Present

Devon County Council

Councillors Berry, Colthorpe, Hannon, Lee and Radford

Mid Devon District Council

Councillors Holloway and Wilson

Apologies

Councillor Way

*44 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor Lee and Councillor Berry be elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively for the ensuing year.

*45 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2011 be signed as a correct record.

*46 Highway Management Review

The Committee received a presentation by the Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager and introduced Rhys Davies, Neighbourhood Highway Manager, based in Barnstaple and David Fergie, Highway Neighbourhood Team Leader based at Tiverton. The presentation set the scene about the need to find 8m reductions from Highway Management budget in 2011/12 and the subsequent Highway Management Review which resulted in three key recommendations:

Centralise key works programmes and processes to increase efficiency and ensure consistency;

Establish Highway Neighbourhood Teams to support Members and meet the new Localism agenda;

Move to a virtual joint working arrangement with South West Highways.

The presentation went on to discuss the detailed working of this new joint venture which would be known as Devon Highways under the headings of Key Purpose and Group Purpose.

Members asked questions and made comments in relation to:

replacement of fingerboard signs on minor roads and the possibility that some work may be accommodated if any money remained in the appropriate budget at the end of the financial year;

whether there were any health and safety regulations that would stop any willing Parish and Town Councils taking on some of the duties of parish lenghthsmen;

signing for traffic calming replacement;

how long would the trial last and would there be an update at this Committee s next meeting.

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager agreed to arrange to forward details of the Highway Neighbourhood Teams to all Members of the Committee for their information.

*47 Restricted Parking Zone Town Square Crediton

The Committee received the report of the Head of Highways and Traffic Management (HTM/11/2 - text only | pdf HTM/11/2) on the consequences of failing to obtain a special authorisation from the Department for Transport for a restricted parking zone in the Town Square, Crediton. A decision had been made in close liaison with the County Solicitor, including independent legal advice, to refund all the Penalty Charge Notices issued during the period that the restricted parking zone was not authorised. The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager agreed to investigate the proposed programme for a review of Cullompton where there were reported enforcement problems and advise Members.

*48 Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011-26: Implementation Plan for Devon - B3440 Commercial Road, Uffculme - Proposed Footway Link Scheme for Formal Approval

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways and Traffic Management (HTM/11/3 - text only | pdf HTM/11/3) on the proposed construction of a 1.2 metre wide footway on the south east side of Commercial Road, Uffculme, as shown on drawing number C08034/12 at an estimated cost of 44,700. Mr Davies reported that subsequent to the publication of the report the County Council s Environmental Audit had identified an objection in principle to the scheme supported by the District Council s Conservation Officer.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hannon, SECONDED by Councillor Colthorpe and

RESOLVED that a site meeting be arranged between the Chairman, the local Member Councillor Radford, the Environmental Audit and Conservation Officers and the Neighbourhood Highway Manager and that subject to the outcome of the meeting the Chairman and Local Member be given delegated powers to approve the footway scheme as shown on drawing number C08034/12.

*49 Parking Regulations in Tumbling Fields, Tiverton

In accordance with Standing Orders Councillor Kevin Wilson had raised the issue of the impact of the present parking regulations in force in Tumbling Fields, Tiverton, and the relaxation and/or removal of such restrictions on this particular stretch of road.

The local Member, Councillor Hannon, suggested that, in consultation with local residents, a relatively inexpensive scheme could be put in place to resolve the problems in this area.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hannon, SECONDED by Councillor Radford and

RESOLVED that the Neighbourhood Highway Manager in consultation the local Members and residents identify a scheme to alleviate parking problems in the area, and consider possible ways of funding the proposal.

*50 Items for Future Meetings

Members requested reports on the following issues for future meetings:-

an update on the traffic management and parking issues in Cullompton;

provision of safe route for students from Willowbank School, Cullompton on their way to the sports field;

enforcement issues in Phoenix Lane Tiverton

*51 Dates of Future Meetings:

The Committee noted that the following dates were in the County Council calendar:

17 October 2011 and 12 March 2012

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.30am and finished at 12.35pm.

The Minutes of the Mid Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-