Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the TRANSPORT FOR SOUTH HAMPSHIRE JOINT COMMITTEE of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL AND PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL held at Portsmouth Civic Offices on 28 January 2009.
PRESENT:
Hampshire County Council
Councillor M.J. Kendal, Executive Member for Environment
Stuart Jarvis - Managing Director, PUSH
Keith Willcox - Project Director, Transport for South Hampshire
Portsmouth City Council
John Slater - Head of Planning Services
Southampton City Council
Councillor Matthew Dean - Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability
Geoff Cornford - Transport Planning Manager
Phil Marshall - Regional Transport Planner
Jessica Cluett - Highways Agency
Phil Dominey - South West Trains
Observers
Eastleigh Borough Council:
Councillor David Airey
Fareham Borough Council
Councillor David Swanbrow
Andy Viccars
Havant Borough Council
Councillor Jenny Wride
Tony Cailes
New Forest District Council
Councillor Chris Treleaven
Test Valley Borough Council
Vivien Messenger
Winchester City Council
Andy Hickman
55 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Councillor Lynne Stagg, Executive Member for Traffic and Transportation, Portsmouth City Council; Neil Pearce from SEEDA; David Cooper from GOSE; Paul Robinson from The Highways Agency; David Lees from Southampton International Airport; Graham Ellis from Hampshire Economic Partnership; Pete Brunskill from the University of Southampton; Natalie Chapman from the Freight Transport Association.
56 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or a personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should declare their personal 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 save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code. The declaration to be made at the time of the relevant debate.
No such interests were declared on this occasion.
57 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman reported that he, together with the Executive Members from Portsmouth and Southampton, had attended the Regional Transport Board in London on 16 January and that they planned to attend future meetings of the Board. He also reported that he had welcomed the new Transport Minister, Paul Clarke, to the Zip A3 Portsmouth - Clanfield Bus Corridor and had taken the opportunity to draw his attention to the future role of bus rapid transport between Fareham and Gosport: the outcome of the funding bid was still awaited.
58 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 17 October 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
59 SOUTH HAMPSHIRE AGREEMENT - MULTI AREA AGREEMENT REFRESH
The Committee considered the report of the Hampshire Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) seeking approval for Transport for South Hampshire to participate in refreshing the South Hampshire agreement and to submit the next multi-area agreement. The proposals would build on the valued links established between Transport for South Hampshire, PUSH and Central Government. It was hoped they would lead to a memorandum of outstanding with Network Rail with a view to a pilot project being established for the use of smart media to encourage the use of sustainable transport modes such as buses and trains, by effective use of modern technology. The aim was to achieve a modal shift from use of the private car.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Joint Committee approves in principle the participation of Transport for South Hampshire in refreshing the South Hampshire agreement and submitting the next multi-area agreement.
(ii) That the Project Director be delegated to negotiate applicable transport provisions of the next multi area agreement on behalf of Transport for South Hampshire.
60 SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE BUS RAPID TRANSIT
The Committee considered the report of the Hampshire Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the progress of the scheme and seeking approval to undertake studies to develop further phases. The Project Director outlined the route, sequence of works and the funding situation for the first phase. A site visit had been arranged for the Department of Transport and Government Office for the South East (GOSE) to view the route and a Government decision on funding was awaited. A planning application would be submitted in March and would eventually go to the County Council's Regulatory Committee for determination.
The outcome of recent public consultations was reported, with general levels of satisfaction with the scheme at about 50%. Many respondents were people whose houses backed onto the proposed route and who had raised issues about open space and ecology. In response to questions, it was confirmed that no major planning issues had been raised so far; the County Council owned the former railway line, but would need to acquire some small areas of land to complete the assembly of the areas required for the bus route. In response to questions about funding in the current financial situation, it was confirmed that the bus rapid transit was a strong scheme with good prospects of early implementation, but a final decision from Government was dependent on its achieving priority status when assessed against other contenders.
It was recognised by Members that the bus rapid transit scheme between Fareham and Gosport would need to be coordinated and linked to other schemes in the network for South East Hampshire, with further connections to North Fareham and Queen Alexandra Hospital at Cosham being viewed as vital. To achieve that momentum it would be necessary to deliver Phase 1 whilst simultaneously accelerating the feasibility and design work for later phases. The bus operators viewed onward connections as a vital element in a network that could facilitate development when the economy improved.
The Chairman reported receipt of letters expressing concern on potential noise and loss of amenity if areas currently used as informal open space became a bus rapid transit route. The County Council would need to address the ecology issues that had been raised by residents.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the progress on Phase 1 of the South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit Scheme between Fareham and Gosport be noted.
(ii) That approval be given to undertake studies on the development of the further phases of the South East Hampshire Rapid Transit Scheme.
61 TRANSPORT FOR SOUTH HAMPSHIRE FREIGHT STRATEGY
The Committee considered the report of the Hampshire Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) summarising the key outcomes of the 12 week consultation and seeking approval to revise the South Hampshire Freight Strategy in the light of this feedback. During discussion Members highlighted the following issues:-
· The freight strategy should be subject of consultation with local residents where there was likely to be an impact on them.
· District Councils should be notified that they should include space for lorry distribution points in appropriate areas as part of their Local Development Frameworks.
· There was a need to identify a suitable site for a lorry park adjacent to the M27.
· There was a need for cross-boundary collaboration on lorry routes to ensure that decisions taken in one area did not have an adverse impact on neighbours.
· There was merit in concentrating on methods of distribution as well as routes, with the aim of large lorries delivering goods to distribution centres and then smaller vehicles would make deliveries locally.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the results of the freight strategy consultation be noted, and officers authorised to amend the draft strategy to take account of feedback received, with a view to bringing a proposed final strategy to the next meeting for consideration, in the light of the points noted above.
(ii) That the remit of the Transport for South Hampshire Freight Forum be extended, to allow it to function as a sounding board and advisory group on strategic freight challenges.
(iii) That the setting up of a Freight Quality Partnership be endorsed.
62 DELIVERING A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEM
The Committee considered the report of the Southampton Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) summarising the proposed response by Transport for South Hampshire to the Government consultation "Delivering a sustainable transport system". A map showing the national strategic corridors was circulated. The inconsistencies between references to "sustainable transport system" and "sustainable transport strategy" would be rectified. There was general support for the proposition that London-Portsmouth and London-Southampton should be added as strategic passenger routes; and recognition that despite their regional significance, Bournemouth and Southampton Airports were not on a scale to be of national significance. It was agreed that the proposed response would be supported by a covering letter signed by the Chairman.
RESOLVED:
That the Joint Committee submits the response to the Government's consultation on "Delivering a sustainable transport system" as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
63 REGIONAL TRANSPORT BOARD
Portsmouth `s Head of Planning Services reported on salient issues being discussed at the Regional Transport Board's meetings. With regard to Portsmouth, he referred to schemes for Tipner access, the Trafalgar Gate link road and the Northern Road rail bridge where it was now proposed by the Regional Transport Board to bring forward funding for these schemes. Similar schemes were also being brought forward within the Southampton area with a view to their early delivery. The challenge was to manage these large capital schemes in a short timescale, in the knowledge that match funding was required if they were to proceed to schedule.
There was general appreciation of the higher profile of Transport for South Hampshire as a delivery agency, and signs of greater understanding by the Regional Transport Board of what it could achieve. The Committee felt there was a strong case for more elected members to serve on the Regional Transport Board, in particular one from the Transport for South Hampshire area. To that end a letter would be sent to the South East Regional Assembly pointing out the key role of Transport for South Hampshire in the timely delivery of schemes and asking for a seat on the Regional Transport Board for an elected member representative.
RESOLVED:
That representations be made to the South East Regional Assembly (SEERA) in favour of elected member representation on the Regional Transport Board.
64 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date for the next meeting of the Committee was noted - Wednesday, 29 April 2009 at Winchester Guildhall.
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