Agenda and minutes

(N.B. In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman must be County Councillors)  

RESOLVED that Councillor A Eastman and Councillor T Inch be elected Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively for the ensuing year.

Minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2017 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2017 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.

Presentation by 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.

A Manager from Skanska attending to discuss issues with Members

(Councillors M Durkin (Northam Town Council), P Hackett, D Hurley, P Pennington and J Whittaker, (Torridge District Council) and 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

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

Members’ questions and comments related, inter alia, to

·         the application of TUPE arrangements where appropriate

·         continued use of the Customer Services Centre (My Devon) in Tiverton as a contact point

·         the gully cleaning programme for the County

·         despite the enhancement of the minor road network maintenance budget by the Cabinet the limited resources for highway maintenance across the County, particularly in northern Devon and the need for additional resources from Government

·         pot hole repair policy with regard to safety criteria 

·         the recent constructive meeting between Torridge District Councillors and the Acting Chief Officer  

·         the need for Members to raise any local issues/concerns with their respective Neighbourhood Officer for example blocked drains in Sheepwash (which would be progressed by the Neighbourhood Officer) and local concerns about the recent closure of the A386;

·         Skanska policy and best practice to minimise the period of any road closure dependent on safety considerations and preference for use of temporary traffic lights where viable.

Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/36) attached  

The Committee considered the report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/36) on the annual local programme for the HATOC area for the funding and delivery of waiting restriction schemes for 2017/18 to include minor aids to movement improvements such as drop crossing, footway improvements and bollards.

The Committee noted that the Cabinet had allocated an amount of £100,000 countywide from the On Street Parking Account to this process in 2017/18 which equated to £12,500 to each HATOC area.

It was MOVED by Councillor Saywell, SECONDED by Councillor Parsons and

RESOLVED

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

(b) that the recommendations contained in Section 4 of Report HIW/17/36 be approved and, subject to consultation with local Members on the details, the proposals be advertised;

(c) that the request for bollards to be installed at Stafford Way, Dolton detailed in Section 5 of Report HIW/17/36 be  delegated to the Acting Chief Officer in consultation with the Local Member.

Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/37) attached

(Mr A Boyd and Councillor J Whittaker (Torridge District Council) attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee in respect of the proposals for Stanwell Hill)

The Committee considered the report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/37) on engineering or traffic management options following rejection by this Committee of a one way system on Fosketh Hill and Stanwell Hill. The two options were widening Stanwell Hill or redirecting traffic, especially HGV traffic, using signing. The former would be uneconomic and unlikely to achieve significant results due to physical and other restraints. On-going monitoring by officers would continue.

It was MOVED by Councillor Saywell, SECONDED by Councillor Hellyer

RESOLVED

(a) that the widening of the road at Stanwell Hill not be pursued;

(b) that the current route signing directing traffic to Stanwell Hill be examined in greater detail to determine if improvements can be made and a report be made to a future meeting.

Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/17/38) attached

The Committee received the Report of the Acting Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development  and Waste (HIW/16/18) on actions taken in respect of Traffic Orders under delegated powers since the last meeting.

[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 North Devon District.

10 October 2017 and 1 March 2018

The County Council’s Calendar available at:

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

10 October 2017 and 1 March 2018

The County Council Calendar of meetings available on the website:

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