Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors Colthorpe (Vice-Chairman), Berry, Squires and Way

Mid Devon District Council:-

Councillors Chesterton and Holloway

Apologies:-

Councillors Hannon and Radford (DCC)

*9 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2013 be signed as a correct record.

*10 Highways Virtual Joint Venture (VJV) Update

The Committee received and noted a presentation by the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste on the Highways Virtual Joint Venture agreement with South West Highways. Mr Ben Pyle, Managing Director of SW Highways, also attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee.

The presentation covered: the diminishing proportion of funding for highways capital and revenue; different service delivery models (including the current voluntary agreement to the Virtual Joint Venture with SW Highways); the retendering exercise to be carried out by 2017; on-going initiatives with SW Highways and continuous drivers towards improving efficiency and effectiveness (with an emphasis on prevention) within constrained and reducing resources; the Asset Management Plan principles; policy developments in respect of surface treatments, gully cleaning and grass cutting; and a breakdown of revenue and capital spending for highways.

Mr Pyle referred to the close and transparent working relationships with the County Council to help drive efficiencies and performance and recent reductions in the SW Highways workforce. The Head of Service commented on the need to examine further with the Environment Agency options to meet costly strict environmental requirements it imposed.

It was noted that before any new contract was procured the service delivery models and options, as outlined in the presentation, would be fully investigated and recommendations submitted to Cabinet.

Members referred to the need:

for effective communication with Town and Parish Councils and the public on the severe pressures on the highways budget and the reasons why under the preventative road surface treatment regime and the associated value for money principles, the worst road surfaces were not always given priority for repair - improved communication should help manage expectations and reduce the large number of representations received to which hard pressed highways staff had to respond;

to promote initiatives to help local councils to carry out local tasks (eg snow and weed clearance).

In response, the Head of Service drew attention to work taking place on the development of a strategy for better communicating Highways Asset Management policies and programmes to local councils and the public and the involvement of the relevant Cabinet Member in this process. He confirmed that the County Council was working with local councils to encourage self-help and that this matter and associated safety issues had been covered at the recent Parish Conference.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Service and Mr Pyle for the informative presentation.

*11 Market and Coastal Towns and Rural Devon Foundation and Targeted Capital Investment Programmes/Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011 to 2026: Proposed Programme 2012/13 to 2014/15 (Minute *6/17 June 2013)

The Committee received and noted the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment (PTE/13/87 - text only | pdf PTE/13/87) summarising the 2013/14 and 2014/15 transport capital programme schemes relating to the Mid Devon HATOC area which had been approved by the Cabinet in July 2013.

The programme would be funded through a combination of sources including the Local Transport Plan Integrated Block, Pinch Point and Linking Communities funds secured following successful bids to the Department for Transport and developer contributions.

Schemes in Mid Devon which were expected to be constructed or design progressed in 2013/14 and 2014/15 included: the Crediton Link Road; improvements to Junctions 27 and 28 on the M5; improvements to Station Road/High Street, Cullompton; and local walking and cycling improvements. Work was also taking place on several countywide schemes such as the South West bus travel smartcard project which would benefit Mid Devon.

*12 A3126 Leat Street, Tiverton, Proposed Zebra Pedestrian Crossing

Scheme for Formal Approval

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/13/45 - text only | pdf HCW/13/45) on a proposal for a Zebra controlled pedestrian crossing on Leat Street, Tiverton south of the roundabout junction with Kennedy Way.

The scheme would improve safety for vulnerable road users, promote safer walking routes to schools and provide better access to the local hospital.

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

RESOLVED that the Zebra pedestrian crossing as shown on drawing no. C13008/03 be approved at an estimated cost of 45,000.

*13 Future HATOC Meetings

(a) Dates

It was noted that meetings would be held as follows:

17 March 2014

23 June 2014

20 October 2014

16 March 2015

(all Mondays at 11.00am at the Town Hall, Tiverton).

(b) Agenda Items

RESOLVED that reports be submitted to the next (March 2014) meeting on:

progress on the advertisement of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order for restrictions at the Tiverton Road/High Street junction in Cullompton and investigations into the feasibility of reconfiguring the footways in Tiverton Road, Cullompton;

options for providing a pedestrian crossing on Exeter Road, Crediton.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.00am and finished at 12.40pm

Minutes of this Committee are published on the County Council s Website at: