Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2016.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2016 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

There was no item requiring urgent attention.

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

Presentation by the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste.

The Committee received a presentation from the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste.

This outlined the Cabinet’s recent decision, on 14 September 2016, to award the County Council’s Highways Term Maintenance Contract to Skanska Construction UK Limited,  as a single lot bid for the County Council (for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2024, with extension options to 2027); and that transitional arrangements would be made at the appropriate time.

Members noted the contract had now been awarded and work was ongoing, including a demobilisation plan with South West Highways and a mobilisation plan with Skanska for a smooth handover, with various workstreams covering issues such as depots, leases, premises and staff.

Members discussed the potential for the new contract to deliver improved services, how performance might be monitored, whether the contract included incentives and penalties and also how Parish and Town Councils might undertake work themselves, if this was a more cost efficient option for them.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/16/70), attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/16/70) on changes to the Community Road Warden Scheme in light of feedback received since its introduction two years ago.

The Scheme guidance was being simplified and updated, and its scope widened to include the option to undertake minor carriageway surfacing repairs, and a process to apply for financial grants towards materials, labour and equipment introduced.  Applications received for funding would be considered on a case by case basis, but there was £100,000 available for the self help scheme.

The intention was to relaunch the Scheme through a number of local Parish and Town Council events to be held during November, including one at Buckfastleigh Town Hall on 16^th November 2016 @ 9.30am.

Members also noted the request to extend the scheme to allow communities to fill potholes that were of concern to that community but didn’t meet the Council’s criteria as a safety defect. A successful trial had been undertaken with five Parish and Town Councils and guidance was being produced to enable other communities to follow suit should they wish.

Members’ discussion points with the Chief Officer included:

• clarification of the application process and a plea for it to be simple;
• the potential for Parishes to be given one pot of money, rather than the process currently proposed;
• the ability of Towns and Parishes to use suitably qualified contractors as well as volunteers who were Chapter 8 trained; and
• the take up rates for the various self help schemes.

It was MOVED by Councillor Gilbert, SECONDED by Councillor Hawkins, and

RESOLVED that Members be encouraged to use the information contained within the report, particularly pages 8 and 9, and promote this at Parish and Town Council meetings.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/16/4), attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/16/4) on the proposal to the stopping-up of part of the public highway in Links Service Road, Thurlestone, as outlined on the Drawing attached as Appendix I to the report. This included making an application to the Magistrates' Court under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980 for the stopping-up, but also to retain pedestrian rights in the area and create extensions to Thurlestone Footpath 3 from A-B and C-D-E-F as shown on plan HCDW/PROW/14/095.3.

The Committee heard that following the storms in 2014, a section of the Links Court Service Road was washed away, beyond repair. The remaining length of road only served Thurlestone Golf Club and provided no purpose to the highway authority.

The South West Coast Path used Links Court Service Road and it was proposed that the public rights of way were updated to reflect the changes and ensure the Trail was not severed.

Thurlestone Parish Council and South Hams District Council had been contacted for comments on the proposals and if any were received they would be discussed with the local member and Chairman before a final decision was made on whether to proceed with the Magistrates Court application. No comments had been received to date.

It was MOVED by Councillor Gilbert, SECONDED by Councillor Brazil, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the part of the public highway in Links Court Service Road, Thurlestone as shown on the Drawing, attached as Appendix I to report (HIW/16/4) be considered unnecessary for public use;

(b) that subject to the outcome of the consultation with the Parish and District Council, the Council make an application to the magistrates’ court for an order under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980 that the part of said highway be stopped up;

(c) that authority be delegated to the local member and Chairman of the HATOC to resolve any issues following the necessary consultations specified in section 4 of the report; and

(d) that the Committee has no objection to the proposed amendments to the public rights of way network.

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Pennington has requested that the Committee consider this matter.

The Committee noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 23, Councillor Pennington had asked that the Committee consider the issue of a Pedestrian Crossing at Marldon School. 

The Chairman, having exercised his discretion and in the spirit of the County Council’s Public Participation rules and with the consent of the Committee, invited Mrs D Sutton (representative of Marldon Parish Council) to speak on this issue.

Councillor Pennington highlighted that there were continuing problems at the School, including volume and speed of traffic and that the public, Parish Council, Neighbourhood Plan and local Police were in support of a pedestrian crossing. He further added that there had been such a crossing in the past, but it had been removed, possibly after objections from nearby properties.

Members asked questions in relation to why the original crossing was removed, the potential for the school to use bollards to prevent poor and ill judged parking, the likely timescale for the proposed road markings near to the school, the traffic criteria that would be applied to support such a proposal and also that technology had improved, including improved shading and the use of LED.

It was MOVED by Councillor Vint, SECONDED by Councillor Gilbert, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the Committee wholeheartedly support the principle of a pedestrian crossing outside Marldon School; and

(b) that officers prepare an evidence base, including the required surveys, costings and monitoring, and submit a project proposal to the next meeting of the HATOC, or that the Chair be given delegated authority to approve the project proposal, whichever is the earlier.

[An item to be taken under s18  of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to any reviews of parking policy sought in line with the Council’s Petition Scheme (https://new.devon.gov.uk/democracy/guide/constitutionparts2-4/part-4-section-7-petition-scheme/

There was no petition from a member of the public or the Council relating to the South Hams.

[NB: The relevant Head of Service would be asked to respond direct to the petitioners on the issues raised, within 15 days, letting him/her know how long it would take to undertake the requested review in line with the Council’s Petition Scheme (http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=Part%2004%20-%20Rules%20of%20Procedure%20for%20Meetings%20of%20the%20C&ID=391&RPID=76123 ) and when that would be concluded and published and/or considered by the relevant Highways & Traffic Orders Committee thereafter.]

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment (PTE/16/43) on the revised transport capital programme for 2016/17, excluding maintenance, attached.

Members are asked to note the report in light of the Cabinets request that Report PTE/16/43 be circulated, for information, to Highways & Traffic Orders Committees.

(Councillor Hodgson, with the consent of the Committee, spoke on this issue).

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment (PTE/16/43) on the revised transport capital programme for 2016/17, excluding maintenance, in light of the Cabinets request, at its meeting on 14 September 2016 (minute *70) that Report PTE/16/43 be circulated, for information, to all Highways & Traffic Orders Committees.

The revised Capital Programme for 2016/17 reflected changes in scheme costs, funding sources and timing.

Members asked questions in relation to the ‘Totnes on the Move’ project and why many of the proposals had not been taken forward, how Parishes find out how much money was being spent in their area and how schemes were prioritised, the importance of the Littlehempston cycleway and that, as a scheme, should be progressed, the new development in Dartington and the issues being experienced such as parking on the main road and the current roundabout layout, the proposed relocation of Shinners Bridge bus stop and when this might happen and the allocation and use of S106 monies and how this information might be more accessible to Members and Parish / Town Councils.

It was MOVED by Councillor Vint, SECONDED by Councillor Gilbert, and

RESOLVED

(a) that Councillors Vint, Rowe and Pennington work with relevant officers on the Littlehempston cyclepath proposals, to identify a way forward for the delivery of this scheme; and

(b) that the Clerk to the Committee identify the information held on S106 agreement allocations and spend and assess how this information might be made available to Members, on a Parish basis, for further dissemination to Town / Parish Councils.

Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development & Waste (HIW/16/5) on actions taken under delegated powers on Traffic Regulation Orders since the last meeting.

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development & Waste (HIW/16/5) setting out action taken under delegated powers on advertised Traffic Regulation Orders since the last meeting.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hawkins, SECONDED by Councillor Vint, and

RESOLVED that in view of the continued delay of the Governments Review of 20mph speed limits, the Committee receive a report at its next meeting, so the matter could be debated.

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

24 March 2017

7 July 2017

24 November 2017

Members noted the dates of future meetings, in line with the Councils calendar;

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

24 March 2017 @10.00am

7 July 2017 @10.30am

24 November 2017 @ 10.30am