Present:-

Devon County Council

Councillors Brook (Chairman), Barisic, Clarance, Clatworthy, Connett, Dempster, Dewhirst, Gribble and Younger-Ross

Teignbridge District Council

Councillors Cox, Haines and Prowse

Apologies

Councillors Barker and Hook (Devon County Council)

*40 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July be signed as a correct record.

*41 A380 Slip Road Closure, Telegraph Hill Safety Scheme

(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 order that Members may be made aware of the recent announcement of a judicial review decision on 18 November 2014.

Members were advised that the scheme approved on 4 February 2014 by this Committee which had been the subject of Judicial Review had now been determined with the judgement finding in favour of Devon County Council. The scheme would now proceed and if possible make use of the current temporary closure in place for the Highway Agency s scheme at Splatford Split.

*42 Proposed Cattle Grid Installations - Chagford Area

(Councillor Gribble declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being a Member of Dartmoor National Park Authority)

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/14/77 - text only | pdf HCW/14/77) on proposals by the Chagford Commoners Association to install cattle grids at two locations in the Chagford area and representations received in relation to the proposals.

The Report indicated that the Chagford Commoners Association had applied to install cattle grids and bypass facilities for the purposes of controlling the passage of animals along the highway at two locations, namely south of Stiniel Cross in Chagford Parish within the West Devon Borough Council area and south of Langaford Bridge in North Bovey Parish within the Teignbridge District Council area. The Committee was advised that the proposal relating to Stiniel Cross in Chagford Parish was agreed by the West Devon HATOC at its meeting on 4 November 2014.

The proposals had been advertised in November 2013 under Section 82 and Schedule 10 of the Highways Act, 1980 and a total of 32 representations had been received, which were summarised in Appendix III to the Report, together with officer responses to the issues raised.

The Head of Service commented that:-

the issue to be determined by the County Council in accordance with the Highways Act, 1980 was solely whether it was "expedient" to install the grids and bypasses for the purposes of controlling the passage of animals along the highway. There was no justification for the County Council as Highway Authority to withhold permission for the installation of cattle girds and bypasses as proposed at these two locations on the minor rural road network, which were of standard design and had been subject to site specific safety audits.

It was further noted that:-

the grids would allow greater control of livestock in the area, particularly through preventing livestock wandering towards the B3212, and thereby help to enable an effective grazing regime to be re-established on Stiniel Common;

installation of the two proposed grids would result in significant ecological benefit to Stiniel Common;

grazing of this habitat was essential in order to prevent/reverse succession to woodland and to create the conditions required by species such as the Marsh Fritillary butterfly (a UK priority species).

Written representations received from Mr Boyer supporting the proposed cattle grid installations were reported at the meeting.

Exceptionally and in the spirit of the County Council s Public Participation rules and with the consent of the Committee, the Chairman invited persons present to speak on this matter:-

Mrs Willcocks (Applicant, Chagford Commoners Association);

Mrs Geering, Mrs Hutchinson, Mrs Macfadyen and Mr Norris spoke objecting to the proposed cattle grid installations;

Dr Beale (Chairman, Trustees of Langaford Farm) and Councillor Pollard (N Bovey Parish Council) spoke in support of the proposals.

In addition and with the consent of the Committee, Mr A Steemson, Head Ranger, Dartmoor National Park Authority, spoke in support of the proposals.

The County Councillor for the Bovey Tracey Rural Division expressed his support for the proposals.

In response to the issues raised at the meeting by members of the public:-

the Head of Service commented that the roads were fairly typical of minor rural roads within the national park and whilst it may be preferable on road safety grounds to have grids at the limits of the common, the cattle grid proposals put forward by the applicant were supported by the Dartmoor National Park Authority and Natural England. The issue was whether it was expedient to install the grids and bypasses at these locations for the purposes of controlling the passage of animals along the highway. There was a highway and road safety benefit in stopping animals straying onto busier roads.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (financial, environmental and equality considerations) set out in the Head of Service s Report and/or referred to above having been considered, it was MOVED by Councillor Gribble SECONDED by Councillor Clatworthy and

RESOLVED that the installation of a cattle grid south of Langaford Bridge in North Bovey Parish be approved, subject to:-

(a) the proposed cattle grid bypass being dedicated by the landowners as public highway;

(b) all installation costs being met by the applicant;

(c) the applicant agreeing to pay a commuted sum to cover the cost of future maintenance.

*43 Community Self-Help and the Road Warden Scheme

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste on Community Self-Help in undertaking minor highways works such as vegetation clearance and sign cleaning and the Road Warden Scheme. Two recent well attended Parish and Town Council Conferences had been held to promote and explain Community Self-Help and the Road Warden Scheme and raise awareness of the support available from the County Council in terms of training, advice and supply of materials etc.

The Head of Service undertook to circulate further details of the scheme to Members of the Committee.

*44 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 N Card, South West Highways also attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee. The presentation and discussions included:-

- the backlog in the number of potholes recorded and repaired following last winter s severe weather (which had peaked at over 4500 per week) had greatly reduced with numbers having returned to around the same levels experienced last autumn;

- the quality/durability of pothole repairs depended on factors including the need to meet statutory obligations, status of the road, weather conditions and work levels. There was concern at the number of repeat fillings and with recent technological improvements highways staff on the ground would now be more able to record and monitor repeat problems;

- the County Council had received a Severe Weather Recovery Grant of 7 million from the Government and had been awarded 9 million following a bid to the Government s Pothole Fund, the highest award in the country details of this funding were available at

https://new.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/maintaining-roads/highways-funding/ .

*45 Overall Transport Plan for Newton Abbot (including completion of East-West Cycle route (Minute *34)

The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment on traffic flows in/out heart of Teignbridge, congestion around Newton Abbot town centre, growth challenges (new homes and jobs), transport investment in roads, rail, bus, walking and cycling.

*46 Successful Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) 2015/16 Applications

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/14/87 - text only | pdf PTE/14/87) on applications to the Department of Transport s LSTF created to help build strong local economies and address urgent challenges of climate change.

Proposals for the main LSTF programme were Unlocking Growth through Sustainable Travel and in the Teignbridge area were for Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton infrastructure complementing sustainable travel.

Discussion was closely linked to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund minute *45 above

and also included:-

Bus services for rural areas;

Proposals for improvements to rolling stock and Newton Abbot railway station and the importance of pedestrian access bridge designed as a through route to the Brunel estate and town centre (bid for external funding to be known in December 2014).

RESOLVED that the LSTF programme for 2105/16 be approved.

*47 Actions Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Programmes and Waste (HCW/14/92 - text only | pdf HCW/14/92) on actions taken in respect of Traffic Regulation Orders under delegated powers, following consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman/local County Councillors.

*48 Dates of Future Meetings

Thursday 26 March 2015 at 2.15pm (afternoon meeting).

Friday 10 July 2015 at 10am (morning meeting).

Wed 4 November 2015 at 10am (morning meeting).

Thursday 3 March 2016 at 10am (morning meeting).

All meetings will be held at 10am unless otherwise stated the Council Chamber at Forde House, Newton Abbot

.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10am and finished at 11.45am.