Item 2

AT A MEETING of the NEW FOREST HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL held at New Forest District Council, Appletree Court, Lyndhurst on 9 March 2006.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Mrs P.G. Banks (Chairman); N.R.G. Clarke; B.D. Dash; L.T. Dunsdon; D. Harrison; Mrs K. Heron; M.J. Kendal; and A.W. Rice.

New Forest District Council

Councillors: K.F. Ault; M.H.G. Fidler; P.E. Hickman; B.M.F. Pemberton; D.N. Scott; M.J. Shand; P.R. Woods; and Mrs P.A. Wyeth.

Local Strategic Partnership

Councillor R.J. Neath

Also present: Councillor J.K. Glen - Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy.

12. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A. Evans, Councillor T.K. Thornber, Councillor A. Weeks and Councillor F.R. Harrison.

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 debate declare their interest, and having regards 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 declarations of interest were made by Members.

14. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 8 March 2005 were confirmed as a correct record, subject to minor typographical amendments, and signed by the Chairman.

15. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman announced that, due to a restructuring of the democratic processes of Hampshire County Council, this would be the last meeting of the Panel. Alternative arrangements would be made for Councillors to fulfil their local role and discuss local transport issues with District Councillors. A copy of an announcement was circulated, as attached as appendix 1 to these minutes.

The Chairman invited Councillor Glen to make a brief announcement to the Panel which summarised the work done by the New Forest Road Network Sub-Group. This had been considering the issues of traffic around the Lyndhurst area for over a year. All options had been taken into consideration and there had been a range of outcomes from this work, including that the County Council had no current plans for a bypass around the Lyndhurst area. A letter explaining the outcome of the sub-group's workings would be sent to all Members of the Panel. Councillor Glen thanked officers for their hard work and the resource of their extensive knowledge of the area.

16. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

17. POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF HIGHWAY WEED-KILLING TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL AGENTS

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the minute book) informing Members of the views of district officers in regarding the possibility of operating an agency service for weed killing. Contracts for the service were under review and it was considered an opportune time to look at its delivery. Weed killing could be performed in conjunction with grass cutting services, which were carried out by District Councils under an agency agreement, therefore cutting the costs of providing the services.

The Panel noted that this would not include the arrangements made for noxious weeds and ragwort pulling as this was a labour intensive job which was it was necessary to carry out at specific times of year. It was highlighted that this job was especially important in the New Forest due to the number of horses, ponies and other animals which could be poisoned by eating ragwort.

Members were invited to discuss the matter further with officers and to consider what standards of performance would be required if the service was transferred.

18. UPDATE ON SCHEMES IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) providing an update on transport schemes within the 2005/06 Capital Programme, including those schemes carried over from the 2004/05 Programme, and with details of schemes for the 2006/07 Capital Programme. The Director of Environment informed the Panel of all the latest developments with each scheme and, in relation to the Pedestrian Crossing Programme 2006/07, circulated a draft report for comment (Item 5x in the Minute Book).

It was reported that some projects had undergone delays because the professional services contract with Atkins, the Highways and Transport Consultancy company, had come to an end. Engineers were in the process of handing over work and it was hoped that this period would conclude soon.

The Director of Environment confirmed that a Pegasus crossing was a type of crossing designed to be used by cycles, pedestrians and horse riders. With regard to Rumbridge Street Traffic and Environmental Improvement Scheme it was intended that the second and third phases would be completed in conjunction, beginning in Autumn 2006. This should minimise the duration of the impact upon traffic and local businesses.

It was confirmed that it was an offence to cycle on a designated footway, but that this should be dealt with in context. Councils could convert footways to cycle ways but it was necessary to erect signs to that effect which was not always welcomed by users of the routes.

The Panel was advised that, although the proposed scheme to impose HGV restrictions in the northern New Forest had been initiated by discussions with Wiltshire County Council, the majority of the restriction would affect Hampshire. A working group of officers from Hampshire and Wiltshire had been established and detailed work had been taking place.

RESOLVED:

That the schemes approved for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2006/07 be supported.

19. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND MINOR CAPITAL WORKS

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) outlining progress on the 2005/06 highway maintenance programme; details of the 2006/07 highway maintenance budget; details of the 2006/07 highway maintenance programme; progress on the 2005/06 minor capital works programme; and proposals for the 2006/07 minor capital works programme. The Director of Environment outlined the latest developments with each scheme in the programme. Members were invited to comment on the proposed schemes for the 2006/07 capital minor works programme.

20. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) covering the main programme of traffic management work in the New Forest District area in 2005/06. Members were advised that a total of 8 district or borough councils had introduced decriminalized parking enforcement (DPE) to date. The County Council had been the first authority outside of London to introduce DPE and this had resulted in the Council's heavy involvement in the National Parking Adjudication Service Joint Committee.

Members were advised that the new emblem of the New Forest National Park would be used on all new finger post direction signs installed in the area. It was generally felt that despite the cost and longer lead-in times for these signs, they were an attractive feature and suited the rural location.

It was explained that HGV restrictions were complicated and costly schemes and that the trigger point for considering their implementation was 20 through trips per day of vehicles over seven and a half tonnes.

21. CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 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, together with the proposed shape of the second Local Transport Plan (LTP) and supported programmes commencing in 2006/07. A copy of the Safety Camera Partnership's `Annual Review 2004/2005' leaflet (Item 8x in the minute book) was circulated. The Panel was informed that a revised figure of £13.53 million, instead of £14 million, had been made available for the casualty reduction engineering programme over the five years of the second LTP.

Officers had negotiated with the government a stretching target for the number of killed and seriously injured casualties per annum. If this target was achieved a reward grant would be made to provide funding for further improvements. The Director of Environment explained that the significant reduction to date was likely to be a result of the cumulative effect of improved safety in cars, increased awareness of the public, speed camera schemes and other engineering initiatives.

The Panel discussed the future for traffic in the New Forest area and whether further fencing may be required in some areas. It was felt by some Members that it was preferable to keep the majority of the New Forest open so that the animals could continue to move about freely. It was considered important to encourage local drivers to adhere to the blanket speed limit of 40 miles per hour.

22. TRAVEL PLAN PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minutes Book) providing a progress update on the workplace and school travel planning programmes for the New Forest area as well as the Safer Routes to School programme. Members were informed of some staffing issues which had impacted upon this work. The Director of Environment advised that £75,000 of extra funding had been made available for schools in the New Forest. This had been used to install cycle shelters and parents' waiting shelters at some schools. Members welcomed the progress made with the delivery of these schemes.

23. OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) covering a range of activities undertaken by specialist teams within the Environment Department. The Panel was advised that the type of street lights being used were low-spill which reduced levels of light pollution in urban areas.

24. PASSENGER TRANSPORT REPORT

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the minute book) detailing the position on concessionary fares, local bus service support, bus infrastructure improvements, rail issues and Hythe Ferry. The new scheme for concessionary fares was explained and it was acknowledged that there were inconsistencies between the schemes run by the different Districts across Hampshire. Members commented that a free bus pass would be of little value to those residents of rural areas which were not served by buses. It was felt that the complexities of the schemes may be confusing to the public.