Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of this Committee must be a County Councillor.

RESOLVED that Councillor S Hughes be elected Chairman and Councillor Knight be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2016.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2016 be signed as a correct record.

Presentation by Victor Gough

The Committee received an update from the Head of Highways, Capital Development & Waste on the progress of the Road Warden Scheme commenting, inter alia, that:

·         32 Town & Parish Councils had now signed up to the scheme with a further 36 people receiving Chapter 8 training;

·         a further 28 people were on the waiting list to receive training;

·         a trial of pothole repairs using new material was being undertaken in five Parish Councils where small pot holes were filled that would otherwise have been left by the Highways Authority as they did not meet the safety requirement;

·         those Parish Councils that have signed up to the scheme will be asked if they wish to take on this additional role however it will not be a mandatory role of the Road Warden;

·         the scheme enabled Parishes to take on additional work that the County Council was no longer able to complete;

·         a small amount of funding was available to get the project started, however it would be up to local Parish Councils to fund this scheme should they wish to take part in pot hole repairs.

Presentation by the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment

Electoral Divisions:  All in East Devon

The Committee received a presentation from the Devon County Council Ecologist on Wildlife Verges within East Devon commenting, inter alia, that:

·         Devon had 2,000 hectares of road verge which excluded those managed by Highways England (HE);

·         97% of the UK’s wildlife meadows had been lost since the 1930s;

·         verges were vital for wildlife and pollinators;

·         there were 112 special verges in Devon which had been designated by the County Council due to its exceptional wildlife value, with 42 of those found in East Devon;

·         changes to County Council policy had resulted in verges being cut for health and safety purposes only rather than for maintaining plant life within verges;

·         this meant that without community involvement, verges were scrubbing up and their value as species rich grasslands was being lost;

·         it was therefore important to encourage communities and individuals to manage their verges for wildlife through health and safety training for volunteers;

·         making a small amount of funding available for communities to get involved and help manage their own wildlife verges.

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/16/40)

Electoral Divisions:  Sidmouth and Sidford, Ottery St Mary Rural

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/16/40) setting out the first stage of the Sidbury to Sidford cycle scheme, creating a direct walking and cycling connection to Sidmouth College, the Byes and the Town Centre. A new Tiger Crossing for walking and cycling had been approved by the Department for Transport as well as improvements to Laundry Lane which had received pathway improvements.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Knight and

RESOLVED

(a)     that the cycle scheme be approved for construction as per the plan at an estimated cost of £50,000;

(b)    that minor improvements are made to Laundry Lane to allow for walking and cycling at an estimated cost of £35,000.

To note the following reference from Cabinet for information. Report HCW/16/39 can be found at:

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=133&MId=160&Ver=4

“(a) that the Highway Safety Policy set out in Appendix A to Report HCW/16/39 be approved and the Head of Highways, Capital Development & Waste be authorised, in consultation with the County Solicitor and the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and Flood Prevention, to approve further minor amendments to the Highway Safety Inspection Policy prior to the next full review in September 2018;

(b) that Highways & Traffic Order Committees be made aware of the revised operational policy.”                 

Electoral Divisions:  All in East Devon

The following reference from Cabinet was noted, for information. 

“(a) that the Highway Safety Policy set out in Appendix A to Report HCW/16/39be approved and the Head of Highways, Capital Development & Waste be authorised, in consultation with the County Solicitor and the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and Flood Prevention, to approve further minor amendments to the Highway Safety Inspection Policy prior to the next full review in September 2018;

(b) that Highways & Traffic Order Committees be made aware of the revised operational policy.”

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

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Knight raised and the Committee discussed the use of Member’s Locality Budgets to fund small highways projects where the Council could no longer afford to do so.   Members noted that much of their Locality Budget was now spent on highways projects.

 [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-7petition scheme/)

[An item 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 current petition for a parking review from a member of the public relating to East Devon.

Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/65)

Electoral Divisions:  Broadclyst & Whimple and Budleigh

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/65) on actions taken in respect of Traffic Regulation Orders under delegated powers, following consultation with the Chairman and local County Councillors.