AT A MEETING of the GOSPORT HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL held at Gosport Borough Council, Town Hall, Gosport on 20 March 2006.

PRESENT :

Hampshire County Council

Councillors :

p T Knight ( Chairman )

p P.J. Chegwyn

p P.R. Edgar

a K.L.Gill

Mrs. M. D. Snaith

p D.F. Wright

Gosport Borough Council

Councillors :

p M.K.Davis

p Mrs. I.E. Binfield

p P.C. Langdon

p B. Taylor

D.G. Smith

Local Strategic Partnership

p Mr. I Lycett

Mr. D. Miles

Mr. S. Howell

1 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 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. Any declaration to be made at the time of the debate.

Councillor Edgar declared an interest as taxi driver in the Borough and left the meeting during discussion of Item 12 Other Highway Related Programmes.

2 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2005 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

3 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman made the following announcement :

" 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 & 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. "

The Chairman indicated that although details of the new arrangements had not

been finalised, channels of communication would exist at local level for County

and District members to be involved with local issues.

4 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations

5 UPDATE ON SCHEMES IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment ( Item 6 in the
Minute Book providing an update on transport schemes within the 2004/05 and

2005/06 Capital Programme, together with schemes for the 2006/07 Capital

Programme.

RESOLVED :

That progress with the schemes in the Transport Capital Programme be noted and

that those schemes approved for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2006/07

be supported.

Councillor Wright welcomed progress with Real Time Passenger Information on

the A32, and was advised that although delays occurred in Bridgemary of which

the public might not at present be aware, the operators would be able to adjust the

flow of vehicles as necessary, using a radio link with bus drivers..

6 HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES 2005/06 AND 2006/07

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

Minute Book ) outlining progress with the 2005/06 Highway Maintenance Programme; details of the 2006/07 Highways Maintenance Budget; and the 2006/07 Highway Maintenance Programme.

Councillor Wright drew attention to the new cycle way at Tukes Avenue, where

the grass verge had not germinated. This was being monitored until the end of

the summer and would be further investigated.

.

RESOLVED :

1 That the report be noted .

7 CAPITAL MINOR WORKS PROGRAMMES 2005/06 AND 2006/07

The panel considered the report of the Director of Environment ( Item 8 in the

Minute Book ) outlining progress with the 2005/06 Capital Minor Works

Programme; and details of the 2006/07 Capital Minor Works Programme.

RESOLVED :

1 That the report be noted

2 That the following schemes be undertaken in priority order :

a. Privett Road - Provision of Refuge

b. Elson Road - Build Outs near School Road

c. Stokes Bay road adjacent No 2 Battery Pedestrian

Refuge.

8 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Regulatory Services Manager,

Gosport Borough Council ( Item 9 in the Minute Book ) covering the main

programme of traffic management work in the Gosport Borough in 2005/06 and

2006/07.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

9 CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME

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

( 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 together with the proposed shape of the

Second Local Transport Plan ( LTP ) and supported programmes commencing

in 2006/07.

It was explained that the County Council had made £1 million available to support the low cost / high yield casualty reduction programme, which included surface dressing measures. The proposed level of casualty reduction engineering funding for inclusion in the County Council's second LTP submission, would if successful enable £13.53 million to be spent over five years.

The County Council continued to achieve favourably against government

Targets and this aim would be pursued against a baseline of 2004. Successes

were noted with the following awards :

· Prince Michael of Kent Road Safety Awards 2005 - Commendation

· GCap radio - Creative Excellence

· Prime Community Safety Award 2006.

The rules for funding were to change from 1 April 2007, when Camera Safety

Partnerships would cease. In future funding would come in the form of supplementary funding through the LTP process.

Councillor Chegwyn had received many calls and letters about the Grove Road junction with Heritage Way. Officers were requested to investigate the options to improve safety, without closing the road.

10 TRAVEL PLAN PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment ( Item 11 in

the Minute Book ) providing an update on the workplace and school travel

planning for the Gosport area; and an update on the Gosport Safer Routes

to Schools programmes.

The County Council had been congratulated by the DfES and Department for

Transport's ( DfT) Travelling to School Iniative Project Board for their

submission of a provisional School Travel Strategy

The future of the War Memorial Hospital Site was causing much concern in the area, and it was felt that the development would require a Travel Plan. It was explained that this was the responsibility of the Primary Health Care Trust, and that the County Council could only encourage the Trust in this aim at the present time.

Similar concerns were also expressed about the Thorngate Hall site.

RESOLVED :

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

11 OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

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

( Item 12 in the Minute Book ) covering a range of activities undertaken by

specialist teams within the Environment Department.

It was explained that the County Council had bid for £83 million Private

Finance Initiative ( PFI ) funding for the lighting column replacement .

The maintenance contract continued to provide over 99% of all street lights on

at any one time. The column replacement programme for 2005/06 in Gosport was now completed

Concerns were expressed regarding the adoption of Weevil Lane as the

developer was reluctant to enter into an agreement. This was to be

investigated.

The withdrawl of late night bus services 82 & 83 was causing inconvenience,

particularly to the elderly who were reported to be deterred from using the

Borough Council's facilities as they were less able to travel within the

Borough. It was explained that insufficient revenue was generated on these

services. Officer were urged to look again at this matter.

12 PASSENGER TRANSPORT REPORT

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Director of Environment
( Item 13 in the Minute Book ) detailing the latest position on concessionary
fares, bus services, bus infrastructure and rail issues.

The latest position regarding concessionary fares was described. It was

reported that the scheme had not worked out as well as expected in that

some districts had received insufficient funding to offer free travel for all 24 hour periods, although Gosport borough was not amongst these.

RESOLVED :

1 That the report be noted.

.

13 POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF HIGHWAY WEED-KILLING TO THE

DISTRICT COUNCIL AGENTS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment ( Item 14 ) in the Minute Book ), regarding the possible transfer of weed-treatment to district councils.

RESOLVED :

That the report be noted.

06 2 GOSPORT HTAP Minutes 20032006

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