Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors Bowden, Channon, Diviani, Hone, B Hughes, S Hughes, Knight, Moulding, Randall-Johnson, Wragg and Wright

East Devon District Council:-

Councillor Stott

Apologies:-

Councillor Bond (EDDC)

*1 Election of Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor S Hughes be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

*2 Election of Vice-Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor Moulding be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

*3 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the former Committee held on 26 March 2013 be signed as a correct record, subject to an amendment of the attendance list from East Devon Borough Council to read East Devon District Council.

*4 Committee Terms of Reference and Responsibilities

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste on the work of Highways and Traffic Orders Committees, covering their constitution, terms of reference and the scheme of delegation, and focusing on the processes for the approval of Local Transport Plan schemes and the advertisement and determination of Traffic Regulation Orders.

Members expressed concern about the relatively high costs involved in advertising traffic orders. The Head of Service indicated that this issue had recently been the subject of a national, Government, consultation exercise to which the County Council had contributed but the outcome of which had been to retain the status quo. Members supported representations made to Cabinet.

It was MOVED by Councillor Diviani, SECONDED by Councillor Randall-Johnson and

RESOLVED

(a) that in the light of a possible further 10% reduction in Government funding for local authorities and the need to make all possible economies, and while acknowledging the Government s recent decision not to change the process for making Traffic Regulations Orders, the Cabinet be requested to make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Transport for the updating of the antiquated process for advertising Traffic Orders by the use of electronic mediums;

(b) that the Local Government Association, the County Councils Network and Devon Members of Parliament be asked to support this proposal

*5 Highway Asset Management Plan

The Committee received a presentation by the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste on the County Council s Highway Asset Management Plan for the highway infrastructure owned, controlled or influenced by the County Council which was valued at approximately 11b and the work of the Highway Asset Management Team covering areas including inter alia: condition surveys; treatment selection; budgets, costs and maintenance backlog; preventative treatment regime; roads beyond economic repair; service levels; maintenance standards; drainage priorities; and storm damage legacy from 2012/13.

The Head of Service responded to questions from Members and explained that under the preventative road surface treatment regime, unless safety issues were involved, the worst road surfaces were not always given priority for repair.

(NB a copy of the Plan may be viewed at:

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/councildemocracy/decision_making/cma/cma_document.htm?cmadoc=minutes exc_20130313.html)

*6 Market and Coastal Towns Rural Foundation Programme

(Councillor Wragg declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue her being a member of East Devon District Council and of Exmouth Town Council, and a resident of Exmouth).

The Committee considered the Joint Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment and the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (PTE/13/50 - text only | pdf PTE/13/50) summarising the proposed local schemes programme for the Market and Coastal Towns and Rural Devon Foundation element of the Local Transport Plan Integrated Block for 2013/14 in the West Devon area.

A revised Integrated Block programme reflecting the outcome of bids for further transport infrastructure funds which had recently become available would be submitted to the Cabinet in July 2013 when the funding for the programme would be confirmed. The revised programme would then be reported to this Committee in October 2013.

The Report also commented on the larger schemes element of the Market and Coastal Towns and Rural Devon Foundation Programme, the Market and Coastal Towns and Rural Devon Targeted Capital Investment Programme and the Countywide Foundation Programme as they related to East Devon, and progress on Year 1 (2012/13) of the local schemes programme.

It was MOVED by Councillor S Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Moulding and

RESOLVED that the funding provisions included in Report PTE/12/24 - text only | pdf PTE/12/24 Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011 to 2026: Proposed Programme 2012/13 to 2014/15 for Devon be noted.

*7 Gipsy Lane A376 Junction

The Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste reported on the possibility of installing a pedestrian crossing at this junction. The Committee were advised that currently, based on collision date, the junction did not meet the required criteria for the installation of a crossing but further pedestrian and vehicular surveys were due to be carried out, the results of which would be reported to a future meeting of the Committee. Members commented on the heavy use of the junction by HGVs and other traffic.

*8 London Road (Old A30) in the Blackhorse/Endsleigh Crescent Area

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Cllr S Hughes had requested that the Committee consider the introduction of speed restrictions in this location.

Members noted that the Council had received a number of complaints relating to speed and noise in this area; acknowledging that the location does not meet the County policy for a 30MPH limit. The Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste advised that the noise issue was a result of the type of vehicles using the highway, and the type of road surface in the area, although the situation would continue to be monitored.

*9 Action Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received and noted the Report of the Head of Highways Traffic Management (HTM/13/17 - text only | pdf HTM/13/17) setting out action taken under delegated powers on advertised Traffic Regulation Orders since the last meeting.

*10 Dates of Future Meetings

Thursday 24 October 2013 (The Knowle, Sidmouth) and Tuesday 18 March 2014 (The Knowle, Sidmouth)

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.00am and finished at 12.10pm.

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