Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors Radford (Chairman), Berry, Colthorpe, Squires and Way

Mid Devon District Council:-

Councillors Chesterton and Holloway

Apologies:-

Councillor Hannon (Devon County Council)

*14 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2013 be signed as a correct record.

*15 Urgent Business: Mid Devon Local Plan 2013 - 2033

(An Item taken under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972)

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency in view of the imminent expiry of the options consultation period on the new Mid Devon Local Plan.

Councillor Holloway sought an assurance that the views of the County Council as Local Highway Authority had or would be submitted on proposed housing and employment site options for Cullompton in the new Mid Devon Local Plan.

Councillor Chesterton, in his capacity as Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, Mid Devon District Council, confirmed that the District Council was working with the Local Highway Authority on the new Plan. The Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste undertook to check the position regarding a formal response by the County Council as Local Highway Authority to the consultation on the new Local Plan.

*16 Devon Highways Update

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste on highway maintenance under the Voluntary Joint Venture agreement with South West Highways. Mr B Pyle, Managing Director, South West Highways and Mr G Robinson, Operations Director, South West Highways also attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee. The presentation covered:

the impacts of winter weather throughout Devon - 1340 fallen trees; 176 bank slips; 4600 reported flooding incidents;

the introduction of Members Information Pack on: the highways backlog; what s happening in your area?; highways network condition; safety defects and fixing potholes; Bellwin funding; winter damage and maintenance; self-help and community support and other service areas - the pack would also be available online;

building the case for more capital funding - Devon highways budget and road condition index;

pothole repair process - through planning and resource optimisation;

examples of efficiencies - recycling of materials e.g. reedbed treatment of gully waste and surface dressing.

The Committee viewed a DVD on surface dressing by a combi-unit.

In responding to points raised by Members, the Head of Service and South West Highways representatives:

indicated that all reasonable options would be looked at for repairing minor roads closed by storm damage which were beyond economic repair where they served residential properties or businesses, including repairs by the local community;

emphasised the flexibility, efficiency and value of the new system for pothole repair;

undertook to circulate to Town and Parish Councils the link to the Members Information Pack on the County Council s website.

*17 Market and Coastal Towns Rural Foundation Programme

The Committee considered the joint Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment and the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (PTE/14/23 - text only | pdf PTE/14/23) summarising the local schemes in the Market and Coastal Towns Rural Foundation element of the proposed Local Transport Plan programme for 2014/15 in the Mid Devon area.

The Report also commented on the Market and Coastal Towns and Rural Devon Targeted Capital Investment Programme and the Countywide Foundation Programme as they related to Mid Devon, and progress on Year 2 (2013/14) of the local schemes programme.

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

RESOLVED that the funding provisions for local schemes in Mid Devon included in Report PTE/13/55 - text only | pdf PTE/13/55 (Transport Capital Programme 2013/14 - 2014/15: Proposed Allocation) considered by the Cabinet on 10 July 2013 be noted.

*18 Tiverton Road Footway Reconfiguration, Cullompton (Minute *13(b)/21October 2013)

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/14/24 - text only | pdf HCW/14/24) on investigations into the possible reconfiguration of footways along Tiverton Road, Cullompton in the vicinity of its junction with the High Street to provide an improved pedestrian environment.

Proposals to improve the situation involved removing the footway on the southern side of Tiverton Road with the space gained being used to widen the existing narrow northern footway and kerbing being provided on the southern side to protect the Manor House Hotel, a listed building. However, a condition and structural survey of the Hotel undertaken at the request of Mid Devon District Council to ascertain whether moving the road closer to the building would affect its structural integrity had concluded that this might increase damage caused to the building. In the circumstances and the absence of viable alternatives, design work had not been progressed.

The Report also drew attention to proposals to assist traffic movement in Cullompton at peak hours made in conjunction with the Tiverton Road study which involved prohibiting the right turn movement from Tiverton Road into Fore Street, Cullompton and restricting loading and waiting in Fore Street. The no right turn was the subject of a current Experimental Traffic Regulation Order and the works to implement the scheme had begun on 10 March 2014. It was proposed to advertise a Traffic Order for the loading and waiting restrictions in Fore Street, Cullompton and include proposals for waiting restrictions in Willand Road.

It was acknowledged that the proposed restrictions on loading and waiting in Fore Street, on which Cullompton Town Council had been consulted, might attract significant opposition from traders. The Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste indicated that any representations received in response to the Traffic Order when advertised would be considered in accordance with established procedures.

The local County Councillor also referred to the signing of a loading bay in Fore Street, Cullompton that was the cause of enforcement problems. It was confirmed that this would be addressed by the proposed Traffic Order.

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

RESOLVED

(a) that the results of the investigations relating to the reconfiguration of footways along Tiverton Road, Cullompton be noted and that changes to the footways be not proceeded with;

(b) that the position regarding other proposals to assist traffic movement in Cullompton be noted.

*19 Options for Providing a Pedestrian Crossing on Exeter Road, Crediton (Minute *13(b)/21 October 2013)

The Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste reported on investigations into the provision of a pedestrian crossing on Exeter Road, Crediton which was suitable for disabled persons. The Head of Service indicated that two possible sites had been examined but neither was considered to be satisfactory due to concerns over visibility. Other possible locations were made impractical by an elevated footway or private ownership of the pavement. Crediton Town Council had been made aware of the situation and that no satisfactory solution could be found at present to the provision of a crossing suitable for disabled persons.

It was agreed that the provision of the crossing should be reviewed after the Crediton Link Road - which should reduce traffic flow in Exeter Road - had opened and further progress had been made on residential development at Well Park, Crediton.

*20 Devon Highways - Moving Forward Together: Highway Safety Awareness Training

The Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste gave a presentation on highway safety awareness training for Town and Parish representatives launched at the Highway Matters Conference in September 2013 to support appropriate self-help activities on highway maintenance and wider community resilience. Eight workshops had been held in three different locations during November and December 2013 and several local council representatives had enrolled for Chapter 8/Sector 12D training. Given the level of demand further training would be arranged during 2014.

The presentation covered relevant legislation, risk and liability and gave recent examples of self-help by communities included:

Improved amenity - grass cutting; finger post refurbishment; sign cleaning; weeding and footway cleaning;

Improved resilience - storm works; grip cutting; drain cleaning and minor retaining works.

The Committee:

welcomed the progress being made on self-help by communities and the support being given;

supported the principle of communities being able to contribute to or undertake themselves highway schemes within their areas.

*21 Action Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/14/25 - text only | pdf HCW/14/25) setting out action taken under delegated powers on advertised Traffic Regulation Orders since the last meeting.

*22 Future HATOC Meetings

It was noted that meetings would be held as follows:

23 June 2014

20 October 2014

16 March 2015

(all Mondays at 10.30am at the Town Hall, Tiverton).

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.30am and finished at 12.20pm

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