Devon County Council

Councillors Owen (Chairman), Hannan, Hannaford, Hill, Leadbetter, Morse, Prowse, and Westlake

Exeter City Council

Councillors Bull, Ruffle, Wardle and Winterbottom

Apologies

Councillor Foggin

*32 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2013 be signed as a correct record

*33 Matter of Urgency: Gully Cleaning Programme

(An Item taken under Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972)

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider this item a matter of urgency in order that the Committee might consider Members concerns about the gully emptying programme particularly after recent heavy rainfall. Members expressed concern about any proposals to reduce the frequency of cleaning as part of the 2014/15 budget process.

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager explained that as a result of the recent particularly inclement weather and local flood events throughout Devon the routine gully cleaning programme had been suspended and resources were instead being diverted to clean up and repair work, focusing on the main road network

It was MOVED by Councillor Westlake, SECONDED by Councillor Owen and

RESOLVED

(a) that a report on the funding for the Gully Clearance Programme and methodology for cleaning be made to the next meeting;

(b) that this Committee s concerns about any proposal to reduce the gully cleaning programme for Exeter City be taken into account during consideration of the budget for 2014/15.

*34 Bus Services in Exeter

Mr Robert Williams, Commercial Director Stagecoach South West, attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee on developments affecting bus services and the network in Exeter since the last meeting.

Issues and/or observations identified during the course of discussions upon which action would be taken as identified included:

the provision of increased capacity from 5 February on the 56 service to Exeter Airport with larger more reliable modern buses during the morning peak;

the alternative route arrangements during the impending road works on Barrack Rad, which would be published by the Stagecoach on posters and its website;

concerns about arrangements at the bus stops in Cowick Street adjacent the Exe Bridge Retail Park; the Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager having confirmed that at the request of the local County Councillor a site visit would be arranged to which Stagecoach would be invited prior to a report to the next meeting of this Committee;

concerns about capacity issues on the Dawlish Marsh Barton Alphington Road service; Mr Williams having agreed that consideration would be given to providing larger buses on more services on this route;

family/child daily and weekly ticket fares which had reduced over recent years and which compared favourably with other services in similar Cities;

the need to monitor delays for buses as a result of the recent changes to the junction at Denmark Road/Heavitree Road; Mr Williams having agreed to do so;

operation of a tracking system in every bus to ensure drivers did not exceed speed limits in the City.

Mr Williams also commented that the traffic congestion over the Christmas period had been less than anticipated although on occasion it had been problematic in adhering to the timetable. In preparation for next year Stagecoach was considering a more integrated approach to dealing with these issues next year, incorporating car park policy, variable message signs, park and ride, shop opening hours, night economy, etc. Mr Williams also expressed concern about any proposals by the County Council to discontinue the Variable Messaging Services it currently operated. Stagecoach was also keen to provide input and support for a scheme for the Heavitree corridor into Exeter to help achieve a variety of objectives and prepare for future traffic growth from this side of the City. Stagecoach also wanted to highlight the opportunity that widening Bridge Road would have in redirecting the traffic from Dawlish to ease the congestion on that approach.

The Chairman thanked Mr Williams for his presentation and responses to Members questions.

*35 Topsham Road/Southbrook Road/Tollards Road Junction Improvement

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/14/3 - text only | pdf PTE/14/3) on a proposed scheme to improve the Topsham Road/Southbrook Road/Tollards Road Junction, Exeter.

It was MOVED by Councillor Leadbetter, SECONDED by Councillor Owen and

RESOLVED that the scheme shown on the plan attached to report PTE/14/3 - text only | pdf PTE/14/3 be approved at an estimated cost of 180,000.

*36 North of Exeter Park and Ride opportunities

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment reported on current investigations and options in identifying suitable opportunities for Park and Change facilities along the A377 corridor, involving combinations of park and bike/bus and train connections using the existing networks. The longer term aspiration of the Council was for the provision of a Park and Ride facility but in the shorter term, in the current economic climate, this was not realistic in terms of the capital commitment involved and in view of other priorities where the business case was more compelling.

It was MOVED by Councillor Owen, SECONDED by Councillor Morse and

RESOLVED that a report on the progress of options for Park and Change provision to the north of Exeter be submitted to the July meeting.

*37 Proposed Waiting Restrictions: Rosebarn Lane Area: Site Meeting held on 6 January 2014

(Messrs Hackney and Whitson attended the meeting under the Council s Public Participation Scheme and spoke to this item for and against the proposal respectively)

The Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/13/53 - text only | pdf HCW/13/53) reported on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order restricting parking for the area as discussed at a site meeting held on 6 January attended by the Chairman, local members, local residents representatives and Officers.

It was MOVED by Councillor Owen, SECONDED by Councillor Prowse and

RESOLVED

(a) that the responses to the advertised Traffic Regulation Order as reported at the last meeting on 5 November 2013 be noted;

(b) that the Traffic Regulation Order, amended as detailed in section 5 of report HCW/13/53 - text only | pdf HCW/13/53 of 5th November 2013, be made and sealed and the scheme be implemented;

(c) that the new scheme be monitored for a minimum of 6 months from implementation, including vehicle speed and volume counts;

(d) that a feasibility study be undertaken to review existing parking restrictions with a view to balancing the demand for on street parking in the Rosebarn Lane area.

*38 Civil Parking Enforcement Revenue and Funding for Traffic Regulation Orders

The Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste reported on the allocation of surplus funds from the On Street Parking Account 2013/14 totalling 1,224,000 covering Traffic Management Schemes and other initiatives such as park and ride schemes, rural bus support and other accessibility projects throughout the County.

Members expressed concerns about the lack of flexibility within current policy for the provision of funding for Traffic Regulation Orders to address local concerns. Concern was also expressed about the accuracy of the County Council s electronic signing in respect of car park capacity, on which the Head of Service undertook to investigate further for report back to members.

It was MOVED by Councillor Owen, SECONDED by Councillor Hannaford and

RESOLVED that a further report be submitted the next meeting on the On Street Parking Account for 2014/15 including specific allocations for Exeter.

*39 Priorities for Residents Parking in Exeter

(Councillor Westlake declared a personal interest by virtue of being resident in a potential proposed Residents Parking area)

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/14/3 - text only | pdf HCW/14/3) on an update on the future delivery of residents parking in Exeter in accordance with identified areas put forward for consideration by the Committee s Congestion Working Party and previously updated by this Committee in November 2012.

It was MOVED by Councillor Owen, SECONDED by Councillor Westlake and

RESOLVED

(a) that the residents parking priority list, in section 3 of report HCW/14/3 - text only | pdf HCW/14/3, be adopted subject to consultation with the Chairman and local City and County Members regarding specific roads and boundaries at the appropriate time; and

(b) that the priority list be reviewed every two years.

*40 Old Vicarage Road, St Thomas

The Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste reported on a recent site meeting with the Chairman, local County members and local resident concerning the non-replacement of an Access Prevention Marking (APM) outside the resident s home following surface treatment of the road. The Head of Service confirmed that the non-replacement of the APM was in accordance with Council policy. The local County Member expressed concerns about the impact for the local resident and nuisance caused and asked that the matter should reviewed.

It was MOVED by Councillor Owen, SECONDED by Councillor Hannaford and

RESOLVED

(a) that a report be submitted to the next meeting on changes and current policy in respect of Access Protection Markings;

(b) that the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste be requested to review the decision not to replace the APM in Old Vicarage Road in light of the representations from the local County Councillor and new evidence received.

*41 Beacon Lane: Calthorpe Road: Proposed Junction: Update (Minute 24)

The Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste reported that monitoring of traffic volumes on Beacon Lane was underway and a report would be submitted to the next meeting together with a report regarding the design of an enhanced cycle and pedestrian crossing facility.

*42 Fore Street, Heavitree

The Committee noted that Consultants were currently completing a report appraising a range of possible solutions for Fore Street, Heavitree from its junction with North Street to the junction with Whipton Lane. In order to ensure that innovative approach was taken to this complex, mixed priority section of carriageway the Consultants had been asked to prepare a range of possible options drawing from experience elsewhere in the UK and Europe. Necessarily this was taking some time and the Committee noted that a completed report with costed options would be submitted to the next meeting.

*43 Great West Run 2013

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/14/4 - text only | pdf HCW/14/4) on a debriefing with the organisers and the Police, Ambulance Service, Stagecoach, City Centre Manager and the County Council as Highway Authority.

Whilst the event had been successful with many benefits for the City a number of issues had been identified (resulting in 11 written complaints from residents) including undue delay in clearing the litter, traffic issues for travelling from the Crediton/Tiverton direction, access to the City Centre, problems with the York Road junction and bus access to St. David's Station and that some of the road closures were considered to have been put in place earlier than necessary, too few marshals, and the need for blue light routes to be established.

It was MOVED by Councillor Owen, SECONDED by Councillor Hannaford and

RESOLVED that a meeting be sought with the organisers and other stakeholders to discuss the issues identified to assist with the planning for next year.

*44 Actions Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/14/5 - text only | pdf HCW/14/5) on actions taken by him in respect of Traffic Orders under delegated powers since the last meeting.

*45 Dates of Meetings

22 April 2014, 22 July, 10 November 2014, 13 January and 16 April 2015.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.15 pm and finished at 5. 05 pm

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