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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Taw View, Civic Centre, North Walk, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1EE

Contact: Gerry Rufolo, 01392 382299  Email: gerry.rufolo@devon.gov.uk

Items
Note No. Item

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71.

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2019, (previously circulated).

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 June 2019 be signed as a correct record. 

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72.

Matter of Urgency

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

Minutes:

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

 

The Chair had decided that the Committee should consider the following item as a matter of urgency to allow updates and follow-up as appropriate.

 

The County Council Local Members referred to past and recent flooding episodes near or at the Roundswell and Cedars Roundabouts and near the Halfords Retail unit. Officers were asked to investigate and review any mitigation measures. 

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73.

Highways Permit Scheme

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation from the Highways Systems Manager on a proposed  permit scheme for approving works on the highway and the introduction of statutory regulations. The presentation covered:

 

·         the current noticing system for informing the County Council as Highways Authority of proposed road works;

 

·         the Council’s statutory duty to coordinate works and reduce disruption;

 

·         the requirement for all local authorities to consider introducing a scheme by April 2020 and the project timeline;

 

·         the scope covering all statutory undertakers and DCC Highway works and in phase 2 all other privately licenced works;

 

·         types of highway works included in the proposed scheme; 

 

·         permit discounts available for recommended good practice; and

 

·         the range of conditions permitted.   

 

Discussion points with the Officers included:

 

·         fee levels and limits were determined by the Regulations and designed for the recovery of costs (with an additional 12.4 FTE staff proposed) and surpluses were not permitted under the Scheme; and changes to fee levels could be made (over a three period) as appropriate; 

 

·         the Scheme allowed for the provision of financial incentives for good working practices relating to collaboration, innovation and standards for example and ‘traffic sensitive’ street data was available on-line for the Utilities and other interested parties;

 

·         up to 20% of the works would be inspected (randomly selected and optimising arrangements) with costs being recovered (above that costs could not be recovered from the utilities);

 

·         the Scheme allowed for retrospective actions to recover signs or other debris and imposition of additional charges as appropriate;

 

·         charities/community activities etc could be exempted from charges under the Scheme;  

 

·         the provisions within the proposed scheme for emergency works which also allowed for the imposition of reasonable conditions by the County Council as appropriate;

 

·         any faults or poor reinstatement works could be reported to the County Council by parish councils or the public within a 2 to 3 years’ time limit or if outside the time limit where poor workmanship could be directly attributed;   

 

·         there was no provision for the setting of ‘bonds’ to recover additional costs arising from poor quality reinstatement but fines were permissible;

 

·         it was envisaged that there would be environmental benefits arising from the new scheme relating to reduction in congestion/delays and re-use of materials/rubble etc for example;

 

·         the Scheme would apply equally to the Local Authority and its contractors as well as Utilities and private contractors;

 

·         the proposed timeline included a period for consultation before ‘going live’ in March 2020 for statutory undertakers and Devon Highways; and March 2021 for private contractors;

 

·         the Officers met with the Utilities/Contractors 3 times a year to discuss detailed performance data and they would also visit the Material Laboratory to see how the scientific core sample/inspection was carried out.

 

The Chair thanked the Officers for their informative presentation.

 

[N.B. presentation attached to the minutes of this meeting and additional information on the Scheme was available at: www.devon.gov.uk/workspermit-scheme]

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74.

Annual Local Waiting Restriction Programme pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/80), attached

 

Minutes:

(Councillor Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item relating to proposals affecting his Division)

 

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/80) on advertised proposals which would be actioned  following receipt of no objections (Appendix I of the Report) and other proposals which had attracted objections/comments (Appendix II).

 

The Officers advised that further proposals raised by Members could be considered by the Committee as part of a future programme prior to formal advertisement.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Mathews and SECONDED by Councillor Yabsley and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the work on the annual waiting restrictions programme process for 2019/2020 be  noted; and

 

(b) that the recommendations contained in Appendices II and III to this Report be agreed.

 

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75.

School Pedestrian Crossing, Landkey Road, Barnstaple pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/41), attached

 

 

 

Minutes:

(Councillor Edgell declared a Personal Interest in this item by virtue of a relative’s employment at Newport Community Primary School)

 

(Councillor Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item in support of the proposal)

 

(Mr Livermore, a local resident, attended and spoke in accordance with the Public Participation Scheme objecting to the proposal relating to the impact on local traffic and ‘back-up/congestion/delays, the dangerous situation that could arise with unescorted children using the proposed crossing and the need to reduce local speed limits).

 

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/41) on a proposal to construct a signal controlled “Puffin” pedestrian crossing on Landkey Road in Barnstaple and associated modifications to kerbing, pavements and surface water drainage. The proposed scheme would provide a dedicated pedestrian crossing facility serving Newport Community School Primary Academy and support sustainable travel to other local community facilities.

 

Subject to scheme approval, and following a comprehensive independent Safety Audit, it was intended that construction would take place between January and March 2020.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor J Mathews, SECONDED by Councillor R Edgell and  

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the scheme shown on plan 19415/03 included in Appendix I of the Report, be approved for construction at an estimated cost of £80,913;  

 

(b) that a public notice be advertised; and

 

(c) that a Traffic Regulation Order to amend the waiting restrictions adjacent to the crossing be advertised and, if no objections are received be made and sealed.

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76.

Petitions/Parking Policy Reviews

[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 http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/documents/s7626/Part%2004%20-%20Rules%20of%20Procedure%20for%20Meetings%20of%20the%20Council%20Cabinet%20and%20Committees.pdf

 

Minutes:

No requests for reviews of parking policy had been made.

 

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77.

Actions Taken Under Delegated Powers pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/81), attached

 

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/81) on actions taken by the Chief Officer under delegated powers.

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78.

Dates of Future Meetings

30 March, 17 July and 30 November 2020 and 2 March 2021. All meetings will be held at Taw View, Barnstaple

 

Minutes:

30 March, 17 July and 30 November 2020 and 2 March 2021 all at Taw View, Barnstaple


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