Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on 7 December 2006
PRESENT:
p Councillor P.R.C. Hutcheson (Chairman)
p Councillor Mrs P. M. Devereux (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors |
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p I. F. E. Beagley a A. S. Carew p Anne Edwards p Mrs K. Heron a Keith House |
p Sam Payne p David Simpson p Mrs M. Tucker a John K. West p S. A. Wheale |
Also in attendance : Councillor M. J. Kendal - Executive Member for Environment. Officers in attendance Tim Cheesebrough - Group Leader Highways Safety (own item only). Kevin Inges - Community Transport Manager. (own item only). Jane Goodwin - Strategic Equality and Diversity Manager (own item only). Philippa Smart - Scrutiny Officer, Chief Executive's Department. Elizabeth Ellam - Solicitor, Chief Executive's Department. Lindsey Hawke-Davies - Chief Executive's Department. 9. APOLOGIES Councillors A. Carew, Keith House and J. K. West. 10. 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. 11. MINUTES Review Committee held on 5 October and 25 October 2006 were confirmed, as amended, as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 12. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
report should be brought forward about the revised speed limit guidance from the Department for Transport. This item is now a key decision and will be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 18 December 2006. The new Department for Transport guidance recommends a framework for the assessment and consistent application of speed limits on roads throughout the country with a request to review all speed limits on `A' and `B' roads by 2011. Members suggested that the item should be referred to the Hampshire Action Teams' meetings for consideration. 13. ITEMS TO INFORM THE SCUTINY PROGRAMME (a) Programme of Cabinet/Executive decisions Environmental Design Guidelines Draft Programme and Progress Report
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 (a) in the Minute Book) on an initial programme for the assessment of highway environment including street furniture and sign `de-cluttering' pilot, to be submitted to the Executive Member for Environment at his meeting on 12 December 2006. The Director of Environment advised that the replacement of signs was carried out in consultation and agreement with other Highway Authorities and the rationalisation and effects of signs across Hampshire needed to be considered carefully. The Committee noted that in particular the report identified a highway environment review pilot project for the southern half of the rural A32 between West Meon Hut and Wickham which would involve close working with Rural England who had chosen to work with the County Council in its national `anti sign clutter' campaign. Members noted the representative sample of schemes set out in the appendix to the report and requested more information on costs.
RESOLVED That the report be welcomed. (b) Disability Equality Duty Consultation Feedback Councillor David Simpson declared a personal interest as a person with disabilities. The Committee received a presentation by the Strategic Equality Diversity Manager, a copy of which was circulated to Members. The presentation highlighted issues and concerns about travel and transport expressed by disabled people at a series of `involvement' events held in partnership with other public bodies in the county. Members agreed that there was a need for cross boundary working to address issues relating to community transport and that consideration should be given to looking at the wider picture for the safety of disabled people, the elderly and children. The Strategic Equality Diversity Manager was thanked for her informative presentation and her report was noted. (c) Eligibility Criteria for Patient Transport Services The Scrutiny Officer reported on a consultative document from the Department of Health proposing to extend the eligibility for Hospital Travel Costs Scheme and Patient Travel Services into the community. The opportunity existed to feed comments into the consultation either directly or jointly with the health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Members commented on aspects of the document and noted the new eligibility criteria. (d) Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative The Committee considered the suggestion by the Director of Environment that Members accept for scrutiny an outline business case setting out choices to be made in relation to street lighting levels, energy management and design standards. The Government has asked Hampshire County Council to examine opportunities for joint working with West Sussex County Council and Southampton City Council. Members agreed that the topic would be accepted for scrutiny and that a workshop would be held towards the end of January and early February 2007 to consider the key choices to be made in relation to the street lighting issues to be explored. (e) Prioritised Topics for the Scrutiny Work Programme The Scrutiny Officer agreed to the request by Members to re circulate the prioritised topics for the Scrutiny programme to provide them with a further opportunity to comment and score the topics. 14. RANKING MECHANISM FOR LOCAL BUS SERVICES The Scrutiny Officer reported that the workshop to consider the Ranking Mechanism for Local Bus Service Contracts would be held on 13 December 2006 from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The workshop would provide Members with an opportunity to input into what criteria should be included, deciding on bus service support and influencing the process for consultation on reviewing bus services once the criteria have been applied. 15. MOTORWAY DIVERSION ROUTES The Scrutiny Officer reported that the workshop on Motorway Diversion Routes would be held on 12 December 2006 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. with a working lunch provided. The workshop would provide Members with an opportunity to feed into the Highways Agency consultation on Motorway Diversion Routes and identify the approach that would best achieve the Highways Agency objective while minimising the impact on local communities. |
Action Scrutiny Officer to refer to the Hampshire Action Teams. The Chief Executive to circulate to those Members not present Feedback from Members will be included in the Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee The Scrutiny Officer to update on progress to the Committee in January 2007. The Scrutiny Officer to circulate to Members. The Scrutiny Officer to report to Committee in January 2007. The Scrutiny Officer to report to Committee in January 2007. |