Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2019, (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held 11 November 2019 be signed as a correct record.

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

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

The Chair had decided that the Committee should consider this as a matter of urgency, at the request of Councillor Ackland, in view of the impact of the closure of Church Hill on the residents of Park Lane, Pinhoe, Exeter.

The local Members reported on the key issues affecting local residents relating to

increased traffic with drivers ignoring the official diversion and using Park Lane as a short cut.

Also, it appeared that a number of HGV drivers were breaching the Construction, Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) agreed with the Local Planning Authority associated with the development in Church Hill.  The local Members also referred to the length of time since concerns were first reported and inaction to date and the protracted road closure to facilitate the development proposals. 

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reported on possible mitigation measures that could be considered. 

It was MOVED by Councillor H Ackland, SECONDED by Councillor D Harvey and 

RESOLVED

(a) that a site meeting be arranged with Councillors H Ackland and D Harvey (and a representative from the Local Planning Authority be invited) to discuss mitigation measures with Officers to alleviate the problems for local residents in Church Hill and Park Lane, Pinhoe; and

(b) that the Chief Officer for Highways and Infrastructure Development and Waste be authorised to take action as appropriate in consultation with the Chair and local Members.

Bus and Coach Operators to answer Members’ questions

Mr M Watson, Managing Director, Stagecoach South West with Mr P Clark, Operational Director, attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee on developments affecting bus services and the network in and around Exeter. 

Mr Watson referred to: 

·         his partnership work as a Board Member developing the Spatial Strategy for the City and its environs;

·         the flexibility of Stagecoach working with partners regarding new developments in and around the City with this use of S.106 funding for example, as appropriate for new bus and transport services;

·         issues relating to increased congestion with new developments such as Cranbrook and large out-of-town retail and warehousing developments;

·         the development of ‘clean’ vehicle technology for example, Euro 6 Standard for diesel engines (approximately 60% of the current fleet) acknowledged as the cleanest diesel engines available and future bid plans with the County Council for new Electric Vehicles and as part of the Clean Air Strategy, and the Company’s work towards achieving a zero- carbon operation; and

·         the current route consultation (open until the end of February 2020) exercise available on the Company’s website at: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-west/route-consultation-plan-2020 with the aim of simplifying the network, improving reliability and frequency where appropriate.

Mr Watson answered Members’ questions relating to:

·         the introduction of ‘tap’ card technology on the network to assist drivers and passenger and current pilot trials in Oxford to test new ‘fair capping’ card technology to ensure best value for passengers which it was hoped would be rolled-out in the future;

·         reliability issues regarding the Company’s ‘App’ relating to ‘premature cleardown’ when the most up-to-date information was not always available; and Mr Watson undertook to investigate other issues relating to night services which appeared on the App but did not exist;

·         the position of the bus stops in Bovemoors Lane, Exeter (near the junction with Carlile Road) which was not convenient for local users which Mr Watson undertook to investigate for report to the Local Member;

·         general concerns across the network about double parking and access problems for Buses, refuse and blue light vehicles;

·         the objective to improve/develop services and minimise fare increases (to balance revenue and cost pressures) to maintain a sustainable network;

·         the Company’s Headquarter review of new clean air technology for existing and new vehicles;

·         consideration by the Company to another consultation meeting (following the useful meeting arranged last year) with Members, Officers and User-Groups on route proposals and fares; and

·         frequency changes to improve the reliability of the R and S services.    

The Chair thanked Mr Watson and Mr Clark for their attendance and answers to Members’ questions and invited them to comment on the Bus Shelter proposals (Minute *132 below) .

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/20/01), attached

(S Williams (Clear Channel) and M Watson and D Clark (Stagecoach) attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee).

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/20/1) providing an update on Clear Channel’s progress with the bus shelter replacement installations.  The Report also put forward a list of additional shelters proposed for installation, these being the annual two free shelters included in the contract with Clear Channel, plus three paid from the County Council’s share of Clear Channel’s digital advertising revenue. The Report also included a note of a meeting held on 17 December 2019 on an agreement for the process and targets for the next installation phase.

The Chair had met with officers on 7^th January 2020 to draw up, from a list of requests and possibilities, a priority list of eight (allowing for any unforeseen problems on site) for this Committee to consider.  Those not installed as part of this batch would then be covered by the next two free shelter provision (May 2020) and digital revenue share. 

The criteria for selection were detailed in the Report along with the list at Appendix II of proposed shelters.

In discussion with the Officers, Clear Channel and Stagecoach, Members noted the process for each site which involved a commercial survey by Clear Channel to confirm the chosen site and type of shelter and a second traffic management survey by Highways Officers to determine detailed works, including traffic management measures. There followed an application by Clear Channel to the County Council for authorisation of the works (Section 50 notice).  The application would normally take one month and two to three months’ notice of the intended works date was desirable.

Of the list of shelters to be replaced in the current round Clear Channel had completed their surveys and were now waiting on the traffic management surveys which Members noted with concern had been delayed.   The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager undertook to investigate the reasons for the delays and report back to the Chair.

Members and Stagecoach expressed their views on the priority for shelters and suggested the following: Chancellors Way, Mount Pleasant Road (opposite the Health Centre), Summerway, Sweetbriar Lane, East Wonford Hill, Hamlin Lane, Sidmouth Road, (for the Falcon service, Stagecoach preference), and agreement to adding Lakeside to the list. 

Members also referred to additional shelters arising from residential development and associated Section 106 funding the extent of which the Principal Transport Co-ordination Officer undertook to investigate; and to missing ‘no idling’ signage on the shelters in Sidwell Street for coach parking, which would be reported to Exeter City Council; and removal of the Shelter at the top of South Street which was no longer in use.    

The Chair invited Stagecoach to write to the officers about any further preferences and any issues relating to new shelters as part of new developments.

The list would be reviewed again by the Chair with Officers taking account of the views above.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and

Waste (HIW/20/02), attached

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/20/2) on a proposed application to the Magistrates' Court under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980 for the stopping-up of part of the public highway in Bishop Westall Road, Exeter (as shown on the Drawing attached as Appendix I of the Report).

The County Council had received representation from the landowner at 6 Bishop Westall Road who wished to apply for a stopping up order so that the land in question no longer formed part of the public highway. 

It was MOVED by Councillor A Leadbetter, SECONDED by Councillor Y Atkinson and

RESOLVED that the application be determined by the Chief Officer of Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste following a site meeting and consultation with the Chair and local Member(s).

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

(An item raised by Councillor P Prowse in accordance with Standing Order 23(2)).

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reported on current policy relating to Gully Clearing: once annually for all roads on the gritting network, once every 3 years for roads not on the gritting network; and action if, 24 hours after the rain had stopped, there was standing water creating an obstruction which was a safety issue.

The local Member quoted the safety policy to minimise the risk of aquaplaning which applied  where a speed limit of 40mph or above was in force, and where highway users could reasonably travel at 40mph or above.    

Where there was an issue this could be reported via: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/

Councillor Prowse and other Members referred to drainage problems on Roads across the City they had witnessed and suggested a review of current policy.

It was MOVED by Councillor Y Atkinson, SECONDED by Councillor P Prowse and

RESOLVED  that a Report be submitted to the next meeting on the drainage policy, budget provision, and drainage and flooding issues identified by Members. 

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

(An item raised by Councillor P Prowse in accordance with Standing Order 23(2))

Councillor Prowse reported that following a previous consultation which had not supported a Residential Parking scheme for the area, residents had now expressed their concerns about current parking issues as a result of neighbouring Residents’ Parking Schemes.

The proposal would be added to the list for the Annual Review by the Committee.

[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-patition-scheme/].

No petition for a parking review from a member of the public relating to Exeter had been received.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/20/3), attached

The Committee received the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure and Waste (HIW/20/03) on action taken by her in consultation with the Chair and Local Members.

27 April, 22 July and 13 October 2020 and 18 January and 15 March 2021.

27 April, 22 July and 13 October 2020 and 18 January and 15 March 2021 (all at 2.15 pm at County hall, Exeter).