Agenda and minutes

1.1       RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2016.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

2.1       Councillor Maynard declared a personal interest in Item 4, in that he is a resident of an unadopted road, but he did not consider this to be prejudicial.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

4.2       Councillor Ensor, the Local Member and Lead Petitioner, spoke regarding queries over land ownership and funding opportunities. 

DECISION

4.3       RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that (1) Bancroft Road cannot be adopted at public expense due to its condition;

(2) funding the works to bring Bancroft Road up to an adoptable standard is not a County Council priority at this time; and

(3) the Transport Development Control team will work with residents to facilitate the adoption of Bancroft Road, including investigating ways of achieving funding, and with the Council’s Legal Services to investigate the ownership status of the Road.

Reason

4.4       Although Bancroft Road is suitable for adoption in terms of sufficiency of public benefit and of layout, in its current condition the road is not suitable for adoption as public highway, and funding for works on unadopted roads/private streets is not a priority for the County Council at this time.  However should the frontagers wish to organise and fund the works themselves, the County Council will facilitate the adoption.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

5.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with an email from Councillor Carstairs, one of the local County Councillors.

DECISION

5.2       RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that the request to introduce traffic signals at the Exceat Bridge will not be progressed on the basis that it will not improve traffic conditions, however the County Council is exploring options and the associated funding to deliver an offline two-way bridge.

Reasons

5.3       The introduction of traffic signals on a permanent basis will not address the issues that have been raised.  Options seeking funding will be explored through the Government’s Local Growth Fund to deliver a more comprehensive solution which could provide a new offline two way bridge north of the existing, with improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.   Local Members will be offered a briefing on the off line bridge scheme, and kept appraised of progress of the funding bid.  

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISION

6.2       RESOLVED to approve the making of the Order for the conversion of a section of newly created public footpath alongside the Horsey Sewer in Eastbourne into a cycle track.

Reasons

6.3       Once completed the Horsey Way cycle route will provide a continuous route for walkers and cyclists between the Town Centre and Sovereign Harbour.  The third phase of the scheme will consist of a traffic free route extending for a total length of over 900m between Lottbridge Drove and Langney roundabout.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISION

7.2       RESOLVED to approve that £1.3m of funding from the East Sussex Local Transport and Highways Maintenance capital programme is utilised, in addition to £1.2m development contributions, to fund the £2.5m cost of the Hailsham Town Centre Improvement Scheme.

Reasons

7.3       The Hailsham Town Centre Improvement Scheme is a key priority for delivery this financial year and is part of the transport infrastructure package required for Hailsham and Hellingly to support recently constructed and future development up to 2027 within the adopted Wealden District Council Core Strategy.

7.4       In addition to the £1.2m of development contributions, the remaining £1.3m to fund the £2.5m scheme cost will be met by utilising the £700,000 slippage from the 2015/16 Local Transport capital programme, £200,000 from the 2016/17 Highways Maintenance capital programme and the remainder of £400,000 from the 2016/17 Local Transport capital programme allocation.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISION

8.2       RESOLVED to (1) agree the changes to the Statement of Common Ground and authorise the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to sign the revised Statement of Common Ground; and

(2) authorise the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to consider and agree any future revisions to the revised Statement of Common Ground.

Reasons

8.3       The Statement of Common Ground is essential to maintain capacity for aggregates to be landed at Shoreham Harbour in order to serve the construction industry and development needs in East Sussex.