AT A MEETING of the CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY PANEL held on Tuesday 25 October 2005 at The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

p T. G. Knight (Chairman)

Councillors:

p A. Carew p M. Kemp - Gee

p Mrs P. Dickens p R. Perry.

East Hampshire District Council

Councillors:

p R. Ayer p Mrs J. J. Gray

p A. B. Chick p A. Ludlow.

Test Valley Borough Council

Councillors:

p R. J. Bailey a A. V. Jackson

a A. Hope T. M. Southern

Winchester City Council

Councillors:

p Mrs G. M. C. Busher p P. Davies

p R. Knasel p B. Lipscomb

Also present at the invitation of the Chairman: Councillor Jackie Porter and

Councillor Charlotte Bailey.

11. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. R. Ludlow

(Hampshire County Council); Councillor A. Hope and Councillor V. Jackson

(Test Valley Borough Council).

12. 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.

13. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 14 June 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

14. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no Chairman's communications.

15. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

16. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the

Minute Book) providing an update on the development of the full Local Transport Plan (LTP). Members were informed that, contrary to information contained within paragraph 6.1 of the report, the LTP Workshop would not be held on 8 December and it was noted that the Workshop would be held on Thursday 24 November at 2.00pm in the Conference Room, Ashburton Court, The Castle, Winchester.

It was confirmed that as an overarching transport policy document the LTP would take a strategic view and incorporate details of future infrastructure needs, taking into account the requirements of the South East Plan and the South East England Regional Assembly. There was agreement that significant investment would be needed in infrastructure in order to accommodate anticipated growth rates and while the LTP only included one 'major scheme' (Light Rapid Transit) others would be submitted to the Government as and when ready.

Further discussion took place on the Government's LTP funding formula and on the process by which a major scheme bid attained funding.

RESOLVED:

That the timetable and details for the development of the full Local Transport Plan be noted.

17. CAPITAL PROGRAMME AND SCHEME ASSESSMENT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the

Minute Book) discussing the five year transport capital programme put forward in the County Council's provisional Local Transport Plan and proposing a way forward to finalising the 2006/07 programme. It was stressed that the schemes listed in Appendix 3 to the report where the priorities suggested to the County Council by the respective District and Borough Councils and not a finalised programme.

A full discussion ensued during which Members made various comments about schemes or issues to be addresses in the Local Transport Plan and the list of priorities. These included access to Andover Railway Station and improvements, improvements at M3 junction 9 Winnall intersection to tackle congestion and safety, the reduction of speeds through villages, rural accessibility, emerging air quality problems and more facilities for cyclists on trains. Members also raised a number of points both on the broad principles and the detailed wording of the text and the Director of Environment agreed to amend the wording accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire and Resource

Management be advised of the Panel's agreement with the spending plan,

Provisional Capital Programme for 2006/07 and the local priorities identified

for the next 5 years (subject to those issues mentioned above).

18. THE PROVISIONAL LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2006-2011 :

AREA STRATEGIES AND ACCESSIBILITY

Councillor Mrs Dickens declared a personal interest in view of her employment

with the NHS.

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 8 in the

Minute Book) including those sections of the provisional Local Transport Plan

relating specifically to the Central Strategy Area and outlining how work on

accessibility initiatives and improvements will be progressed in Hampshire over

the Local Transport Plan 2 (LTP20 period.

In the ensuing discussion the following issues were raised:

(a) to broaden the accessibility wider than the Government's main themes;

(b) the possibility of adding an additional pilot scheme relating to Healthcare in

Andover and Winchester;

(c) consideration of the need to improve signs and the need to reduce sign

clutter.

RESOLVED

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire and Resource

Management be advised of the Panel's views (as listed above) on the Central

Area strategy sections of the Local Transport Plan and further accessibility and

sign clutter pilots.

19. WINCHESTER PARK AND RIDE

The Panel considered the oral report of the Director of Environment and

subsequent report (item 9 in the Minute Book) on the Winchester Park and Ride

circulated at the meeting.

The Panel supported the need for a further Park and Ride site in south Winchester

and welcomed the proposals submitted.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel notes the developing proposals for a south Winchester Park and

Ride site.

20. DATE, TIME AND VENUE FOR THE NEXT PANEL MEETING

No details available at this juncture.