Agenda and minutes

(N.B. In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, the Chairman and Vice Chairman must be County Councillors)

RESOLVED that Councillors Sanders and Sellis be elected Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively for the ensuing year.

Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2017, (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held 16 March 2017 be signed as a correct record.

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

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

Presentation by the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste

The Committee received a presentation from the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste on the work of the Committee covering the Constitution, Terms of Reference and Scheme of Delegation.

A Manager from Skanska attending to discuss issues with Members

Mr S Kane (Skanska) attended and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee)

The Committee received a presentation from Mr Kane covering:

·         the Company’s origin and ethos, number of employees worldwide and UK and wide ranging infrastructure and engineering activities across local authority and other sectors

·         management of the Devon Highways Maintenance Contract, including 9 operational depots, colocation of staff within Lucombe house at County Hall, use of the existing ‘Devon Highways’ brand, investment in new operational vehicles, a new training academy,  information sharing and development of ‘system thinking’ to achieve efficiencies and cashable savings   

·         the Company’s safety culture and sustainable/energy policies and working practices, behavioural code of practice for employees in relations with contract partners and the public

·         the Company’s training ethos, career development of employees, including apprenticeships.

Members’ questions and comments related, inter alia, to  

·         the application of TUPE arrangements where appropriate

·         the high volume and low margins model, efficient working to help cover overheads and wide-ranging experience of the company and quality control measures to ensure effective services and customer satisfaction

·         work to ensure the smooth transition from the previous to the current contractor including compatible IT systems with Devon Highways (including review of previous working arrangements which could be usefully adopted within the new contract, for example new methodology for line painting)  

·         close working arrangements between Skanska and County Council officers through formal meetings at strategic and operational levels and through informal local arrangements via colocation for example 

·         continued use of the local Neighbourhood Officers as initial contact points for Members (and through the Customer Services Centre (My Devon) in Tiverton) and the Acting Head undertook to forward to Members information about the Officer structures and responsibilities

·         Skanska’s use of and support for their sub-contractors and quality control measures  across the supply chain

·         reference to responsibility of maintenance of fire hydrants on which more information would be provided by the Acting Head. 

Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/64), attached

The Committee considered the report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/64) on the annual local programme for the HATOC area for the funding and delivery of waiting restriction schemes for 2017/18 to include minor aids to movement improvements such as drop crossing, footway improvements and bollards.

The Committee noted that the Cabinet had allocated an amount of £100,000 countywide from the On Street Parking Account to this process in 2017/18 which equated to £12,500 to each HATOC area.

The Committee noted that further requests from Members (and or via local parish and town Councils) could be evaluated and added to the proposed programme, including a reference from the local County Councillor for restrictions in Glendale Road, Okehampton.   

It was MOVED by Councillor Sanders, SECONDED by Councillor Sellis and

RESOLVED

 (a) that work on the annual waiting restrictions programme process for 2017/2018 be noted;

(b) that the recommendations contained in Appendix 1 of Report HIW/17/64 be approved and, subject to consultation with local Members on the details, the proposals be advertised.

[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://www.devon.gov.uk/petition-scheme.pdf

There was no petition from a member of the public or the Council relating to the North Devon District.

Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/65), attached

The Committee received the Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/16/18) on actions taken in respect of Traffic Orders under delegated powers since the last meeting.

7 November (Tavistock) 2017 and 9 March (Okehampton) 2018.

Meetings starting at 10.30 am and alternate between Kilworthy House, Tavistock and Town Council Offices, Okehampton.

The County Council’s Calendar available at:

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

6 November 2017 (Tavistock) and 9 March 2018 (Okehampton)

The County Council Calendar of meetings available on the website:

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