Present:-

Devon County Council:-

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

[NB: Councillor Radford present for items from Minute *32 onwards]

Mid Devon District Council:-

Councillor Chesterton

Apologies:-

Councillors Hannon (DCC) and Holloway (MDDC)

COUNCILLOR BERRY (VICE-CHAIRMAN) IN THE CHAIR

*30 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2014 be signed as a correct record.

*31 Matters of Urgency:

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider these items as matters of urgency in order that Members could be apprised of recent developments.

(a) Road Traffic Collision in Crediton

In response to a question as to whether any more information was available about the circumstances of a recent fatal road traffic collision in Crediton, the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste indicated that the incident was under investigation by the Police and would subsequently be also investigated by the Highway Authority after the Police investigation had been concluded.

(b) Road Closures in Tiverton

In acknowledging concerns expressed by traders in Tiverton at the impact of road closures in Tiverton town centre and associated roadworks related to the redevelopment of the former Tiverton and District Hospital site, the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste indicated that, while the Highway Authority was required to ensure that the impact of road closures was minimised, the developers were legally responsible for the closures which were necessary to enable them to fulfil their planning obligations, and any consultations with the public thereon. He accepted that the Highway Authority could have been more proactive in encouraging the developer to engage with the community in this case.

COUNCILLOR RADFORD (CHAIRMAN) IN THE CHAIR

*32 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 and Mr G Robinson, Operations Director, South West Highways also attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee. The presentation and discussions covered the following:

the County Council s success in bidding for 16,000,000 of Government funding in 2014/15 from both the Pothole Fund to address damage caused by extreme weather conditions and the Maintenance Challenge Fund with 9,600,000 of this being spent on resurfacing works and 2,900,000 being spent on patching;

the ability to demonstrate effective collaborative working with neighbouring local authorities and suppliers which would help promote future Challenge Fund applications;

the challenge of continuing to provide the necessary level of highway maintenance in coming years while facing reduced revenue support grants and capital funding from Government;

the submission to the Department for Transport to consider Devon as a special case and provide funding for maintenance of the rural road network alongside bids for additional capital and revenue funding for 2015/16 made available by the Government for major road networks;

the Tough Choices strategy for the 2015/16 revenue budget which included stopping grass cutting (except in visibility areas) and weed treatment and remodelling of the parish lengthsman service;

efficiency achievements including a 2,000,000 efficiency gain over the last three years;

pothole and other safety defect repairs - improved response time/lower cost/new repair techniques including the use of jetpatching on an extended trial basis which appeared to be working well;

progress made on mobilising community support - 45 Parish and Town Councils had now signed up to or expressed an interest in the Community Self-Help/Community Road Warden Scheme; over 100 individuals had undergone free highway safety awareness or Chapter 8 training and others had registered for future training;

basic safety awareness training being essential for volunteers;

budgetary provision for training in 2015/16;

teething problems with the Community Self-Help/Community Road Warden Scheme which had been overcome with greater operating experience;

examples of Community Self-Help e.g. Tidy Town Days in Bideford and Holsworthy and local councils employing lengthsmen and undertaking grass cutting;

self-help initiatives while strongly encouraged being purely voluntary, and local councils not being expected to directly fund highway work;

presentations by the Head of Service to clusters of local councils about participating in the Community Self-Help/Community Road Warden Scheme - HATOC members could help by organising those groups;

the need to clarify the position regarding the use by farmers etc of red diesel (low tax fuel) when undertaking work under the Community Self-Help/Community Road Warden Scheme;

the County Council s and landowners responsibilities relating to surface water running off onto the highway from adjacent land;

the need to maintain residential estate roads in a safe condition;

progress made on managing demand - work with communities on reviewing and prioritising the local highway network;

options for future delivery models for highway services from April 2017 which would be considered by the County Council s Cabinet in May 2015.

*33 Devon County Council (Tiverton Road, Cullompton) (Experimental No Right Turn) Order 2014 (Minute *25/20 October 2014)

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment (PTE/15/19 - text only | pdf PTE/15/19) on the formal response received to the Experimental Order and findings from the post scheme monitoring of traffic movements.

In response to concerns that vehicles waiting to turn right out of Tiverton Road, Cullompton could cause disruption and delays to the traffic flow on Fore Street, Cullompton, an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) had been introduced in March 2014 to prohibit the right turn manoeuvre from Tiverton Road into Fore Street.

A subsequent traffic survey had shown a very low proportion of vehicles contravening the right turn ban, with only 1% to 2% turning right during the morning and afternoon peak hours, and that the Order had been effective. It was clear from the written responses received to the ETRO during the initial six months of its operation that there was general support and limited objection to the Order, although there had been some concern about the signage in place to support the ban and the impact on the alternative route via Langlands Road, Cullompton. While it was argued that there was another potential alternative route via Swallow Way, Cullompton this had not yet been adopted as a public highway.

It was MOVED by Councillor Berry, SECONDED by Councillor Chesterton and RESOLVED

(a) that the Order be made permanent subject to the provision of amended signing to improve driver awareness and compliance as proposed in Appendix III to the Report;

(b) that the Officers be asked to investigate ways of alleviating the severe traffic congestion that occurs in Cullompton town centre with tailbacks well beyond due to obstruction by parked vehicles in the High Street.

*34 Pedestrian Crossings in Crediton (Minute *19/17 March 2014)

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2), Councillor Way had asked that the Committee be made aware of progress on investigations into proposals for pedestrian crossings on the A377 and Mill Street, Crediton now that the first phase of the Wellparks housing development had been completed and at the top of Exeter Road, Crediton now that the Crediton Link Road had opened.

The Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste, while reminding Members of constraints to the provision of pedestrian crossings in the locations suggested, indicated that a feasibility study was being undertaken and undertook to report back to the next meeting of the HATOC in June 2015.

*35 Action Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received and noted the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/15/19 - text only | pdf HCW/15/19) setting out action taken under delegated powers on advertised Traffic Regulation Orders since the last meeting.

*36 Future HATOC Meetings

It was noted that meetings would be held as follows: Tuesday 23 June 2015; Monday 19 October 2015; and Tuesday 15 March 2016 (all 10.30am at the Town Hall, Tiverton).

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.45am and finished at 12.45pm

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