AT A MEETING of the BASINGSTOKE AND DEANE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL held on Wednesday 10 November 2004

at the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Offices.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K. G. Chapman (In the Chair); J. K. Glen; Mrs J. K. Frankum;

Mrs A. M. McNair Scott; J. D. Shaw; J. G. L. Wall

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Councillors: Mrs S. M. Allen; M. Biermann; Mrs W. A. Court; A.D McCormick;

S. Parker; Mrs S. B. Rowland.

51. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believe they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard 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.

52. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 17 March 2004, were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor Chapman reported that due to a hospital appointment that morning Councillor Allen had asked him to chair the meeting of the Panel in his absence. The Panel asked for its best wishes to be sent to Councillor Allen.

53. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no Chairman's Communications.

54. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

55. UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND VARIOUS AGENCY

ARRANGEMENTS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) updating Members on progress regarding the changing arrangements for four main areas of work undertaken by the Borough Council on behalf of the County Council, namely: Development Control Services, Traffic Management Services, Grass and Shrub Maintenance Agreement and Design and Implementation Agreement. Basingstoke Borough Council confirmed that they agreed in principle to the new arrangements and would be signing new agreements subject to the resolution of some issues with professional indemnity insurance

During the course of discussions, Members requested details about County Council and City Council shrub maintenance responsibilities particularly raising concern about the ongoing safety issues of shrub maintenance on the A33. It was noted that Officers would give consideration to the matter of readjusting the responsibilities and raise the issue with the Borough Council in December 2004.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

56. PROGRESS UPDATE ON SCHEMES IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) offering Members a detailed update on the progress of identifying funding for individually named integrated transport improvement schemes and other county-wide improvement programmes and block budget allocations.

The following were among the matters raised in discussion:

· Improving busy bus routes which at the moment were a disincentive for a modal shift.

· Members were pleased to note that the Phase I of the works to the A33 Ringway Roundabout to improve the traffic management in the area was due to start in 2005. A plan displaying the route was circulated to Members.

· Members welcomed the design changes to the Brighton Hill Roundabout and local Members being kept fully informed with details of the scheme.

A particular area of concern highlighted was the need for additional lanes to

accommodate the volume of traffic at the Aldermaston Road Roundabout.

Members reported a high level of accidents at the junction with the hospital.

Officers reported that due to the nature of the roundabout the two lanes that were

proposed for each direction on the A340 with a bus lane could only happen if the

land became available. Due to the geometric layout and traffic flow through the

roundabout signals were not considered appropriate.

RESOLVED:

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

2. That comments made by the Panel be noted by officers and the appropriate action be taken.

57. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND MINOR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES 2004/05

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing progress in respect of the 2004/05 Highway Maintenance and Minor Capital Works programmes and also provided an update on the 2004/05 Highway Maintenance budget.

Members noted that the scheme for Longcroft Close would be completed in the financial year and measures would be put in place so that surface dressing was not applied liberally over gulleys which would minimise inconvenience and these activities would continue to be supervised.

RESOLVED:

That progress on the Highway Maintenance Programmes be noted.

58. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES 2004/05

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) updating Members on the main programmes of traffic management work completed and in progress in the Basingstoke area in 2004/05.

Members asked that they be kept fully informed about schemes in their particular areas and the Officers advised that when schemes being developed were out for consultation Members would be included in that consultation.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

59. CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) outlining progress on the Hampshire County Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partnership casualty reduction programmes. Members were pleased to note that the Partnership had been achieving good results and that indications are that a high proportion of the public support the use of safety cameras and agree that they make the roads safer.

Members noted that the sum budgeted in the 2004/05 programme was in large terms in response to the success of previous similar programmes in reducing casualties over a number of years. The 2003/04 road casualty position indicated some chance that the County Council would meet the demanding target it had set for 2004.

In order to amplify section 4 of the report on the work of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partnership, a recently published Partnership information leaflet was circulated to Members for information. Concerns were expressed about the Thornhill Road Junction A33 and requested consideration of a fixed camera on the A33 at this junction and others. Officers reported that justification for a red signal camera would be investigated for this location together with a wider process of potentially converting mobile cameras to fixed cameras where this was justified. This was being looked at on a county wide basis. In relation to a query from Members, speed activated signs were being considered by the County Council in relation to Government guidance where there was likely to be a clear benefit in road safety terms over and above other possible measures. The A339 route was being closely studied as to the benefits of such vehicle activated signage, particularly in relation to reducing the number of motorcycle accidents. Early indications were that these appeared to better so far in 2004 as opposed to 2002 and 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

60. TRAVEL PLAN PROGRAMMES (INCLUDING SAFER ROUTES TO

SCHOOLS)

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the

Minute Book) updating Members on the progress of workplace, school and

personalised travel planning programmes for the Basingstoke area. Members

noted this was the first time the report had been presented in this particular format

and welcomed the information it provided.

Members noted that extended and increased funding from the Department for Transport until March 2006 had provided significant additional staffing resource for the School Travel Planning team based within the Transport Policy Group of the County Council's Environment Department.

Members' attention was drawn to the personalised travel planning project called

`Infomotion', whereby individuals are provided with tailored public transport

timetable information and free trial travel vouchers for use on local public

transport. Officers also amplified section 3.3 of the report in respect of the

numbers of schools engaged with developing school travel plans and it was noted

that there were currently 75 schools in the Basingstoke area and 243

County wide.

During the ensuing discussions Members raised concern with Great Binfields

Primary School and that no scheme had yet been identified. Officers explained

that the scheme was still in its design stage and would be progressed soon.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

61. STREET LIGHTING - BASINGSTOKE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) updating Members on the various elements of the street lighting service in the Basingstoke area. Members were pleased to note that the replacement programme for the Basingstoke area was progressing and that 99% of street lights were on at any one time and maintained. There was however a County wide problem with the level of column replacement and the 4 schemes with approximately 100 columns in Basingstoke would be upgraded improved with standard of lighting at the same time.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

62. OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) detailing the programmes for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS); Bridgeworks; Development related works and Recreational Cycling. Members noted the role of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Group and the key areas of work being undertaken.

Members raised concern regarding the parapet over the bridge on the A303 and Officers advised that Network Rail would be carrying out a risk assessment of the bridge and the barriers would be replaced through the term maintenance contract. An update would be provided to Members at the next Panel meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

63. PASSENGER TRANSPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 13 in the Minute Book) outlining the services provided by the Passenger Transport Group and the work undertaken in the Basingstoke area. In amplifying the report, officers advised that since the report had been prepared a meeting of the Basingstoke Quality Bus Partnership Steering Group had met and discussed patronage on bus routes particularly Routes 1 and 6 where they had increased by 20% and 35% respectively year on year.

Members also noted that a study of options regarding electronic information was taking place on vehicles in Basingstoke on routes 1,3 and 6 and providing weather protection at bus stops.

RESOLVED:

The report was noted.

64. MEETINGS OF THE PANEL DURING 2005

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

Wednesday 6 April and Wednesday 9 November - both meetings would commence at 10.00am and be held at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Offices.