Agenda, decisions and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Yabsley and Councillor Maskell be elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Yabsley and Councillor Maskell be elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the ensuing year.

There were no announcements made by the Chair.

Members of the Committee will declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered at this meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

The registrable interests of Councillors of Devon County Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes. 

For details of District and or Town and Parish Twin Hatters – please see here:

County councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Members were reminded that they should declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

The list of Membership of other Authorities can be found here: County councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2023, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2023 be signed as a correct record.

A member question was raised regarding minute *52 as to whether there was an update on the £2 bus fare trial after December 2024; there was no update readily available at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2023 be signed as a correct record.

Item 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.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/68), attached.

RESOLVED that

(a) Officers undertake the collection of data regarding traffic numbers and speed on appropriate roads surrounding the Old Torrington Road Bus Gate (exact locations to be determined by officers), with this to take place after the roadworks and implementation of a bus lane are completed on the A3125/Gratton Way;

(b) the decision on the reconfirmation of the current location of the bus gate is deferred until such time as the above is completed, rescheduling the planned meeting of the North Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee if appropriate to accommodate;

(c) the advertising of an amendment to the traffic regulation order for ‘the bus gate’ to exempt emergency vehicles be approved, with final decision of the making and sealing of the amendment order to be made by this Committee at a future meeting;

(d) the advertising of an amendment to the traffic regulation order for ‘the bus gate’ to exempt taxis be approved, with final decision of the making and sealing of the amendment order to be made by this Committee at a future meeting;

(e) Old Torrington Road is referred to the councils Speed Compliance Action Review Forum (SCARF) on the basis of the Committee’s concerns regarding vehicle speed

(f) the Committee write to the police regarding concerns around the lack of enforcement of the Old Torrington Road Bus gate and support given to Speedwatch, particularly in light of abuse experienced recently by those undertaking speed checks in a voluntary capacity; and that

(g) Officers continue to explore the use of existing powers to aid enforcement of the bus gate, and that they report back to the next committee on this.

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2), Councillor P Henderson had asked that the Committee consider this item.

(Councillor D Knight declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in this matter by virtue of being the owner of property whose value may possibly be affected by a decision taken by the Committee on this matter and withdrew from the meeting during its consideration).

Councillor Helen Walker (Vice-Chair of the North Devon Crematorium Joint Committee) and Ms Joy Bowden attended the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation scheme and spoke to this item in support of the proposed recommendations and the benefits of the Old Torrington Road Bus Gate.

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/68). The Report outlined that, since the implementation of the bus gate in question, there had been feedback received that was in opposition to the bus gate, including comments made on the detriment to the experience of visitors to the North Devon Crematorium and a petition received on 23 May 2024, asking to ‘rescind the implementation of the operational activity of the recently installed bus gate on the Old Torrington Road in Barnstaple’.

A meeting between officers and members of the North Devon HATOC was held in February 2024, in lieu of a formal committee meeting, as an opportunity for members to raise their views – both in opposition to, and in favour of, the bus gate. Officers agreed to move forward with the drafting of this report to allow members an opportunity to further consider options regarding the bus gate with scope for further decisions to be taken.

There was significant debate and disagreement between members. Points raised during discussions between members and officers included:

• Concern raised by some members that the report, and recommendations within, failed to adequately take account of the significant public feeling against the bus gate which was evidenced by the large response to the above-referenced petition;

• The intent of some members for the bus gate to cease its operation until such time as additional access to the A361 from the Larkbear housing development was completed. Officers responded to this, advising that any change to the function of the bus gate would involve a legal requirement to advertise the order to revoke the bus gate restrictions, which were legally in-situ, and advertise a new Traffic Regulation Order to this effect, and re-consult on that. It would not be appropriate to ‘informally’ allow contraventions to the current bus gate restrictions i.e. by deliberately not enforcing incorrect vehicle usage of the bus gate;

• A member noted that there had been no complaints regarding the Old Torrington Road Bus Gate referred to in the minutes of the North Devon Crematorium Joint Committee and referred to points made during public participation that were to this effect;

• Support of the Committee for the efforts of Speedwatch in monitoring bus gate usage and speed. A recent case of abuse to a Speedwatch volunteer was referred to with members expressing regret that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/69), attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/69) on inclusive design. The Report outlined the Council’s responsibility to consider the needs of disabled people in the design and development of transport and pedestrian infrastructure.

The Report referred to a number of mechanisms by which the Local Authority aimed to ensure that infrastructure was developed in an inclusive way including through public engagement (including with stakeholders from the Voluntary and Community Sector), impact assessments, and requirements under the Equality Act 2010.

Key discussion points between members and officers included:

• Positive feedback given to a member by a wheelchair user, who was visiting Devon, on the accessibility of the new sections of the Tarka Trail;

• The combining of new and old infrastructure, where the old infrastructure may be less accessible and inclusive, and how this was managed. Officers explained that a ‘transition area’ was required to inform path users; this would involve, for instance, appropriate signage and tactile paving for the benefit of visually impaired trail users;

• Shared space etiquette and how to educate path users on this etiquette to allow disabled people to make the most out of the shared spaces available to them; and

• Barriers and chicanes on bike / walking paths having a negative impact on disabled people, such as those in wheelchairs and using mobility scooters. Officers advised that it was now policy to remove these, which was being done gradually.

Members welcomed the report and noted its contents.

Update from committee representative. The notes of the most recent meeting (22 May 2024) are attached.

The Committee received an update from Councillor Davis, Chair of the BUS Forum and Councillor Maskell, the Committee’s representative on the Forum. Updates included:

• that the next meeting of the Forum was scheduled for the following week;

• electric buses had been ordered for usage within North Devon;

• two bus contracts had been put out to tender and awarded to Stagecoach, who would implement new buses, replacing older vehicles. This would primarily benefit Barnstaple residents; and

• the useful work done by the Bus Punctuality Group in conjunction with service operators.

In relation to bus punctuality and consistent concerns from residents and members across the county around the punctuality of bus services, Councillor Davis expressed disappointment in the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee for not approving the construction of the Cowick Street bus lane at its July 2024 meeting when they had the opportunity to do so.

Officers also advised that consultation on proposals regarding Barnstaple Train Station, to improve public transport services in the area (including buses), would start soon. It was a 21-day consultation, and depending on feedback received, would either be brought back to this Committee or decision delegated to the local member, cabinet member and Chair of 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.]

There was no petition from a member of the public or the Council relating to the North Devon district.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/70), attached.

The Committee noted the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/70)on actions taken under delegated powers since the last meeting.

Dates scheduled for:

7 February 2025, 10.30am

10 June 2025,  10.30 am

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings of the Committee.