Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Croad be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

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

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Friday, 24 March 2017.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2017 be approved as a true record.

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

There were no items requiring urgent attention.

To receive a presentation from the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste.

The Committee received a presentation from the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste on the work of the Committee covering the Constitution, Terms of Reference and Scheme of Delegation.

Members asked for clarification on the timeline and process for capital allocations being included within the final programme of works.

RESOLVED that officers prepare a briefing note on the timings and process and that Members receive an update at the next meeting of the HATOC.

A representative from Skanska will attend to raise and discuss issues with Members.

(Mr S Cane (Skanska) attended and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee).

The Committee received a presentation from Mr S Cane (Contract Manager) Skanska UK covering:

·         the Company’s origin and ethos, number of employees worldwide and UK and wide ranging infrastructure and engineering activities across local authority and other sectors;

·         management of the Devon Highways Maintenance Contract, including 9 operational Depots (including transfer of a depot to an alternative site from Gas Lane, Torrington), co-location of staff within Lucombe house at County Hall, use of the existing ‘Devon Highways’ brand, investment in new operational vehicles, a new training academy,  information sharing and development of ‘system thinking’ to achieve efficiencies and cashable savings;

·         the Company’s safety culture and sustainable/energy policies and working practices, behavioural code of practice for employees in relations with contract partners and the public; and

·         the Company’s training ethos, career development of employees, including apprenticeships.

Members’ questions and comments related, inter alia, to responsibility for directional signage, the role of Parish Lengthsman, any links of Skanska with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), rail investment, clarification of the digital information processes and whether this would allow Parish Councils to be notified of forthcoming works, promotion of the road warden scheme and also how quality issues would be monitored and improved upon.

Members to discuss issues arising from the site visit earlier in the day in relation to traffic and speeding through the village and also potential solutions and / or sites for a crossing in the vicinity of Marldon School.

(Mr Clements, Headteacher of Marldon Primary School, attended and in the spirit of the Public Participation Rules spoke at the invitation of the Committee).

(Mrs Sutton, Representative of Marldon Speed Reduction Group attended and in the spirit of the Public Participation Rules spoke at the invitation of the Committee).

Members discussed the issues arising from the site visit earlier in the day which included traffic and speeding through the village and also potential solutions and / or sites for a crossing in the vicinity of Marldon School.

(a)   Zebra Crossing

In relation to the consideration of a zebra crossing in the vicinity of Marldon Primary School, Members heard evidence from officers about the national criteria for installations of zebra crossings, which were not met in this case, and the potential for other options including an island or a raised crossing and a potential location between Millmans Road and the school.

Members raised concerns over rights of ways, speeding near to the school, whether the school had investigated the option of lollypop crossing patrols and also that there was no funding currently identified for any scheme.

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

RESOLVED that the Committee supports the principle of a zebra crossing in the suggested location between Millmans Road and the School and asks officers to work on suitable proposals and a way forward in terms of safety audits, the necessary usage statistics when funding had been identified.

(b)   20 MPH speed limit in Marldon

The second issue arising from the site visit related to consideration of a 20mph speed restriction through Marldon and Compton.

Members were reminded that the Committees previous resolution of supporting a blanket 20mph speed limit zone in Marldon and Compton had been to Cabinet as an exemption / departure from policy. Cabinet had resolved to not approve the request to depart from Council Policy but following the receipt of Governments’ advice on 20mph speed limits, a review of the County Council’s policy on local speed limits would be undertaken.

Members again expressed their disappointment at the continued delay for this study.

In discussion, Members raised the issues of the work of Mr Hamilton Baillie, including opportunities for looking at more innovative solutions for reconciling traffic movement with quality public spaces in towns and villages and also the options for extension of the existing 20mph zone with other traffic calming measures.

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

RESOLVED

(a)   that  Officers be asked to meet with Parish Council representatives to consider a scheme or schemes that would allow the extension of existing 20mph zone, notwithstanding the request for a Zebra Crossing that might form part of these proposals; and

(b)   that Members express their disquiet at the continued delays of the Government’s review of 20mph speed limits and asks that Cabinet write, again, to the Department for Transport on this matter.  

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

(Annie Lovell, Dart Area Landscape Access Group and Lynne Maurer, Representative of Kingswear Parish Council attended and in the spirit of the Public Participation Rules spoke at the invitation of the Committee).

The Committee noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 23, Councillor Hawkins had asked that the Committee consider the progress on the re-opening of Beacon Road, Kingswear.

The Committee received a verbal report from the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste which updated Members on the cliff landslide which had occurred in December 2012 and the ongoing discussions with landowners to stabilise the cliff and also reinstate the footpath.

It was noted that whilst a section 143 notice had been issued in relation to the relocation of timber barriers, works were still required to stablise the cliff and make the footway safe.

Members asked questions in relation to ownership of the cliff and potential legal options to progress the re-opening of Beacon Road.

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

RESOLVED that this Committee expresses its disappointment of the continued delays in re-opening Beacon Road and asks officers to prepare a report outlining the issues to date and of options that would enable the road to be re-opened, including taking a more robust approach to the consideration of legal action.

Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/60)

Members considered the Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/60) on annual waiting restrictions programme process for 2017/2018.

Due to previous difficulties in delivering requests for waiting restrictions (resource and / or funding pressures), the Council introduced an annual Local Waiting Restriction Programme for each HATOC area for funding and delivering waiting restriction schemes. The 2016/17 programme delivered proposals at over 250 sites across Devon and building on that success it was intended to develop a programme for 2017/18 to include minor aids to movement improvements such as drop crossing, footway improvements and bollards.

The report outlined that Cabinet had allocated £100,000 countywide, equated to £12,500 to each HATOC area and approval was being sought for the 2017/18 programme

Appendix I (waiting restriction proposals) and appendix II (aids to movement proposals) of the report identified the proposed schemes and outlined the need for consultation on the detail with the local Member and Chairman of the HATOC, before the proposals would be designed and any associated Traffic Order drafted and advertised.

Members noted that proposals with no objections would be implemented, those with minor objections would be determined under delegated powers by the acting Chief Officer in consultation with the Local Member and the Chair of HATOC and those attracting significant objections would be reported to a future HATOC meeting.

In discussion Members were informed that there was scope to add additional schemes, but that the detail of these needed to be ‘worked up’ before the end of August 2017.

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

RESOLVED

(a) that work on the annual waiting restrictions programme process for 2017/2018 be noted;

(b) that the recommendations contained in Appendix I to this report be endorsed and subject to consultation with local Members on the details, the proposals be advertised; and

(c) that the recommendations contained in Appendix II to this report be agreed and subject to consultation with local Members on those details, the proposals be implemented.

Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/61).

Members considered the Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/61) on the stopping up of the Highway in Links Court Service Road, Thurlestone.

The report outlined that following storms in 2014, a section of the Links Court Service Road was washed away and became beyond repair and the remaining length of road only served the Thurlestone Golf Club.

In November, the HATOC approved the principal of stopping up this public highway, however further consultations required a slight modification. It was proposed that an application be made to the Magistrates' Court (S116 of the Highways Act 1980) for the stopping-up of part of the public highway in Links Service Road, Thurlestone, shown at Appendix I and drawing HCDW/PROW/14/095.6 to the report. The proposal included retaining bridleway rights in the area and creating public footpaths from A-B and C-D-E-F.

Members noted that a number of organisations had been contacted and the consultation responses were listed in Appendix II of the report.

In discussion Members clarified that the cycling tourist club were now in agreement with the proposals.

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

RESOLVED

(a) that the Committee re-confirm its view that the part of the public highway in Links Court Service Road, Thurlestone as shown on the drawing (attached as Appendix I) is unnecessary for public use;

(b) that the Committee supports Devon County Council to make an application to the magistrates’ court for an order under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980 that the part of the said highway be stopped up; and

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

Following consideration of this matter at the last meeting, Councillor Smerdon will report back on the requirements of the Parish Council.

Following consideration of this matter at the last meeting, Councillor Smerdon reported on the requirements of the Parish Council for Exeter Road in South Brent.

Discussions had taken place with officers and a recent Speed Compliance Action Review Forum had agreed locations for flashing vehicle activated signs at each end of the problematic area, which would be progressed and funded by the parish council.

Councillor Smerdon also highlighted that a future development in the area might raise the need for a crossing.

[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.

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings

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

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

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

Members also identified the following future agenda items or their consideration by officers;

·         A presentation by Mr Hamilton Baillie, as outlined earlier, (Cllr Hodgson to identify any costs) or the circulation of a previous presentation if costs were prohibitive, notwithstanding there was no budget for such things;

·         Littlehempton Cycle Path progress;

·         Air Quality Management Action Plan; and

·         True Street Junction (consideration of ‘no right turn’).