AT A MEETING of the EASTLEIGH HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday 8 March 2006.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors:

p C. R. H. Davidovitz (Chairman)

Eastleigh Borough Council

Councillors:

13 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 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. (No such declarations were made).

14 MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2005 were confirmed as a correct record.

Arising thereon:

Minute 2 - Winchester Road Traffic Study

In answer to a Member's question about greater priority being given to Winchester Road traffic study, the Director of Environment undertook to investigate this further and report back to the Member concerned.

Minute 5 - Valley Park to Toynbee School Cycleway

At the request of a Member concerning problems with cycling over the footbridge and the need to take into account potential demand, the Director of Environment advised that this matter would be investigated further and he would report back to the Member concerned.

15 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that Hampshire County Council had been reviewing its democratic structures and processes with a view to improving the way it engaged with local communities and in terms of value for money.

As part of the review consideration had been given as to how to create the best balance between the three main elements of the work of County Councillors in terms of decision making, the local role of Members and Scrutiny and Challenge.

At the County Council meeting on 30 January 2006 it was agreed to make changes, including a new approach to supporting Members in their local role, which is being called Hampshire Action Teams and Networks. The aim is to improve the way information is used and shared locally to focus on action and adding value in the community. In order to resource the new approach some current activities will need to end and it has been agreed that the current Highways and Transport Advisory Panels and Transport Strategy Panels are no longer required in their previous form.

Both of these mechanisms will therefore be ended following this round of Highways and Transport Advisory Panels making this the last meeting of this group.

The new arrangements for Hampshire County Council Councillors will be much more informal and focus on problem solving including highways and transport issues. The Environment Department is moving more staff out to area offices, so the Area Manager for this group will be able to cover traffic management, implementation of local improvement projects and developing solutions to local transport problems.

It is envisaged that Hampshire County Council Members will specifically meet a couple of times a year to decide which problems are the highest priority to investigate within the staffing and funding available, consider priorities for the following year's capital programme and look back at the things that have been done to see if they have been successful in addressing the priorities for improvement.

It is envisaged that there will be more informal contacts and discussions with Area Managers in the Highway and Transport Service to keep Members abreast of developments and progress on local issues.

The Chairman thanked people for their participation in these groups previously and assured all partners about the intentions for the future. It did not mean that District Members would no longer be able to provide ideas about possible highways projects nor that information would no longer be provided about progress on local projects; it simply meant that things would be arranged differently and improved for Members. District Members should liaise directly with their County equivalents and no doubt would want to act jointly when this involved actions by both Councillors. The new mechanisms would be talked about with all partners as they are put into place. It is intended that there would be an improved level of local information provided to Members and that local discussionof key matters would still take place.

The Chairman thanked everyone for all for their work to date, hoped that everyone would continue to work together to secure ongoing improvements to the services to provide to the people of Hampshire in ever more effective ways.

16 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations

17 UPDATE ON SCHEMES IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council (Item 6 in the Minute Book) providing a progress report on transport schemes within the 2006/07 Capital Programme that have been approved by the Executive Member for Environment : South Hampshire andResource Management at his meeting on 18 January 2006. A detailed discussion ensued during the course of which the following issues were raised (inter alia): -

Southampton Airport

In answer to Members questions, the Director of Environment reported that discussions were currently taking place with South West Trains to improve the footbridge over the Railway Station and the bus infrastructure.

Eastleigh Quality Bus Partnership

The Officers reported that in conjunction with officers at Eastleigh Borough Council consideration was being given again to accommodating trials at the junction of Leigh Road and Upper Market Street.

RESOLVED:

That the progress with the schemes in the Transport Capital Programme be noted and that support be given to those approved for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2006/07.

18 UPDATE ON HIGHWAY AND MINOR WORKS PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council (Item 7 in the Minute Book) outlining progress with regard to the 2005/06 Highway Maintenance and Minor Capital Works Programmes and providing details on the 2006/07 Highway Maintenance Budget.

In a response to a Member question about the deterioration of the railings at Winchester Road and Oakmount Road, the Director of Environment reported that the decorative railings were made to order and were waiting to be installed.

In response to a Member question concerning the damaged fencing on the west side of Oakmount Road, the Director of Environment reported that the fencing had been ordered and would hopefully be installed in March. He undertook to contact the Member with the date.

RESOLVED:

That the sections of the report on Highway Maintenance as detailed in sections 2 to 5 of the report be noted.

That the Executive Member for Environment be recommended to give priority to the following schemes from those listed in Appendix 5 of the report, in the order shown :-

· Moorgreen Road, West End

· Burnetts Lane Footway from Saxon Court to Botley Road

19 PASSENGER TRANSPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council (Item 8 in the Minute Book) providing details of the latest position on concessionary fares, bus services, bus infrastructure improvements, community transport and rail issues.

The Panel emphasised the need to provide clarity of information to travelling passengers with the introduction of the Hampshire Farepass scheme.

Members noted that the concessionary fare scheme for Eastleigh amounted to £52 for people 80+ and not £45 as stated in the report. It was noted that 2,000 vouchers for senior citizens were provided last year as a result of the concession although Members expressed concern that there may be misunderstanding about changes to the concessionary fare scheme.

In response to a Member question about the car parking problems at Hedge End Railway Station at peak times, the Director of Environment advised that there were particular difficulties at this station car park which were being investigated. A Member updated the Panel by stating that the Local Area Committee at Hedge End had recognised the potential to expand the station to the west and following this a survey had been undertaken of residents in the area and options were being considered to relieve the pressure on the adjacent residential roads.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

20 EASTLEIGH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Engineering, Eastleigh Borough Council (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on progress made, and new issues arising, with regard to Eastleigh traffic management since the last meeting.

In response to a Member question about the possibility of introducing a blanket policy on no verge parking , the Director of Environment advised that this had been considered but the scale and definition would make it difficult to introduce.

Members noted that the introduction of parking meters in Eastleigh Town Centre were working satisfactorily.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

21 CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council (Item 10 in the Minute Book) outlining progress on the Hampshire County Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partnership casualty reduction programmes for 2005/06 and the proposed shape of the Second Local Transport Plan (LTP) supported programmes commencing in 2006/07.

Members noted the correction of £13.53 million instead of £14 million to the proposed funding of the casualty reduction engineering programme over the next five years.

Members also noted that an additional award had been received for road safety achievement that of Prince Michael of Kent Award for National Road Safety Commendation on the work for reducing the number of motorcycle accidents in 2003/04.

Members felt that although the casualty figures were encouraging it would be helpful to identify the cause of accidents and the Director of Environment reported that information was collected by Hampshire Constabulary about the cause, site and severity of accidents which was analysed.

In response to queries concerning safety at Junctions 5 and 13 of the M27 and M3 and the respective responsibilities of the County Council and the Highways Agency, Members noted that there was an operational road safety plan in place for motorways and trunk roads in Hampshire. Through this the County Council co-operated with the Highways Agency over safety measures of mutual concern. Discussions were taking place in relation to the safety of junction 5 of the M27. A Member asked for concerns about lighting levels on the approach to the junction from the west to be raised by the County Council with the Highways Agency's local offices.

Members commented on the effectiveness of the new Speed Indicator Device (SID) signs the Borough Council had recently deployed and whether the County Council would be supporting further use of these in Hampshire. The Director of Environment advised that he was pleased that in some four Hampshire Districts and Boroughs the effectiveness of similar signs was being monitored and through the second Local Public Service Agreement pump priming grant from Government an additional two similar signs reminding drivers of posted speed limits could be made available to each District or Borough Council from April 2006.

In connection with the coloured surfacing on roads, where it was commented by Members that these treatments needed to be adequately maintained, it was noted that the discolouration would not always distract from the effectiveness of the high friction surfaces but these were kept under review as part of safety scheme programmes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

22 TRAVEL PLAN PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on progress on the workplace and school travel planning programmes in the Eastleigh area, and associated matters including an update on the Eastleigh Safer Routes to Schools programme.

Member were pleased to note the percentage of approved travel plans for schools in the Eastleigh area but felt the need to encourage more businesses to take up Workplace Plans.

RESOLVED:

That the progress made with the delivery of the workplace and School Travel Plans and Safer Routes to School programmes in the Eastleigh area be noted.

23 OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council (Item 12 in the Minute Book) detailing the programmes for Street Lighting, Hampshire Villages Initiative and Regeneration of Older Urban Areas, Bridge works, Intelligent Transport Systems, Pedestrian Crossings and Development Related Works.

Members noted that the programme for column replacement was £2 million and not £2.2 million as stated in the report. Further to his report, the Director of Environment advised that in relation to the Community Safety Initiative Programme for 2005/06 the scheme for Whitebeam to Laburnham footpath at Hedge End was due for completion by 27 March 2006 and that School Lane - Long Lane at Bursledon had been withdrawn from the Community Safety Initiative Programme for 2006/07 and replaced with a scheme at Monks Road.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.