Contact: Richard Chinn 02380 427000 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines:

(i) progress with the 2004/05 highways maintenance programme;

(ii) details of the 2005/06 highways maintenance budget;

(iii) details of the 2005/06 highways maintenance programme; and

(iv) progress on 2004/05 minor capital works and proposals for 2005/06 programme.

2. Background

2.1 Members will be aware from previous Panel meetings that the highway maintenance programme is funded from both revenue and capital allocations.

2.2 The revenue maintenance programme funds minor works such as pothole repairs, routine drainage work including gully cleaning, signs and road markings, environmental maintenance of grass verges, trees and shrubs, weed control and highway emergencies. Minor bridge works and winter maintenance are also funded from revenue.

2.3 The capital maintenance programme funds planned maintenance including special maintenance, resurfacing and surface dressing and also provides for essential repairs to the structure of the highway.

3. Progress with the 2004/05 Highways Maintenance Programme

Revenue Maintenance Programme

3.1 The total allocation for New Forest for 2004/05 was £1,119,000. Progress throughout the year has generally been in line with the spend profile. At the end of February 97% of the budget had been committed and the full allocation is expected to be used by the end of the year. A budget statement is included as Appendix 1.

Capital Maintenance Programme

3.2 The total allocation for New Forest for 2004/05 was £2,441,000. Good progress has been made with the programme and it is expected that it will be delivered as planned within time and budget constraints. Whilst it is anticipated that all remaining schemes in the current year's programme will start before the end of the financial year a small number may run over into 2005/06 and be completed in April.

3.3 The £200,000 footway re-slabbing scheme in Station Road, New Milton is still on target to start in March and will continue into 2005/06, project funding being carried over into the new financial year. A project group has been set up comprising officers from both the County and District Councils and this group is reporting on a regular basis to a larger Town Centre group which has Member representation as well as representatives from the New Milton Town Partnership.

3.4 A budget statement is included in Appendix 1 and a status report detailing progress of all special maintenance, resurfacing and surface dressing schemes is attached as Appendix 2.

4. 2005/06 Highway Maintenance Budget

4.1 This year Hampshire County Council has received a significantly reduced Central Government grant through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process, £14.614m compared to the £18.550m received for 2004/05. The effect of this is a smaller programme of highway structural maintenance works.

4.2 The overall highway maintenance budget for 2005/06 approved by the Executive Member for Environment is £45.263m, comprising £21.613m revenue funding and £23.650m funding from the capital programme provision. The Executive Member has also approved the allocation of an additional £3.678m of capital funding for highways maintenance works, the emphasis of this spending to be in the current areas of greatest need, that is minor rural road carriageways and urban footways. The total allocations for New Forest are included in Appendix 3.

5. 2005/06 Highway Maintenance Programme

Revenue Maintenance Programme

5.1 As described above, the revenue maintenance programme funds three main areas of highway maintenance:

(i) reactive minor repair works on the road and footway network;

(ii) minor traffic management improvements of signs and road markings; and

(iii) environmental aspects of highway maintenance including grass cutting, weed treatment and tree and shrub maintenance.

5.2 The total allocation for New Forest in 2005/06 is £893,000. A detailed breakdown of the budget allocations is set out in Appendix 3.

5.3 Additional revenue budgets are held centrally for the performance elements of the County Council's term maintenance contract. The performance based work contained in the contract includes;

(i) gully emptying;

(ii) visibility splay grass cutting;

(iii) winter maintenance; and

(iv) ordinary bridge maintenance.

Capital Maintenance Programme

5.4 The funding allocation for the capital maintenance programme is based on the HAMP rating system which identifies locations having the greatest maintenance need. This system comprises an independent assessment of the condition of roads that have been identified as potential candidates for substantial maintenance work, such as resurfacing.

5.5 Planned structural maintenance repairs undertaken through the capital maintenance programme includes surface dressing, special maintenance and resurfacing schemes. The total allocation for New Forest is £1.983m and a budget breakdown is given in Appendix 3. A provisional list of schemes for 2005/06 is also attached in Appendix 4.

6. Minor Capital Works

6.1 This section of the report outlines

(i) progress with the 2004/05 capital minor works

programme;

(ii) proposals for the 2005/06 capital minor works

programme.

6.2 The capital minor works programme is funded from the capital allocation based on the LTP submission to the Department for Transport. In the 2004/05 programme £250,000 was allocated county-wide, of which £25,000 was allocated to New Forest.

6.3 The schemes in the programme were:-

(i) The Bickerley, Ringwood - Provision of New Footway

6.4 This scheme has been deferred for two reasons. Firstly, there are legal issues surrounding the construction of the new path on the common. Whilst the Town Council, as landowners, are in full support of the scheme it is likely that a formal land exchange will be required which will require a full and formal consultation process. Estates Practice and Legal Practice are currently investigating options to take this scheme forward. The second reason for the delay is that it is understood the Environment Agency wishes to use the area where the footway was to be built as a site compound while it is implementing the flood relief works for the Town. It is considered that use of the area by construction traffic would damage the new footway.

(ii) South Street, Hythe - Provision of Build-outs/Footway under Bridge

6.5 It is hoped to implement this scheme before the end of the financial year. Highway engineers are currently liaising closely with District Council colleagues to ensure delivery of a scheme that fully meets its safety orientated objectives.

(iii) Queen Street, Lymington - Provision of New Build-outs

6.6 This scheme is likely to require a temporary road closure and as a consequence, it is hoped to construct the build outs at the same time as resurfacing St Thomas' Street, when a short term road closure will be in force. The resurfacing works are scheduled for an April start.

Proposals for 2005/06 Programme

6.7 The capital minor works rolling programme is compiled from suggestions made by elected Members, the Police, Parish Councils, Residents Associations, members of the public and mobility groups, etc. A schedule of schemes under consideration for New Forest area is given in Appendix 5. In the 2005/06 programme £200,000 has been allocated county-wide, of which £18,000 has been allocated to New Forest. It is proposed that, in addition to the deferred 2004/05 scheme at The Bickerley, the following schemes be considered for implementation in 2005/06:-

(i) A337 Balmer Lawn - Provision of New Rural Footpath

6.8 In 1999 a pedestrian fell over while walking on the verge adjacent to the highway boundary fence. A claim was subsequently brought against the Highway Authority which was successfully defended in the Court of Appeal in 2004. Whilst the claim was rejected, it is considered that the provision of a formal footpath in this location would be beneficial to pedestrians and provide a safer walking route from the Hollands Wood campsite to Brockenhurst village. This scheme has the support of the Forestry Commission and the Parish Council.

(ii) A337 Romsey Rd, Lyndhurst - Provision of New Pedestrian Refuge

6.9 This new central refuge will facilitate safer crossing facilities for pedestrians using the existing bus stop located on the western side of Romsey Road.

Recommendations

1. That the Highway Maintenance sections of this report be noted; and

2. That the Panel be invited to comment on the proposed 2005/06 capital minor works programme and the Executive Member for Environment be advised accordingly.

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