Present

Devon County Council

Councillors Boyd (Chairman), Dezart, Eastman, Parsons and Julian

Torridge District Council

Councillor Tisdale

Apologies

Councillor Brenton (Torridge District Council)

*27 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2014 be signed as a correct record.

*28 Matters of Urgency

(a) Westward Ho! Residents Association

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should, at the request of Councillor Tisdale, consider this matter as a matter of urgency in order to apprise members of a recent complaint relating to the level of litter on the A39. The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager confirmed that litter clearance on the highway was a District Council function.

More generally the County Council s Cabinet Member for Performance and Engagement referred to the developing closer working relations and support for rural parishes such as those in Torridge through, for example, the Market and Coastal Towns forum.

(b) Bideford, East of the Water

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should, at the request of Councillor Dezart, consider this matter as a matter of urgency in order to apprise members of recent complaints relating to issues concerning the location of a bus stop in Monteo Way, Bideford and possible speed restrictions. The Chairman advised that the matter should be raised with the Member s local officer for investigation and report to the member.

The Neighbourhood Highway Manager confirmed that any proposed traffic speed regulation would need to conform to County Council criteria and policy based on national guidance. The Manager undertook to circulate the policy/criteria to members of the Committee.

(c) Traffic Management Plans: Northam, Holsworthy and Westward Ho!

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should, at the request of the local members, consider this matter as a matter of urgency in order to apprise members of the current position in respect of the on-going development of local Traffic Management Plans for these areas. The Neighbourhood Highway Manager undertook to forward up dates on the developing plans to the local Members.

*29 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 Council s success in bidding for and delivering an additional 16,000,000 of government funding in 2014/15 to address damage caused by extreme weather conditions, with 9,600,000 of this being spent on resurfacing works and 2,900,000 being spent on patching;

the challenge faced by the Council to continue to provide the necessary level of highway maintenance in coming years while facing reduced revenue support grants and capital funding from government and the strong track record of the Council in making successful bids for additional capital and revenue funding over the past recent years based on good evidence and strategies;

the Tough Choices consultation for the 2015/16 revenue budget which had resulted in the Cabinet deciding to stop grass cutting (except in visibility areas) and remodelling the parish lengthsman service;

South West Highways efficiency achievements including a 2,000,000 saving over the last three years;

the use of new techniques by South West Highways teams to improve the longevity of pothole repairs;

community mobilisation schemes supported by the County Council including case studies from Bideford, Holsworthy and Northam;

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

In terms of maintenance members asked for an update on the programme for the Old Bridge, Bideford which the Neighbourhood Highway Manager undertook to circulate to members.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Service and South West Highways for the presentation which would be circulated electronically to members.

*30 Dates of Future Meetings

15 June, 12 October 2015 and 29 February 2016

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

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

The meeting started at 11.00am and finished at 12. 30 pm