Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

31.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISION

31.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to recommend that the County Council (1) does not support the three elements of the Notice of Motion, as set out in paragraph 1.1 of the report under “This Council calls for”, and

(2) agree that the Lead Member in consultation with the Director of CET and the  Motion’s proposer, writes on behalf of the County Council to the Secretary of State for Transport, to highlight the issues and impacts that local authorities and local communities in our rural areas are facing as a result of the damage caused by HGVs to our minor road network.

Reasons

31.3     Without a change in the legislation to the Traffic Management Act 2004, there is no mechanism to introduce a similar enforcement regime to that in London to control the movement of HGVs in East Sussex on certain routes, and then with specific permission to use restricted roads.  Even if the legislation was in place, there are a number of issues, as highlighted in paragraph 2.8 of the report, which would need to be addressed. 

31.4     Secondly, the Notice of Motion requests Government to legislate so all HGVs and large vehicles install suitable Sat-Navs designed for lorries. As highlighted in paragraph 2.10, the FTA – a key stakeholder in the freight industry - would not be supportive of the introduction of such a request, and it is unlikely that Government would seek to pass the necessary legislation to enable this. 

31.5     Finally, the Notice of Motion also requests that the Chief Executive write to our local MP[s] and the Secretary of State for Transport to bring Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act (TMA) into force, and to support mandatory use of suitable Sat-Navs for HGVs and other large vehicles.  As highlighted in the report, Part 6 of the TMA 2004 does not enable local authorities outside London to control the movement of HGVs and, it is unlikely without the FTA’s support that Government will legislate the mandatory use of Sat-Navs in HGVs.  Therefore, it is recommended that this part of the Notice of Motion is not supported. 

31.5     However, the Lead Member recommends to the County Council that he, in consultation with the Motion’s proposer and the Director of CET,  writes to the Secretary for State for Transport to highlight the issues and impacts that local authorities and local communities in our rural areas are facing as a result of the damage caused by HGVs to our minor road network.