Agenda, decisions and minutes

(NB: In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, the Chair and Vice-Chair must be County Councillors)

RESOLVED that Councillor Berry and Councillor Radford be elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Berry and Councillor Radford be elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the ensuing year.

Minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2022, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2022 be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2022 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 raised as a matter of urgency.

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

RESOLVED that

(a) extending the requested 40mph limit to include the hamlet of Smallbrook, which could mean the changing of the entire National Speed Limit section of the road between Quickes Farm and Downes Mill, be considered; and

(b) the bus stops on the road be looked at to consider where appropriate warning signage could be placed to protect public transport users.

(In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Squires had requested that the Committee consider this matter)

(Councillor G Barnell attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item)

Members received an update on actions taken since the last meeting of this Committee (23 February 2022, Minute 10).

Regarding the request for a 40mph speed limit by Quickes Farm Shop, Members were advised that speed checks had been undertaken by Five Elms Lane showing an average traffic speed of 43 to 44 miles per hour (depending on direction of travel), with 85% of road users driving below 50 miles per hour. A meeting of the Speed Compliance Action Review Forum (SCARF) had been scheduled for early July to consider this issue with an update to come to a future meeting.

A review of signage around the hamlet of Smallbrook had been taken in relation to concerns that it was confusing. Members were advised that the road was National Speed Limit and there was a legal requirement to reflect this in the signage. There was also a vehicle activated sign (VAS) warning of the approaching bend with a suggestion to slow. It was explained to Members that although drivers may take indication of a different speed limit from the VAS, the signage was technically and legally correct and would only require adjustment if there were to be changes to the speed limit on the road.

In their discussions, Members restated their concerns surrounding the National Speed Limit section of the road, particularly in relation to bus stops on the road that were used by school buses.

It was MOVED by Councillor Squires, SECONDED by Councillor Slade and

RESOLVED that

(a) extending the requested 40mph limit to include the hamlet of Smallbrook, which could mean the changing of the entire National Speed Limit section of the road between Quickes Farm and Downes Mill, be considered; and

(b) the bus stops on the road be looked at to consider where appropriate warning signage could be placed to protect public transport users.

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

(In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Squires had requested that the Committee consider this matter)

(Councillor G Barnell attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item)

Members received a presentation on the casualty statistics on the A377 from Crediton to Newton St Cyres for the period 2017-21 in addition to projected 2022 statistics. They were also advised on the annual collision review and subsequent RAG rating that was undertaken for Devon and Cornwall’s A- and B-road network, and the A377’s comparative rating to other roads in Devon. In summary, the road was of some concern, particularly when compared to other rural roads in the county.

Members expressed that this information should be made available to them for further dissemination to town and parish councils.

[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.]

There was no current petition for a parking review from a member of the public relating to Mid Devon.