Present:

Devon County Council

Councillors Boyd, Dezart, Eastman, Julian and Parsons

Torridge District Council

Councillors Brenton and Tisdale

*21 Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

RESOLVED

(a) that Councillor Boyd be elected Chairman for the ensuing year;

(b) that Councillor Julian be elected Vice Chairman.

*22 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2014 be signed as a correct record.

*23 Devon Highways Update

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste and the Managing Director, South West Highways also attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee updating Members on Devon Highways issues. The presentation and discussions covered:

a demonstration on the recently introduced Public Information Portal for reporting of highway faults

use of recently announced additional capital and revenue funding of 16m; the revenue element would be used for pothole repairs and capital for highway resurfacing and structural patching

details of the capital schemes had been sent to Parishes and members showing planned work across the County by County Council Division; and more detailed information was also available from the local neighbourhood highway officers. The details would soon be re established on the web site

supply pressures for materials across the south west peninsula as a result of the additional funding for local authorities which would need to spent within the current financial year

the SW Highways Annual Report which would be sent to the HATOC members.

*24 Community Self Help and the Road Warden Scheme

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste covering Community Self Help Schemes and the Road Warden Scheme. Mr B Pyle, Managing Director, South West Highways also attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee.

Members' discussion points with the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste included:

production of a new information leaflet for Parish Councils to distribute to householders/landowners to help keep roadside hedges and trees tidy

two conference events to which all parish and town councils had been invited which provided details of self-help and Road Warden Schemes (details of the Parish attendance would be sent to the HATOC members); the Devon Association of Local Councils was also arranging a conference at which a County Highways Manager will also be explaining these initiatives

examples of successful community schemes with support from the County Council at Hawkchurch, Harcombe and Exmouth Budleigh Salterton, East Devon

joint working with Parish and Town Councils (using Town and Parish (TAP) funding) to supplement the Parish Lengthsman service which had been the subject of a detailed report at the County Council s Place Scrutiny Committee on 15 September 2014 (HCW/14/70 - text only | pdf HCW/14/70 - text only | HCW/14/70 - text only | pdf HCW/14/70.CMRrn=14/WD370dg=Public">pdf HCW/14/70 - text only | pdf HCW/14/70 refers); the report summarised the current Parish Lengthsman service and explored the potential for community self-help in undertaking highway drainage and cleaning works and referred to training in highway safety awareness for Parish and Town Council representatives and development of a Community Road Warden Scheme using trained Parish Council volunteers to organise and supervise community volunteers undertaking various minor highway maintenance works

approximately 80 Parish Council volunteers had been trained to various levels using the South West Highways training arm and funding for this remained for the current financial year

joint working with the Probation Service through community payback schemes across the County, with 18 days of work at low risk sites in each District; and the work undertaken to date had received positive feedback.

*25 Actions Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee noted the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/14/72 - text only | pdf HCW/14/72) on actions taken by him under Delegated Powers since the last meeting and, where appropriate, in consultation with the Chairman and Local Members.

*26 Dates of Future Meetings

9 March, 15 June, and 12 October 2015 and 29 February 2016, all at Riverbank House, Bideford.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.00am and finished at 12.48 pm

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