Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors Sanders (Chairman), Ball, McInnes and Sellis

West Devon Borough Council:-

Councillor Benson

Also In Attendance:

Councillor Marsh (Devon Association of Local Councils, Observer)

Apologies

Councillor Leech (West Devon Borough Council)

*41 Announcement

The Chairman welcomed Mrs Mayes MBE who was attending the meeting in her capacity as a Co-opted Member of the County Council's Standards Committee to observe and monitor compliance with the Council s ethical governance framework.

*42 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2015 be signed as a correct record.

*43 Devon Highways Update

The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste, Nigel Card, 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) 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. Members commented on what information there was available for landowners on their responsibilities.

(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. Members referred to County Council policy of not marking out virtual footpaths .

(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 and initiate a new re-launch of the Scheme. A trial pothole repair pilot using new materials for repairs was also being carried out under the Warden Scheme involving a small number of Parishes, the results of which would inform future developments and plans. The County Council was also planning to make available resources (approximately 10,000 County-wide) for Parish Councils for safety equipment and materials under the Scheme.

(e) Community Payback Scheme: on 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 and the overall value for money of the Scheme. Future plans included additional training for the probation service supervisors to facilitate Chapter 8 work on the highway. Examples of the variety of work carried out across the County was also presented. Members commended the success of the scheme and the benefits for local communities and Service Users. Members were encouraged to liaise with their local Neighbourhood Highways Officer about any further work projects which could be carried out under the Scheme.

*44 Traffic Order Parking Review

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/16/24 - text only | pdf HCW/16/24) setting out proposals for the delivery of an annual local Waiting Restrictions Programme.

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

The Committee noted that a comprehensive Traffic Orders review relating to Okehampton had been carried out separately and proposals for the Town were not therefore included in this current priority list.

It was MOVED by Councillor Sanders, SECONDED by Councillor Sellis 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/16/24 - text only | pdf HCW/16/24), subject to any further requests from Members of this Committee and to funding being agreed by the Cabinet;

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

*45 A386, Old Station Road, Horrabridge - Investigation into Improvement of Pedestrian Crossing Facilities (Minute *48/27 March 2013)

The Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste reported on a previous request by this Committee relating to the pedestrian refuge near Graybridge Road, Horrabridge (A386) being widened subject to review in 12 months time and available resources.

The Head of Service confirmed that there had been no accident record at this location, that the safety camera had been upgraded (digital) and that additional resources for a scheme had not been identified.

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

RESOLVED that the position be noted and no further action be taken at this time.

*46 Petitions/Parking Policy Reviews

There was no petition from a member of the public or the Council relating to the West

Devon District.

*47 Action Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/16/25 - text only | pdf HCW/16/25) of action taken by him under delegated powers on advertised Traffic Regulation Orders since the last meeting.

Members commented on the need for a meeting with officers regarding consultation and communication about the progress with cycling schemes in West Devon, including Fatherford Bridge and Drakes Trail Yelverton to Dousland. The Head of Service undertook to arrange an informal meeting with local Members.

*48 Dates for Future HATOC Meetings

Details of future meetings of this Committee may be found at: https://new.devon.gov.uk/democracy/calendar/

22 July (Tavistock), 29 November (Okehampton) 2016 and 16 March 2017 (Tavistock).

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.00am and finished at 11.55 am

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