provision of rural footway

48. OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 10 in the Minute Book) detailing the programmes for the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA), Intelligent Transport Systems, Bridgeworks and the Hampshire Country Towns Initiative.

Following a brief overview of the schemes mentioned in the report, Members suggested that during works carried out by Transco in the High Street, Totton, HCV traffic had temporarily been rerouted via an emergency access off the A35 Totton Bypass and that it maybe beneficial to make this arrangement permanent. In response to this officers reported that there had been marginal advantages to the temporary access however there were also many disadvantages, predominantly relating to road safety.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

49. PROGRESS UPDATE ON SCHEMES IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 11 in the Minute Book) providing an update on Capital Transport Schemes that had been approved in the New Forest area for 2003/04 and on the schemes proposed for 2004/05.

Members discussion focused on the Ashurst to Lyndhurst Cycleway and in particular whether it was value for money. It was concluded that as part of the New Forest cycleway network the scheme was of strategic importance as well as being a high priority to local residents.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

50. STREET LIGHTING PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 12 in the Minute Book) commenting on the current position of Street Lighting Maintenance, Column replacement, Community Safety Initiatives and the purchase of energy from April 2004 onward.

Officers reported that the 2003/04 Community Safety Initiative should be complete by the beginning of the new financial year. However there were currently insufficient bids for the 2004/05 budget.

Following Members questions Officers reported that energy for street lighting had been purchased through competitive tender.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted

51. CASUALTY REDUCTION AND SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOL CAPITAL PROGRAMMES

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

An updated version of appendices 1 and 2 (items 13x and 13y in the Minute Book) to the report were circulated at the meeting, the amended appendices can be found in the minute book. The 2002/03 Annual Review of the Hampshire Safety Camera Partnership was also circulated for information.

Particular reference was made to appendix 4 to the report and Members were asked where possible to encourage schools to complete their School Travel Plans. Members requested that future reports which detail the installation of new speed cameras also quote accident figures for the relevant sections of highway.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted

52. HYTHE LINK ROAD

The panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 14 in the Minute Book) detailing proposals for a link road in Hythe, linking New Road with St John's Street.

There was a general consensus that the link road should not be developed, however concerns were raised over the effect that the Dreamlands development would have on South Street.

RESOLVED:

i) That the report be noted.

ii) That the Executive Member for Environment and New Forest District Council be advised of the Panels views.