Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors S Hughes (Chairman), Diviani, Hone, B Hughes, Knight, Moulding, Randall Johnson, Wragg and Wright

East Devon District Council:-

Councillors Bond, Buxton and Stott

Apologies:-

Devon County Councillors Bowden and Channon

*38 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2014 be signed as a correct record.

*39 Devon Highways Update

The Committee received an update by the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste, and at the invitation of the Committee, from the Managing Director of South West Highways on Devon Highways issues, including inter alia:

the Council s success in bidding for 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;

that alongside bids for additional capital and revenue funding for 2015/16 made available for major road networks, the Head of Service had also asked the Department for Transport to consider Devon as a special case and provide funding for maintenance of the rural road network;

the Tough Choices strategy for the 2015/16 revenue budget which included stopping grass cutting (except in visibility areas) and a remodelling of the parish legnthsman service;

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

the use of compacting machines by South West Highways teams to improve the longevity of pothole repairs;

the success of the implementation of the V works system which had resulted in improved productivity on both major and minor road repairs;

South West Highways involvement with utility company works in a monitoring capacity, and the improvement in this working relationship over recent years;

the Council s and landowners responsibilities in relation to ditch clearing;

the possibility of turning uncut grass verges into area for wild flowers;

that as part of the Council s Managing Demand strategy, four parishes in Devon, including Branscombe, were part of a pilot scheme to review the highway network, establishing the most important routes for the community and considering down grading or stopping up some lower category roads;

options for future deliver models for highways services from April 2017.

The Head of Service also reported that a number of Parish and Town Councils in East Devon had either signed up to or expressed an interest in the Community Road Warden and Community Self-Help Schemes and that training for volunteers was currently being arranged. Examples of successful self-help schemes in Budleigh Salterton and in Uplyme, Combpyne Rousden, Axmouth and Sidmouth were also reported on.

*40 Broadclyst Safer Route to School

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/15/15 - text only | pdf PTE/15/15) which seeking approval to a series of traffic calming improvements at Dog Village, Broadclyst, as part of a further phase of works which would follow the B3181 toucan crossing and connecting shared use footway/cycleway.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Randall Johnson and

RESOLVED

(a) that the scheme shown on drawings B2300274-0101 Rev A and B2300274-0102 at an estimated cost of 118,000 be approved for construction;

(b) that authority be granted to advertise and, subject to no objections being received, to install traffic calming features on the public highway as described in the report;

(c) that the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Growth and Cabinet Liaison for Exeter, be authorised to make minor amendments to the scheme design, following consultation.

*41 Speed Cushions, West Hill Road

(Councillor Knight declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of being the Chairman of the School Transport Appeals Committee).

(Councillor Randall Johnson declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of being a Member of the School Transport Appeals Committee).

(Mr Bowes attended the meeting under the Council s Public Participation Scheme and spoke to this item against the proposal).

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development Waste (HCW/15/18 - text only | pdf HCW/15/18) which sought approval to construct three pairs of speed cushions on West Hill Road, West Hill, Ottery St Mary as shown in diagram 03PN254/12A.

The Committee discussed:

the proposed spacing of the speed cushions and the impact on carbon emissions and vehicle noise;

the local Member s informal consultation with residents which indicated overall support for the speed cushions due to high speeds observed at the location;

the possibility of moving the proposed location of the speed cushions to impact less on residents;

the potential risk that speed cushions pose to cyclists;

the impact of speed cushions on those with disabilities;

safety issues due to the current speed of traffic and the lack of pavement along part of the route, which is used by children walking to school;

the option of installing speed tables as opposed to speed cushions.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Knight and

RESOLVED that the decision be deferred until the next meeting and that speed checks at the location and consultation with local residents be undertaken and the results be brought to the next meeting of the committee.

*42 Dates of Future Meetings

Friday 24 July 2015, Friday 27 November 2015 and Friday 18 March 2016, all at the Knowle, Sidmouth at 10.00am.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.00 am and finished at 11.35 am.

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