Contact: Alasdair Norton, ext 023 9244 6510 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers the main programmes of traffic engineering work completed and ongoing in the Havant area during 2004/05 under the following headings:

(i) Traffic Management;

(ii) Decriminalised Car Parking Enforcement;

(iii) Cycleways; and

(iv) Other Works.

2. Traffic Management

2.1 The Borough Council receives numerous requests from the public for traffic management measures. With the relatively limited staffing resources available to deal with these, requests are investigated and prioritised. Priority is given to those where road safety is an issue. As a result the programme of schemes constantly evolves during the year, with new schemes deemed to be high priority being added to the list as appropriate.

2.2 Monthly `Casualty Reduction Partnership' meetings take place with the County Council to discuss matters relating to the incidence of accidents in the Borough involving fatal/serious injury. Regrettably, due to current staffing levels and associated workload, it has not been possible to carry out further safety engineering schemes on behalf of the County Council, other than the scheme listed in Appendix 1.

2.3 The list of traffic management schemes included in the 2004/05 revenue programme is shown at Appendix 1.

3. Decriminalised Car Parking Enforcement

3.1 Work is progressing well towards the implementation date of 4 April 2005.

3.2 A draft Agency Agreement has been prepared and is currently with the Borough Council for consideration and comment. Consultation has been carried out on the draft application for decriminalised powers and all responses have been favourable. The final application to the Department for Transport will be made by the County Council in November. This will give sufficient time for the necessary parliamentary process to be completed and powers granted by April 2005.

3.3 All existing Traffic Regulation Orders have been surveyed on the ground and checked against the orders; good correlation has been found. A condition survey has also been carried out and areas requiring remedial action are currently being identified.

3.4 Discussions with the Police are well advanced regarding the transfer of Traffic Wardens and it is anticipated that the actual numbers who are to transfer will be identified by the end of October. It is proposed that all new staff will be in post by the end of February to allow formal and on the ground training to be undertaken during March.

3.5 All IT and administration issues are progressing well and no problems are anticipated.

3.6 A number of press releases have been issued to inform the public of the proposals and these will continue as key milestones are reached. Articles are also included in each issue of the Borough Council's magazine 'Serving You' and information is provided on the Council's website. From January the level of publicity will be increased as the implementation approaches and an information leaflet will be produced and distributed.

4. Cycleways

4.1 Information as to the progress being made with the various cycleway schemes is set out at Appendix 2.

5. Other Works

5.1 The Borough Council has provided £15,000 from its Capital Programme for 2004/05 towards the provision of crime prevention lighting. Schemes have been identified and approved. As in previous years, the County Council is providing a contribution towards these schemes from its Community Safety Initiative (CSI) programme. The schemes have been ordered by the County Council and it is understood that the work should be carried out in November.

5.2 In the current financial year the Borough Council has also approved a sum of £30,000 to carry out minor highway environmental enhancement schemes. The schemes have yet to be agreed but will follow previously agreed principles of providing benefit to local communities or where economic prosperity can be improved.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

9026/AN