AT A MEETING of the FAREHAM HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL of Hampshire County Council held at the Civic Offices of Fareham Borough Council at Fareham on Wednesday, 8 March 2006.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors:

p T.G. Knight (Chairman)

p J. V. Bryant p R. H. Price

p Dr R. J. Ellis p Sean D.T. Woodward

p K.D. Evans

a G. M. Hockley

Fareham Borough Council

Councillors:

p P. J. Davies p N. Walker

p Mrs R. Godrich p D. Swanbrow

p A. Mandry p D. J. Murray

a Mrs K. K. Trott p T.T. Howard

District Local Strategic Partnership

a Commander Andrew Trevithick, HMS Collingwood

a Malcolm Morgan, First Group

a David Hemingway, NATS

13. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

14. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

(1) Minute 9 - Travel Plan Programmes

An apology was made for the late circulation of the `Hands Up' survey, which would be distributed in the very near future.

(2) Minute 11- Fareham Borough Council Traffic Management Programme 2005/06 and Other Highway Schemes

It was reported that data gathered from the traffic count undertaken by Fareham Borough Council at the A32 south of St Christopher's Hospital was insufficient and another count was considered necessary.

15. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman made the following announcement in respect of the Highway and Transport Advisory Panels:

"As you may be aware Hampshire County Council has been reviewing its democratic structures and processes with a view to improving the way we engage with local communities and in terms of value for money.

As part of this review we have been considering how to create the best balance between the three main elements of the work of County Councillors

· Decision - making

· The local role of Members

· Scrutiny and challenge

At our Council meeting on the 30^th January we agreed to make changes, including a new approach to supporting Members in their local role, which we are calling Hampshire Action Teams and Networks. Our aim is to improve the way we use and share information locally to let us focus on action and adding value in the local 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 Transport Advisory Panels making this the last meeting of this group.

The new arrangements for HCC Councillors will be much more informal and focused on problem solving including highways and transport issues. The Environment Department is moving more staff out to area offices, so your Area Manager will be able to cover traffic management, implementation of local improvement projects and developing solutions to local transport problems. It is envisaged that HCC 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. We also envisage 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.

We want to take this opportunity to thank people for their participation in these groups previously and to assure all our partners about our intentions for the future. We want to be clear that this does not mean District members will no longer be able to give us their ideas about possible highways projects nor that we will no longer provide information about progress on local projects; it simply means that the way we arrange these things will be different, and improved for Members. District Members should liaise directly with their County equivalents and no doubt you will want to act jointly when this involves actions by both Councils.

We will be talking to all our partners about the new mechanisms as they are put into place. We intend to ensure that there will be an improved level of local information provided to Members, and that local discussion of key matters will still take place.

Thank you all for your work with us to date, we hope that we will continue to work together to secure ongoing improvements to the services we 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 (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which provided an update on transport schemes within the 2005/06 Capital Programme and schemes for the 2006/07 Capital Programme previously approved by the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management in January 2006.

The Director of Environment reported that the Broom Way, Fareham, cycleway scheme had been completed and an Open Day would be held to mark the official opening. In respect of the Fareham-Gosport Quality Bus Partnership, a problem had arisen with the computer system and the installation and operation of the RTPI displays had been delayed. In response to a Member's question, it was confirmed that it was the intention for travellers to be able to receive real-time bus information by mobile phone.

Concern was expressed about non-segregated cycle paths and an accident was cited of a pedestrian hit by a cyclist on a cycle path in Westbury Road, the Director of Environment advised that currently the cycle path in Westbury Road was still in the process of being designated.

It was confirmed by the Director of Environment that in accordance with County Council's normal practice traffic monitoring would be undertaken following the completion of the Park Lane scheme.

It was noted that the Fareham Western Distributor Road (Schooner Way-Warsash Road) scheme had been deferred until the 2008/09 programme.

RESOLVED:

That the progress with the schemes in the Transport Capital Programme be noted and supported those for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2006/07.

18. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES 2005/06 AND 2006/07

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress made on the 2005/06 Highway Maintenance, and detailed the Highway Maintenance Budget and Highway Maintenance Programme for 2006/07.

The Director of Environment provided an update on the Highway Management schemes outlined in the report. During the course of discussion the following points arose:

(i) Barnes Lane -Members reported works well done by the contractor and thanked the officers monitoring the scheme.

(ii) Stubbington Green - Members reported that the surfacing not been completed and some signs had been left on site. Officers would investigate.

(iii) Hillway, Portchester - slippage and road sinking was reported by a district Member. Officers undertook to investigate.

(iv) Funtley Lane - the Director of Environment advised that it was difficult to overcome the flooding in the road due to the lack of a proper drainage system.

(v) Castle Trading Estate - Members requested that any works future works on the estate be coordinated to take place at the same time to avoid unnecessary disruption.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

19. CAPITAL MINOR WORKS PROGRAMMES 2005/06 AND 2006/07

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which outlined the progress made with the 2005/06 Capital Minor Works Programme and gave details of the 2006/07 Capital Minor Works Programme.

Members agreed that the Mill Road, Fareham footway widening scheme was their first choice for inclusion in the Capital Minor Works Programme for 2006/07.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that the following schemes, listed in order of priority, be included in the Capital Minor Works Programme for 2006/07:

(i) Mill Road, Fareham (footway widening) - £10,000;

(ii) Footpath No. 23 - Palomino Drive - £8,000.

20. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME 2005/06 AND OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED SCHEMES

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which reviewed the traffic management programme for 2005/06 undertaken by Fareham Borough Council.

The Chief Planning and Transportation Officer for Fareham Borough Council introduced the report and responded to Members' detailed questions. Concern was expressed at the number of accidents in West Street, Portchester and it was suggested that a 30 mile per hour limit be introduced between the Seagull Public House and Condor Avenue.

Officers undertook to provide further information to individual Members as appropriate.

RESOLVED:


That the report be noted.

21. CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute book) on the progress made in 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 supported programmes commencing in 2006/07. Further to the report Members noted that the corrected figure for proposed funding of the casualty reduction engineering programme was £13.53m not £14m as stated.

The Director of Environment reported that the County Council had successfully negotiated with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister over the setting of the Second Round Local Public Service Agreement stretching targets for road casualties up to 2010. Given Hampshire's particular success in reducing road casualties in previous years, the ODPM had agreed to the stretching targets being calculated on the average figures for 2000 - 2004.

Members noted that two awards for road safety achievements had been received. The County Council's Road Safety Team and GCap Radio were recognised for their creative excellence in UK radio production for an advertisement on drug testing aimed at young drivers and in conjunction with Hampshire Constabulary the County Council were awarded the "Prime Safety Award" for 2006. The latter award was given for partnerships demonstrating excellence in problem solving. Members were appreciative of the County Council's achievement.

Attention was drawn by a Member to the problem of speeding in Hill View Road where a number of accidents had resulted in bollards and walls being knocked down. Officers undertook to investigate the location.

Copies of the Annual Review 2004/05 Safety Camera Partnership were circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

22. TRAVEL PLAN PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute book) which provided an update on the workplace and school travel planning programmes and the Safer Routes to School programme in the East Hampshire area.

The Director of Environment informed Members that over the last six months 28 more schools in Hampshire had developed or were in the process of developing School Travel Plans. The emphasis was now directed more towards education and not solely on taking engineering measures to resolve problems. In June 2005 the County Council had submitted a provisional School Travel Strategy to the Department for Education and Science and this had been successfully judged as falling within the top category.

Members drew attention to complaints received from motorists about traffic jamming outside St Anthony's school. It was noted that being a faith school parents travelled from further afield and therefore more likely to travel to the school by car.

In response to a question raised by a Member as to why some schools had improvements carried out before others, who had submitted their plans at an earlier date, the Director of Environment explained that this was due to the different funding sources and availability of funds for the different types of schools.

Officers undertook to provide update individual Members with information concerning Brookfield School, Crofton Anne Dale and Cams Hill School.

RESOLVED:

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

23. OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) which gave details of programmes for Street Lighting; Regeneration of Older Urban Areas, Bridgeworks, Intelligent Transport Systems, Pedestrian Crossings and Development Related Works.


Members were pleased to learn that the Community Safety Initiative street lighting programme would be completed by the end of October. Difficulties were reported by the Members in obtaining information from the revised client, contractor offices to their queries about street lights. Officers undertook to investigate the matter.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

24. PASSENGER TRANSPORT REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the latest position on concessionary fares, bus services, rail issues and Community Transport.

The Director of Environment updated Members on the bus services and advised that Service 57 would not now be withdrawn, as previously indicated in the report, and the Shopperbus Services 51-53 would continue for a further year. He advised that the County Council was currently developing a new system for rating bus services which would include a community value for each bus service. Discussions were currently underway to restore the link between Whiteley and Locks Heath to have a through route instead of an in and out system at present. Rising bollards were being considered at the present time at the Yew Tree Drive exit on to Botley Road and consultations were underway with the emergency services on a proposal to install an emergency gate.

It was noted that in respect of the countywide Farepass scheme which will give free bus travel concessions for senior citizens and disabled people from 1 April 2006, the District Council had decided to opt out as the funding provided would not meet the costs of introducing the system in Fareham. Free travel would only be provided within the district.

Fareham Members were particularly concerned about Fareham's Transport Strategy especially with regard to the significance of the Railway Station site in light of the probable refusal by the Minister for Transport to support the Light Rapid Transit scheme. Although £50,000 had been set aside for improvements, they sought clarification as to whether the funding depended on the LRT being agreed. They considered the station a modal point for transportation, especially between Gosport and Fareham, and funding for improvements did not appear under any other budgeted heading. They sought confirmation that the station improvement scheme would still go ahead. The Chairman assured the Members that the matter had not been ignored by the County Council but that he was not able to supply any further details until the County Council had been officially informed of the Minister's decision.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.