Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors Radford, Colthorpe, Squires and Way

Mid Devon District Council:-

Councillors Chesterton and Coren

Apologies:-

Councillors Hannon and Berry.

*51 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2015 be signed as a correct record.

*52 Devon Highways update

The Committee received a presentation from the Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager on Devon Highways issues covering, inter alia:

(a) The Incentive Fund: this was Government Top Up funding to the needs based highway maintenance capital allocation designed to encourage highway authorities to adopt good practice with an emphasis on collaboration with suppliers and other authorities. There were three bands of funding over 6 years from 2015/16 (with maximum funding in Band 3). The County Council was currently on course for Band 2 in 2016/17 and striving for Band 3 with its planned changes working with other local authorities and other efficiency savings and service improvements.

(b) Drainage Maintenance Strategy: relating to measures to mitigate drainage issues in respect of the highway and the role and responsibilities of adjacent landowners, the programmed works for rural and urban gullies for example and budgetary constraints and challenges and the work of the County Council with its contractor to develop valid data sources and information to better target limited resources.

(c) Footway Maintenance Programme: the programme to maintain a condition which was safe and commensurate with use with analysis of survey condition and budget allocations.

(d) Community Road Warden Update: relating to the number of approved Road Warden Agreements, those pending, numbers trained to Chapter 8 level and booked for or awaiting training. A county-wide Project Officer had been engaged (on secondment) to promote the Scheme and develop a roll out plan. A trial pothole repair pilot using new materials for repairs was also being carried out under the Warden Scheme involving 4 Parishes, the results of which would inform future developments and plans.

(e) Community Payback Scheme: the extent of the work in communities across Devon and the positive feedback received from Towns and Parishes and the benefits for the Service Users under the Scheme under the supervision of probation staff working with neighbourhood officers. Future plans included additional training for the probation service supervisors to facilitate Chapter 8 work on the highway. An example of the variety of work carried out across the County was also presented. Members commended the success of the scheme and the benefits for the local communities and Service Users.

*53 Annual Local Waiting Restrictions Programme

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/18 - text only | pdf HCW/16/18) setting out proposals for the delivery of an annual local Waiting Restrictions Programme.

Members noted that the County Council regularly received requests for waiting restrictions to be introduced or amended which could be difficult to deliver due to resource and funding pressures which, in turn, could have a negative impact on the County Council s relationship with local communities.

A managed process had now been developed whereby existing requests from Local Members and local communities had been collated and a prioritisation tool developed.

It was MOVED by Councillor Colthorpe, SECONDED by Councillor Way and

RESOLVED

(a) that work to date on the annual waiting restrictions programme and the prioritisation process applied be noted;

` (b) that waiting restriction schemes be progressed through advertising and sealing of subsequent Orders in priority order as presented in Appendix 1 to the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/18 - text only | pdf HCW/16/18), with the inclusion of two additional locations at Bewsley Hill, Copplestone and at Willand, subject to funding being agreed by Cabinet;

(c) that the detail of individual schemes be developed with the relevant local County Councillor prior to advertising.

*54 Higher Road at Barnstaple Cross, near Crediton

In line with the spirit of the Council s Public Participation rules and at the invitation of the Committee, Mr and Mrs Moore spoke to this item making representations over safety concerns at Higher Road, Barnstaple Cross, Crediton.

The Committee also received the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/19 - text only | pdf HCW/16/19) addressing safety concerns for both pedestrians and motorists at Higher Road, Barnstaple Cross, Crediton.

The Head of Service advised that the County Council and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary had developed a joint procedure, called Speed Compliance Action Review Forum (SCARF), to enable concerns to be addressed in a consistent manner. Once a site had been accepted for SCARF, the collision history could be considered and covert speed data for the site obtained.

Following further discussion it was noted, in particular, that:

the lack of a speed limit at the location meant that the 60mph national speed limit applied;

there was no Highway signage at the location indicating a narrowing of the road or otherwise;

there was a lack of available funding for pavements;

there was increased traffic flow following the construction of the Crediton Link Road and new homes in Copplestone;

there was a disappointing absence of data on the impact of the Crediton Link Road on surrounding roads and air quality; a report thereon would be submitted to the next meeting.

It was MOVED by Councillor Way, SECONDED by Councillor Squire and

RESOLVED that the Head of Service comments be noted and this location be referred to the Speed Compliance Action Review Forum process and the outcome be discussed with the relevant local County Councillors.

*55 Delegated Powers

The Committee received the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/20 - text only | pdf HCW/16/20) on action taken by him in consultation with the Chairman and Local Members.

*56 Petitions/Parking Policy Reviews

[An item to be taken under s18 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to any reviews of parking policy sought in line with the Council s Petition Scheme] (https://new.devon.gov.uk/democracy/guide/constitutionparts2-4/part-4-section-7-petition-scheme/).

There was no current petition for a parking review from a member of the public relating to Mid Devon.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.30am and finished at 12.30pm

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