Agenda and minutes

25.1     RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 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.

26.1     Councillor Daniel declared a personal interest in item 6 in that he is a resident of a road adjacent to Alexandra Park, but he did not consider this to be prejudicial.

26.2     Councillor Rogers declared a personal interest in item 6 in that she is a Member of Hastings Borough Council, but she did not consider this to be prejudicial.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISION

28.2     RESOLVED to (1) agree the programme of local transport improvements for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(2) agree the allocation of County Council capital funding, development contributions and Local Growth Fund monies towards specific improvements identified in the 2017/18 programme.

Reasons

28.3     The capital programme set out in Appendix 1 represents a balanced programme of improvements which will help deliver not only the objectives of the County Council’s Local Transport Plan but will also contribute to achieving broader corporate objectives. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

29.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport. The following Local Members indicated their support for schemes in their division, either in person or by email:

Councillor Davies, Dowling, Galley, Field, Lambert, O’Keeffe, Shuttleworth and Standley. 

29.2     Concern was raised that some large projects might preclude smaller projects being funded across the county as a whole and the prospect of a cap was discussed, though not formally recommended at this time.

DECISION

29.3     RESOLVED to (1) agree that £80,000 of match funding should be allocated towards two further specific community led transport improvement schemes for which design work has now been completed, for their construction in 2017/18, namely

·        St Andrew’s School Zebra Crossing, Eastbourne

·        Brighton Road, Lewes Puffin Crossing;

(2) agree that £29,600 of match funding should be allocated towards five specific community led transport improvement schemes for construction in 2017/18, namely

·        Coopers Green Road speed limit reduction

·        Cripps Corner Road layby

·        Catsfield school buildout and speed limit

·        Sacred Heart school flashing sign

·        Tourist information signs, Seaford; 

(3) agree that two applicants should be advised that it is not yet possible to take a decision on match funding and that they should commission feasibility studies for their schemes, namely

·        Sevenoaks Road pedestrian crossing/traffic calming, Eastbourne

·        Plumpton speed limit reductions;

(4) agree that the application for reduced speed limits in Piltdown should not be taken forward; and

(5) agree that the balance unallocated from the match funding available in 2017/18 should be held for potential allocation to schemes later this year.

Reasons

29.4     The Community Match was launched in 2014 and provides a mechanism under which the County Council has worked with communities to take forward locally important small scale transport improvements that were not of sufficient priority to be delivered using County Council funding alone.  The operation of Community Match has been reviewed and issues evaluated. Existing and potential schemes, together with the review, were considered by a Cross Party Member Panel, and its input helped form the recommendations.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISION

30.2     RESOLVED to defer consideration of the scheme to allow officers, in liaison with Hastings Borough Council, to develop alternate proposals encompassing St Helen’s Road and other schemes utilising the Local Growth Fund monies available to support the Hastings Walking and Cycling Strategy Implementation Plan. 

Reasons

30.3     The proposed pedestrian and cycle route through Alexandra Park would accord with the walking and cycling strategy for Hastings adopted by the County Council in 2014; however one of the Local Members raised concerns regarding the availability of an alternative route, and the potential for conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians at popular areas of the park near the café and bandstand.  Hastings Borough Council has carried out a staged public consultation exercise to establish local views which were evenly split.

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.  It was clarified that the power referred only to School Keep Clear markings.  Those present discussed the most appropriate date to begin enforcement of Regulation 10 PCNs, given the need to communicate changes with schools and parents. 

DECISION

31.2     RESOLVED (1) to authorise the use of the powers in the Traffic Management Act 2004 and regulations made under it for the enforcement by the County Council of Regulation 10 Vehicle Drive Away Penalty Charge Notices on School Keep Clear markings; and

(2) to authorise the use of the powers from 1 April 2017, with any Regulation 10 postal PCN being enforced from the start of the autumn term in September 2017.

Reasons

31.3     The facility to issue Regulation 10 PCNs will have a positive effect on the ability to enforce parking restrictions and reduce the number of vehicles parking on school keep clear restrictions.

31.4     By deferring the enforcement of Regulation 10 PCNs, schools will have the opportunity to communicate the changes with parents and guardians.