AT A MEETING of the CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY PANEL held on Thursday 14 October 2004 at 9.30 a.m. in the Conference Room, Hampshire County Council Offices, The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: J.K. Glen (in the Chair); Mrs A.E. Bailey; Mrs P. Dickens;

M.J. Woodhall.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Councillor P. Heath.

East Hampshire District Council

Councillors: R. Ayer; Mrs J. Gray and A.R. Ludlow.

Test Valley Borough Council

Councillors: R.J. Bailey; Mrs S.M. Hawke.

Winchester City Council

Councillors: J. Beveridge; Mrs G..M.C. Busher; P. Davies; B. Lipscomb.

Also in attendance Councillor H. Verney.

11. 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.

12. MINUTES

The minutes of the Meeting held on the 2 March 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

13. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no Chairman's communications.

14. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

15. WRECCLESHAM RELIEF ROAD

At the invitation of the Chairman, and with the concurrence of the Panel, Councillor Munro (Farnham, Surrey) and Mr Burnett (Head of Local Transport Plan Group) of Surrey County Council made a brief presentation regarding the construction of a relief road for Wrecclesham, Surrey.

With the agreement of the Panel standing orders were suspended while Members discussed the need for a sub-panel to investigate this and other cross boundary issues.

RESOLVED:

That a sub-panel be established, consisting of representatives from Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council and East Hampshire District Council, to investigate the possible construction of a Wrecclesham relief road and other cross boundary transport issues.

16. 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.

In addition to the information contained within the report Members attention was drawn to the likelihood that, following the Rail Review, the Department for Transport would focus resources on maintenance and safety, as a result of which little investment would be available for the expansion of the rail service.

A full discussion was had on the issue of congestion, which had been highlighted by the Government as a key Local Transport Plan priority. Members felt that the overall flow of traffic in the central Hampshire area was not a significant problem, however congestion issues did arise as a result of unpredictable hold ups i.e. those caused by accidents and road works. As a means of overcoming such problems Members suggested several initiatives for investigation, including the further regulation of speeds where congestion was predicted and the improvement of access to and car parking at railway stations.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That comments made by the Panel be noted by officers and the appropriate action be taken.

17. 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.

Members noted the generally positive summary of the Annual Progress Report. With regard to those areas where there had been less success, i.e. bus patronage and cycle usage, it was considered that while the County Council should continue to strive to achieve its demanding targets, in some cases modal shift would not be possible irrespective of the investment dedicated to it.

Considerable interest was shown in the potential expansion of the Winchester Park and Ride scheme, it was therefore agreed that a report on this issue would be received at the next Panel meeting. Members also requested that future reports include further, more detailed information on the progress of initiatives within the MIRACLES project.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

18. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2006 T0 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. Following Members questions officers reported that District Councils, along with other Authorities, would continue to be consulted throughout the LTP process, although the method of that consultation would be left up to the Members of each individual Authority.

It was confirmed that in addition to complying with the Department for Transports guidance the County Council would be seeking to ensure that the LTP met with its own aims and objectives, including maximising life opportunities and stewardship of the environment.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

19. 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.

There was a general consensus that, subject to the Government confirming that the decision could be reversed at a future stage, the Winchester City area should not declare itself a congestion zone. The Panel stressed that the decision should however be open to reconsideration as circumstances change.

The broad principal of a thematic approach to investment was supported, although Members stressed that this should not lead to those schemes unrelated to the chosen theme being overlooked. In particular the importance of ensuring continued high standards in the maintenance of current infrastructure, regardless of the chosen theme, was emphasised. With this in mind the Panel went on to express their preference for increased investment in maintenance.

RESOLVED:

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

(i) the County Council should only 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 transportation areas should be promoted, although not to the detriment of the maintenance programmes;

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

(v) while investment should continue to be broadly in line with Department for Transport indicative allocations, there should be an increased emphasis on maintenance rather than on integrated transport programmes.

20. KEY LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN DECISIONS FOR TRANSPORT STRATEGY PANELS AND AREA SPECIFIC TOPICS

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 Central Hampshire Transport Strategy area were also considered, as were possible themed campaigns.

Following a full discussion of the merits of several potential themes the Panel confirmed its preference for maintenance to be prioritised as a theme for the Central Hampshire area.

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.

21. 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 requested that future reports prioritise those schemes within the preparation pool (Appendix One to the report) and also indicate the reasons, where appropriate, for a schemes deferral.

The Panel highlighted several schemes within the preparation pool which they felt merited implementation. However in light of financial constraints on the budget it was agreed that the priorities of the Programme were broadly correct.

RESOLVED:

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

22. MEETINGS OF THE PANEL DURING 2005

The following arrangements for meeting of the Panel during 2005 were noted:

Tuesday 1 March, Tuesday 14 June and Tuesday 25 October 2005 - all

meetings would commence at 2pm and be held at The Castle, Winchester.