Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors McInnes (Chairman), Ball, Sanders and Sellis

West Devon Borough Council:-

Councillor Benson

Apologies

Councillor Leech

*7 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2013 be signed as a correct record.

*8 Highway Virtual Joint Venture Update

The Committee received a presentation from the Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager on the Highways Voluntary Joint Venture agreement with South West Highways and introduced their Managing Director Mr Ben Pyle.

The presentation covered the current and projected diminishing proportion of funding for highways capital and revenue, different Service Delivery Models (including the current Voluntary Agreement to the Virtual Joint Venture with SW Highways) and the retendering exercise to be carried out by 2017; the on-going initiatives with SW Highways and continuous drivers towards improving efficiency and effectiveness (with an emphasis on prevention) within constrained and reducing resources, explanation of the Asset Management plan principles, and policy developments in respect of surface treatments, gully cleaning and grass cutting.

Members discussed and asked questions in relation to the following issues

the importance of good communications with both local members and the public, and the scope for better usage of signs to promote a positive message, including managing expectations;

the current position and procedure (and circumstances) for when a road might not be maintained in the future and be permitted to return to nature;

the current policy reviews in relation to gully cleaning and grass cutting and when outputs might be expected; and

the current status of the Council s fault reporting process and whether the streamlining of procedures had been completed.

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Sellis and

RESOLVED that the officers be thanked for their presentation, the contents of which were noted, and that a copy be circulated to Members.

*9 Market and Coastal Towns Rural Foundation Programme/Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011 to 2026: Proposed Programme 2012/13 to 2014/15

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/13/95 - text only | pdf PTE/13/95) on the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 schemes relevant to the West Devon area (detailed in Appendix I) that were expected to be constructed or design progressed in West Devon.

Members heard that the Council had been awarded 4.4m by the Department for Transport in July for improvements to cycling within and to/from Dartmoor National Park, matching 3.2m of local matched funds. A number of those schemes were within the West Devon area including on the Granite Way, Pegasus Way and Drakes Trail.

In addition, preliminary design work was being carried out on the potential re-instatement of the Rail Line between Tavistock and Bere Alston and the scheme had been initially put forward to the Local Enterprise Partnership for partial funding.

The report also listed a casualty and severity reduction scheme in respect of the A386 / B3212 (Yelverton Roundabout) at a cost of 12,000.

The report further outlined a number of countywide schemes being progressed that would also benefit West Devon, including the South West Smartcard project and real time bus information across Devon.

Members discussed the importance of sharing information with Parish Council s on proposed schemes and also the proposal to undertake a revised survey in relation to Horrabridge Parish Council s request for a pedestrian crossing.

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Sellis and

RESOLVED that the Market and Coastal Towns Rural Foundation Proposed Programme for 2012/13 to 2014/15 be noted.

*10 Actions Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/13/59 - text only | pdf HCW/13/59) reporting the action taken under delegated powers relating to an advertised Countywide Traffic Regulation Order (CPE traffic regulation orders consolidated).

*11 Dates of Future Meetings

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Ball and

RESOLVED that future dates be noted as

Thursday 20 March 2014 (Okehampton), Thursday 5 June 2014 (Tavistock), Tuesday 4 November 2014 (Okehampton) and Monday 23 March 2015 (Tavistock)

All starting all at 11.00am.

DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.00am and finished at 13.00pm

The Minutes of the West Devon Highways Traffic Orders Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-