Present

Devon County Council

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

Exeter City Council

Councillors Bull, Newby and Wardle

Member attending in accordance with Standing Order 25:-

Councillor Thompson (Exeter City Council)

Apologies

Councillor Foggin (Devon County Council) and Buswell (Exeter City Council),

*123 Announcements

The Chairman welcomed Mr Hodgins who was attending the meeting in his 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.

*124 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2015 be signed as a correct record.

*125 Matters of Urgency:

(a) Parking Enforcement

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency, at the request of Councillors Westlake and Prowse, in view of difficulties experienced by some Members in contacting and reporting abuse of parking regulations to Civil Enforcement Officers.

Officers undertook to arrange a meeting between Members and officers to explain and discuss the protocol for contact of enforcement matters.

(b) Consultation: Parking for People with Disabilities

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency, at the request of Councillor Bull, as a means of improving public awareness of a current consultation Consultation: Parking for People with Disabilities and through by Members promulgating details available on the Council s website at:

https://new.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/consultations/parking-for-disabilities/

(c) Road Closures in the City

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency in view of local concerns over the disruption for bus services, commuters and residents occasioned by the number of recent road closures affecting important arterial routes within the City.

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reported that there was city-wide overview by the Highways Co-ordination Team and that all Members should be informed at an early stage of any closures of main roads affecting their divisions and it was agreed to report to the next meeting.

(d) Doctor s Walk/Little Johns Hill/ Balls Farm Road

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

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider the impact of recent structural works requiring Traffic Management on B3212 Dunsford Road, affecting peak time traffic on Little John s Cross Hill in view of local concerns from residents and local members.

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reported on vehicles using Balls Farm Road during peak periods and the difficulties for the Police in enforcement of restrictions, notwithstanding the Police s recent actions in issuing warnings at the location.

The Group Manager indicated an engineering solution, for example, a turning head would be costly for which there was no funding available and an alternative low cost solution with installation of bollards in Doctor s Walk was unlikely to get universal support from residents. He also undertook to take forward consultation on the proposal for Doctors Walk only if a source of funding to implement any agreed scheme was identified.

*126 Bus Services in Exeter

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

the new timetabling for E and F services, was working well despite the reduced frequency

the T and D reduced service frequency, as a result of the County Council budget reductions in September, was receiving little negative feedback with the mitigation measures put in place by Stagecoach

the re-launch on 23 November of service 57 Exeter-Exmouth with new improved high specification vehicles with a dedicated driver team

the planned launch in January 2016 of new high specification vehicles for the PR red service and work had now commenced in respect of the new Matford Bus Depot site.

Additionally issues and/or observations identified during the course of discussions, as

indicated, included:

details of routes from the new Matford Depot were still being considered but the impact

on local communities would be minimal

Stagecoach was not aware of any proposals to remove a stop in the vicinity of the

swimming pool /Eaton House in Heavitree Road or in Okehampton Street and the Neighbourhood Highways Group Manager confirmed that the location of stops was determined by the County Council in consultation with Stagecoach

Mr Williams confirmed that Stagecoach was notified in advance of impending road works

but actual disruption to services was difficult to predict and only evident when works were underway

the revised 57 service (every 15 minutes) on Topsham road was working well and drivers used

Mr Willams commented that drivers used their discretion on whether to drive on the

service roads approaching Countess Wear/Glasshouse Lane depending on traffic conditions

careful planning by Stagecoach and other agencies had taken place in preparation for the

recent Great West Run event and that the impact on the P service (reduced from half to one hour for the event duration) was currently being analysed and would be taken into account for next year s planning

the use of single decker buses for the 57 service was a temporary measure and double

deckers would be reinstated.

The Chairman thanked Mr Williams for the updates and responses to Members questions.

*127 Petitions/Parking Policy Reviews

There was no petition for a parking review from a Member of the public or Council.

*128 Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011 2026: Exeter Programme for 2015/16 and 2016/17

The Committee considered the joint report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment and Head of Highways, Capital Programmes and Waste (PTE/15/55 - text only | pdf PTE/15/55) on the Local Transport Plan Programme for 2015/16 and 2016/17 in Exeter and outlining a new approach to dealing with requests for waiting restrictions.

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment responded to members questions relating to planned funding of the schemes detailed in the report.

The Chairman and members welcomed the new proposed approach to dealing with requests for waiting restrictions subject to adequate budgetary provision for this Committee relative to income generation in Exeter from the On-Street Parking Account.

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

RESOLVED

(a) that the funding provisions included in the report Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011 to 2026: Exeter Programme for 2015/16 and 2016/17 be supported;

(b) that the proposed approach to local priority waiting restrictions set out in section 4 of Report PTE/15/49 - text only | pdf PTE/15/49 be supported.

*129 Exeter Strategic Cycle Routes Consultation

Mr Barnfield (Architect) and Ms Bergman (Urban Designer) (consultation respondents) spoke and gave a presentation, at the invitation of the Committee, on their proposals to best achieve an attractive, efficient and comprehensive network by locating primary cycle infrastructure along existing main corridors.

The Committee considered the report of Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment PTE/15/59 - text only | pdf PTE/15/59) on an overview of the response to the recent consultation on Exeter's strategic cycle routes and proposed continued consultation with key stakeholders and local members.

The proposed strategy promoted routes that were easily accessible, convenient for people and offered safe passage and segregated from traffic where possible. The report also highlighted the difficulties of more ambitious proposals which would involve significant changes to existing radial road corridors.

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

RESOLVED

(a) that the key responses to the Exeter Strategic Cycle Route consultation be noted;

(b) that in principle support be given to progress further design of the routes shown in Appendix I, including workshops with key stakeholders and local members.

*130 Proposed restrictions: Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter

The Committee considered the report of Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment PTE/15/60 - text only | pdf PTE/15/60) on objections to the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for the relocation of residents parking bays on Cowley Bridge Road (A377).

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

RESOLVED that a site visit be arranged comprising the Chairman, Vice Chairman and local County Council Member, reporting back to this Committee.

*131 Potholes Playmoor Drive

(Councillor Thompson (Exeter City Council) attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item) .

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Morse had requested that the Committee consider the maintenance of this Road in view of concerns expressed locally and supported by the local City Councillor who had asked that maintenance work be undertaken to address the current poor condition of the Road.

The Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste reported on the programmed maintenance schedule, current priorities and national safety criteria for repair of potholes. He also referred to the significant maintenance backlog as a result of budget reductions over many years.

The Committee noted that Playmoor Drive had recently undergone a highways inspection and no safety defects had been detected.

*132 Snow Wardens and Winter Resilience

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Hannaford had requested that the Committee consider measures to promote winter resilience and the uptake of the Snow warden scheme in Exeter.

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reported salt stocks were being maintained and there were contingency measures to replenish if necessary and grit bins were being topped - up. Whilst the take-up of self-help initiatives in rural towns and parishes was encouraging there had been no Snow Warden volunteers (part of the self-help initiatives) in the City as yet; and 60% of the Exeter roads was on the primary salt treatment network (all frequent bus routes); and it was not normal practise for grit bins to be provided as part of new residential developments.

Members were advised to approach their neighbourhood officers with any proposals to re-locate existing bins or purchase of new ones using their locality budgets (which would have revenue implications in keeping them topped-up with grit).

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager undertook to review (through the local officers) the use of grit bins with local members.

*133 Actions Taken Under Delegated Powers

The Committee received the report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/15/74 - text only | pdf HCW/15/74) on actions taken by him in respect of Traffic Orders under delegated powers since the last meeting.

*134 Dates for Future HATOC Meetings

Monday, 11 January at 2.15 pm

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings:

https://new.devon.gov.uk/democracy/calendar/

DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.15 pm and finished at 4.35 pm

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