AT A MEETING of the SOLENT TRANSPORT STRATEGY PANEL held on Tuesday 12 October 2004 in the Wellington Room, Hampshire County Council Offices, The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); C.R.H. Davidovitz; T.G. Knight; P. Luffman; R.H. Price.

Also in attendance Councillor F.J. Bright.

East Hampshire District Council

Councillor J.M. Ashton.

Eastleigh Borough Council

Councillors: D.J.A. Airey; K. House.

Fareham Borough Council

Councillors: J. V. Bryant; P. Davies; Mrs M.E. Ellerton; A. Mandry.

Gosport Borough Council

Councillors: Mrs I.E. Binfield; P.R. Edgar; K.L. Gill; P.C. Langdon.

Havant Borough Council

Councillor N.J. Tarrant.

New Forest District Council

Councillors: F.R. Harrison; R.J. Neath.

Test Valley Borough Council

Councillors: J.T. Hall; C. Lewis.

Winchester City Council

Councillor J. Beveridge.

10. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

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.

11. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the second bullet point of item eight (Capital Programme) being amended to read as follows:

`cycle provision in the Horndean area'

12. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no Chairman's Communications.

13. UPDATE ON NATIONAL AND REGIONAL TRANSPORT POLICIES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 5 in the Minutes Book) providing a summary of a number of important policy statements which had been announced by the Secretary of State for Transport.

The Chairman informed the Panel that, following the Department for Transport's decision to withdraw its approval for the South Hampshire Rapid Transit scheme, it was proposed that the Light Rapid Transit Development Panel would be reconstituted as the Gosport Peninsula Access Panel. The new Panel would take a broader look at the issue of access to the Gosport peninsula.

RESOLVED:

That the update of national and regional policies be noted.

14. UPDATE ON HAMPSHIRE STRATEGIES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 6 in the Minute Book) summarising developments since the spring meeting of the panel, including the Annual Progress Report 2004, Casualty Reduction and Speed Cameras, Travel Plans and the MIRACLES project in Winchester.

Following Members questions officers informed the Panel that it was the County Council's policy to only install speed cameras on sections of highway with a record of speed related accidents, and that considerable consultation was undertaken before such a scheme was progressed. While it was acknowledged that the cameras could cause a distraction to drivers it was agreed that, when positioned correctly, their benefits greatly outweighed the costs with a net effect of reducing casualties.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

15. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2006 TO 2011 UPDATE AND PROCEDURAL DECISIONS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 7 in the Minute Book) discussing the draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) guidance received from the Department for Transport and the procedural timetable issues that needed to be addressed to produce a good LTP by the deadline of 29 July 2005.

Officers advised Members that District Councils would be consulted throughout the LTP process, although the method of that consultation would be left up to the Members of each individual Authority. Following consultation the LTP document would be submitted to the Government, but would continue to updated and amended as appropriate throughout its lifetime. Members went on to stress the importance of continued consultation with neighbouring Authorities, particularly Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised of the Panels agreement with the timetable set out in Section 3 of this report and the proposed consultation arrangements set out in Section 4.

16. KEY LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN POLICY DECISIONS FOR HAMPSHIRE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 8 in the Minute Book) concerning key policy decisions for Hampshire County Council in its new Local Transport Plan.

In the ensuing discussion the following salient points arose:

(i) There was general support for the principal of a thematic approach to investment, however this should not prevent other schemes, unrelated to the theme, from being implemented where appropriate.

(ii) Although Local Strategic Partnerships were considered to be the appropriate body to consult regarding accessibility planning, should they prove ineffective further consultation should take place with the relevant District Council.

(iii) Although, as the Government had indicated, reducing congestion was an important consideration it would not always be the top priority; other factors such as economic, environmental and regeneration issues were also of considerable importance.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that in preparing the Local Transport Plan:

(i) the County Council should put forward congestion targets for the Solent Area;

(ii) accessibility planning consultation should be primarily through Local Strategic Partnerships, as set out in section 4 of the report;

(iii) themed approaches with investment concentrated on specific areas should be promoted;

(iv) the idea of long term urban transport master plans should be progressed;

(v) investment should continue to be broadly in line with Department for Transport indicative allocations between integrated transport and maintenance/bridges; and

(vi) the economic, regeneration and environmental impact of investment options should be tested as policies are developed.

17. KEY LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN POLICY DECISIONS FOR TRANSPORT STRATEGY PANELS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 9 in the Minute Book) concerning major schemes within the context of the Regional Spatial Strategy. Progress on the A3 Bus Priority Corridor and other significant transport schemes in the Solent Transport Strategy area were also considered, as were possible themed campaigns.

Due to the significance of the scheme it was agreed that a sub-committee should be established to investigate the proposed construction of the Chickenhall Lane Link Road and associated airport interchange. The Committee would comprise of Councillors from Hampshire County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Southampton City Council, each Authority having two Members.

A full discussion was had concerning potential `themed campaigns' for the Solent area. Three themes were considered to be particularly relevant:

(i) Water Transport - which was regarded as a largely under used mode of transport, which if maximised could greatly reduce congestion.

(ii) Cycling - which offered numerous benefits but needed to focus on access to district as well as town centres.

(iii) Public Transport - although considerable improvements had been achieved on `key routes', feeder routes were believed to be deteriorating.

RESOLVED:

That the current status of schemes detailed in the report be noted, and that the Executive Member for Environment be advised of the Panels views with regard to potential themed campaigns.

18. CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2005/06

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 10 in the Minute Book) identifying the need to prioritise schemes within the indicative Transport Capital Programme for 2005/06.

Members highlighted several schemes within the preparation pool (Appendix One to the report) which they felt merited implementation. These comments were noted by Officers for further investigation.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed draft Capital Programme for 2005/06 (as set out in Appendix Two) be endorsed.

19. INTRODUCTION OF PARKING CHARGES IN GOSPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 11 in the Minute Book) concerning the Executive Member for Environment's decision to enable Gosport Borough Council to introduce a charging scheme for parking in Borough Council owned off-street car parks.

Members were advised that the scheme was due to commence in early November.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

20. M27/A27 ROUTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 12 in the Minute Book) outlining a set of proposals for improvements by the Highways Agency to the M27/A27 corridor as part of its Route Management Strategy.

The Chairman invited each Authority to submit their comments on the Strategy to the County Council by the end of the week, these could then be incorporated into a global response to the Highway Agency. In addition to this response the Highways Agency would also be requested to accommodate the views of the South East England Regional Assembly and the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire into the strategy.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the Executive Member for Environment be requested to thank the Highways Agency for the opportunity to comment on the M27/A27 Route Management Strategy.

(ii) That the Panel endorse the package of measures to be included in the M27/A27 Route Management Strategy.

(iii) That the Executive Member for Environment be advised of the Panels view that the Government should be encouraged to resolve its apparently contradictory position in respect to development applications in the vicinity of motorways and trunk roads as a matter of urgency.

(iv) That the Executive Member for Environment be requested to advise the Highways Agency of the likely need for an early review of the Route Management Strategy in the light of the development of the South East Plan and the South Hampshire Sub-Regional Strategy.

21. TOTTON TOWN CENTRE IMPROVEMENT PROPOSALS: REPORT ON THE FUNDING OF WORKS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 13 in the Minute Book) summarising the options for the implementation and phasing of the improvement works for Totton Town Centre.

There was a general consensus that the Totton Town Centre scheme should be progressed along the lines of the broad principles set out in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised to consider the opportunity to include phases 1-4 of the Totton Town Centre improvements in the next and future Local Transport Plans.