Agenda and minutes

13.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2019.

14.1     Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

14.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to amend the Agenda Order, and to consider Item 6 first. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

15.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (Agenda Item 6).

15.2     The following people spoke in support of the petition’s aims:

Alex Burrough (the Lead Petitioner), Councillor Tony Freebody and Councillor Colin Swansborough.    

DECISIONS

15.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that (1) a potential pedestrian crossing for Lindfield Road has been assessed through our approved high Level Sift process and is not a priority for the County Council at the present time; and

(2) petitioners may wish to consider taking a potential scheme forward through  Community Match. A feasibility Study at a accost of (£500) would be required prior to a Community Match application.

Reasons

15.4     The County Council has a limited amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and we need to ensure that we target our resources to those schemes which will be of greatest benefit to our local communities. To help us prioritise the numerous requests received for improvements, we developed a process to determine which schemes should be funded through our Integrated Transport Programme. The request for a pedestrian crossing has been assessed to determine if it might be a priority for further consideration. The proposal did not meet the benchmark score to enable it to be taken forward.

15.5.    In order to determine what measures could be suitable in Lindfield Road, prior to a Community Match application, it is suggested that the residents contact Eastbourne Borough Council to ascertain whether they would be interested in supporting a scheme to try and influence traffic conditions in the road. They would then need to commission a Feasibility Study at a cost of £500 plus VAT. Speed data was collected from the site at the beginning of September 2019. This will help to identify possible improvements for further discussions and provide the group of residents and Eastbourne Borough Council with an estimate of what they might cost to assist in their budget considerations.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport  

16.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (Agenda Item 4).

DECISIONS

16.2     The following people spoke in support of the petition’s aims: Councillor Peter Pragnell.

DECISIONS

16.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that (1) a potential pedestrian crossing for Little Ridge Avenue has been assessed through our approved high Level Sift process and is not a priority for the County Council at the present time; and

(2) petitioners may wish to consider taking a potential scheme forward through  Community Match. A feasibility Study at a accost of (£500) and a speed survey (at a cost of £410) would be required prior to a Community Match application.

Reasons

16.4     The County Council has a limited amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and we need to ensure that we target our resources to those schemes which will be of greatest benefit to our local communities. To help us prioritise the numerous requests received for improvements, we developed a process to determine which schemes should be funded through our Integrated Transport Programme. The request for a pedestrian crossing has been assessed to determine if it might be a priority for further consideration. The proposal did not meet the benchmark score to enable it to be taken forward.

16.5.    In order to determine what measures could be suitable in Little Ridge Avenue, prior to a Community Match application, it is suggested that the group concerned contact Hastings Borough Council to ascertain whether they would be interested in supporting a scheme to try and influence traffic conditions in the road. They would then need to commission a Feasibility Study at a cost of £500 plus VAT, and a Speed data survey at a cost of £410 per site.  This will help to identify possible improvements for further discussions and provide the group of residents and Hastings Borough Council with an estimate of what they might cost to assist in their budget considerations.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

17.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (Agenda Item 5).

DECISIONS

17.2     The following people spoke in support of the petition’s aims:

Scott Quinn (the Lead Petitioner), and Councillor Andy Batsford.    

DECISIONS

17.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that (1) a potential pedestrian crossing scheme achieved the benchmark score to be taken forward for detailed appraisal to ascertain if it could be included within the 2020/21 Capital Programme for Transport Improvements.  The Lead Member for Transport and Environment will consider this programme in March 2020; and

(2) depending on the outcome of the Lead Member for Transport and Environment meeting in March 2020 they may wish to consider taking a potential scheme forward through Community Match.

Reasons

17.4     The request for a pedestrian crossing was previously assessed to determine if it might be a priority for further consideration and did not meet the benchmark score.  Following receipt of the petition, the proposal was reassessed by the Strategic Economic Infrastructure Team. The proposal has now met the benchmark score due to the potential impact that a crossing facility could have to the indicated crash record and has been put forward for Detailed Appraisal.

17.5.    Detailed appraisals are currently being undertaken on the 76 sites that have met the benchmark score for possible inclusion within a future Capital Programme for Transport Improvements. Following completion of these appraisals the scheme will be ranked by their relative priority to identify which should be progressed through design to implementation.  The draft Capital Programme for Transport Improvements for 2020/2021 will be considered for approval at the Lead Member for Transport and Environment meeting in March 2020.