Agenda and minutes

(NB: In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, the Chair and Vice-Chair must be County Councillors.  County and District Councillors may vote)   

RESOLVED that Councillor Croad be elected Chair for the ensuing year.

(NB: In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, the Chair and Vice-Chair must be County Councillors.  County and District Councillors may vote)   

RESOLVED that Councillor Hawkins be elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2018 attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2018 be signed as a correct record

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

(An item taken under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Chair had decided that the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency, in order that the Committee could be appraised of developments regarding the County Council’s position and concerns regarding this wall collapse.

The Local County Councillor was very concerned at the potential danger caused by debris that remained in the road. 

The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste reported that debris should not be removed from the base of a landslip on safety grounds, as it may be supporting the rest of the boundary, but that officers would investigate to see if it was appropriate for the County Council to take any action to remove any of the debris and would also check signage in the road.  The County Council’s external barrister had responded on 20 April 2018 advising that responsibility for the wall rested with the landowners and not the County Council. Due to continuing legal action the County Council felt that it was unable to carry out further works.

(An item taken under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Chair had decided that the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency, in order that the Committee could be appraised of the District Council’s consultation on its Clean Air Strategy which had just ended.

The Local County Councillor for Totnes & Dartington requested the next HATOC meeting consider the outcomes of this consultation and implications for Devon County Council and its statutory duty to reduce pollution.

RESOLVED that the Air Quality Management Action Plan be placed on the next HATOC agenda.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and

Waste (HIW/18/50) attached.

Electoral Divisions:  All in South Hams

The Committee received the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/18/50) on the Annual Local Waiting Restriction Programme for the South Hams Devon HATOC area for the funding and delivery of waiting restrictions schemes for 2018/19 (mainly to include amendments to Yellow Lines, Limited Waiting and minor aids to movement improvements) requested by communities or local Highway Officers, identified in Appendices I and II of the Report.

These schemes would have the detail agreed and then advertised to consider any objections/representations to be received.

RESOLVED

(a)  that work on the annual waiting restrictions programme process for 2018/19 be noted;

(b)  that the recommendations and proposals contained in Appendix I and II of the Report (HIW/18/50) be agreed and advertised, subject to consultation with local County Councillors and the Chair of HATOC on the details; and

(c)  that the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste respond direct to Local County Councillors regarding their queries raised at South Brent, Clobells and Dartington, Shinners Bridge.

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Brazil  has requested that the Committee consider this matter, ie:-

(a) Exemptions for Carers

(b) Use by builders etc.

The Committee noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 23, Councillor Brazil had asked that the Committee consider the following:-

(a) Exemptions for Carers

Councillor Brazil reported that this was an issue in towns such as Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, particularly with increasingly more care being delivered within the local community and health & social care professionals having nowhere suitable to park near to client’s homes, exacerbated in the holiday season. Members considered it was an appropriate time to review the County Council’s approach to support this crucial service.

The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste advised that the County Council had been promoting the exemptions for carers visiting clients at the home address for several years, and most recently had extended provision to include areas of Pay & Display. The scheme had been well received with positive feedback from monitoring after relaunching.  None the less, in several communities there had been continued concerns regarding access to parking. This typically resulted in limited residents parking restrictions meaning less opportunity to utilise the exemption and greater competing demand for parking from other users (i.e. visitors, commuters, and shoppers). It had been requested that Officers look to extend provision to allow access to single and double yellow lines where there were not these competing demands.

Officers were initially undertaking benchmarking work to understand what was being done in other Authorities to address this issue. Following benchmarking, it was proposed that an extended scheme to meet the needs of care providers be considered.  As this was a countywide matter this should be considered by Cabinet.

RESOLVED that Cabinet be asked to note that the South Hams HATOC supports a review of exemption parking permits for carers with a countywide approach and asks that Cabinet consider this with a view to it being carried out as soon as possible.

(b) Use by Builders and Tradesmen

Councillor Brazil reported on the ongoing abuse of the exemption parking permits for access to buildings and sites both annual and temporary, by a minority of tradesmen with evidence of several trade vehicles parked at a time in the main streets of Kingsbridge. Other towns such as Salcombe also experienced this.  This was of concern to local shopkeepers where it prevented or discouraged reasonable access to the shopping areas by the public. 

The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste preferred initially to follow up on specific incidents, rather than impose blanket restrictions that could affect the majority of such permit holders operating within the scheme.  Verbal or physical abuse of Enforcement Officers would not be tolerated and permits could be removed where necessary.

RESOLVED that this matter be kept under review.

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Hawkins has requested that the Committee consider this matter.

The Committee noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 23, Councillor Hawkins had asked that the Committee consider the issue of progressing the Littlehempston cycle link given its community, tourism and environmental benefits.                           

With the consent of the Committee, Councillor Morris, Littlehempston Parish Council spoke on this issue. Councillor Morris advised that the South Devon Railway had declined to meet with them regarding access over the bridge.  A foot/cycle bridge across the river Dart would benefit all Parish Councils north of the river and supported the District Council’s Clean Air Strategy. 

The District Council had also advised that S106 funding should be available as it linked up new building developments.

The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste advised this was not currently a County Council cycle priority.  However Members felt in view of the railway’s current position on this matter and its response to the Parish Council, the County Council should arrange a meeting with the South Devon Railway Trust.  Although discussions had been ongoing over several years, there was local support for this cycle link to help to support environmental factors/strategies and tourism. 

RESOLVED that the Chair, Vice-Chair, Local County Councillor and Officers meet with South Devon Railway Trust to discuss a way forward.

Officers to report following the last HATOC meeting.

Further to the last meeting of this HATOC, it was noted that Officers, the Local County Councillor (and Parish Council representative(s)) would be meeting on site later in July 2018. 

As already agreed, the HATOC would subsequently have an informed site visit with an Officer report on realistic considerations and the S106 developer contributions situation, to help in considering this matter in the round.

RESOLVED that the HATOC’s informed site visit take place immediately prior to the next HATOC meeting.

[An item to be taken under s18  of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to any reviews of parking policy sought in line with the Council’s Petition Scheme (http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=416&MId=2487&Ver=4&info=1

There was no petition from a member of the public or the Council relating to the South Hams.

 [NB: The relevant Head of Service would be asked to respond direct to the petitioners on any issues raised, within 15 days, letting him/her know how long it would take to undertake the requested review in line with the Council’s Petition Scheme (http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=416&MId=2487&Ver=4&info=1) and when that would be concluded and published and/or considered by the relevant Highways & Traffic Orders Committee thereafter.]

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

Friday 23 Nov 2018

Friday 5 April 2019.

Members noted the dates of future meetings, in line with the Councils calendar;

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

23 November 2018

5 April 2019