Agenda and minutes

48.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2022.

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.

49.1     Councillor Godfrey Daniel declared a personal interest in item 4 as a resident living in close proximity to Alexandra Park. He did not consider this to be prejudicial.

49.2     Councillor Ian Hollidge declared a personal interest in item 4 as a member of a cycling group in Bexhill. He did not consider this to be prejudicial.

49.3     Councillor Julia Hilton declared a personal interest in item 4 as a trustee of Hastings Greenway Trust. She did not consider this to be prejudicial.

49.4     Councillor Shing declared a personal interest in item 8 as a resident of Coppice Avenue. He did not consider this to be prejudicial.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

50.1     There were no urgent items.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

52.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with written comments by Councillor Sorrell Marlow-Eastwood submitted prior to the meeting.

52.2     Mr David Taylor, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to remove their support for a shared cycle / pedestrian pathway through Alexandra Park, spoke to highlight safety and enforcement concerns.

52.3     Mr Ian Sier, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to continue with the route construction when the reference to the Secretary of State has been resolved, spoke to highlight the importance of the route in terms of the overall walking and cycling network in Hastings.

DECISIONS

52.4     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Advise the petitioners that the separate requests ‘to remove the proposed section of the shared pedestrian and cycling route from the lower section of Alexandra Park’ and for ‘East Sussex County Council to Support the Cycleway and Walking & Cycling 'Greenway' link through Alexandra Park’ have been considered; and

(2) As the proposed shared pedestrian and cycle route running through Alexandra Park meets the wider County Council objectives as set out in section 1 of the report, and that the proposed route has historically been subject to public and stakeholder consultation, further design review, road safety audits and an Equality Impact Assessment, the proposal will progress to implementation as part of the Capital Programme for Transport Improvements 2022/23.

REASONS

52.5     The 2014 Hastings Cycling Strategy and latterly the East Sussex Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, approved in September 2020, identifies the route through Alexandra Park as a priority for delivery and an integral part of a network of cycle routes for the town, linking to the proposed route between Silverhill and Queensway in western Hastings and future eastern routes to the Hastings town centre and seafront as well as Conquest hospital.

52.6     Following Lead Member approval in June 2018 to progress the scheme to detailed design and construction, there has been significant and careful consideration given to ensuring any potential risks to pedestrians and cyclists using the proposed cycle route through both the Upper and Lower sections of Alexandra Park are mitigated and incorporated into the design of the scheme.  This process has included independent road safety audits at preliminary and detailed design stages to consider the overall safety of the scheme, and identify any recommended changes, as well as assessing the equalities impacts of the scheme on those groups with protected characteristics.  Throughout this process, Hastings Borough Council have remained supportive of the scheme and have agreed to monitor the operation of the route through the park, educate users and where necessary undertake enforcement. Officers agreed to explore a Service Level Agreement with Hastings Borough Council regarding resources for enforcement.

52.7     Despite looking at alternative on road routes, which have been discounted for technical feasibility reasons, the recommended route through the lower section of Alexandra Park remains the most practicable solution for providing for cyclists in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

53.2     Councillor Matthew Milligan as the local member spoke on behalf of the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to review the speed limits and safer crossing solutions on the A272, North Chailey. He highlighted the impact of recent housing developments on road safety in the area.

DECISIONS

53.3       The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioner that:

(1) An investigation into a lower speed limit on the A272 between North Chailey and Newick is not a priority for the County Council at the present time;

(2) A scheme to introduce safer crossing solutions does not meet the benchmark score for consideration within a future capital programme; and

(3) The petitioners may wish to contact Chailey Parish Council to determine their interest in a Feasibility Study and possible community funded measures through the Community Match scheme.

REASONS

53.4     The resources that are available for road safety are limited and priority must be given to those locations with a history of personal injury crashes. There have not been any personal injury crashes reported to the Police in the latest available three-year period (01/01/2019 to 31/12/2021) within the extent of the 50mph speed limit on the A272 Station Road.  There have been three slight personal injury crashes within the extent of the 40mph speed limit in the same time period.

53.5     Previous assessments of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ class road network in the County, including the most recent Speed Management Programme, have also not identified the A272 between North Chailey and Newick as being a priority for further investigation.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

54.2     Councillor John Ungar, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to upgrade the zebra crossing on Church Street, Eastbourne to a Pelican Crossing and install a pedestrian phase on the traffic lights at the junction with Summerdown Road, Church Street, Victoria Drive and East Dean Road, Eastbourne, spoke to highlight safety concerns at this junction with particular regard to children using the crossing.

DECISIONS

54.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that:

(1) The implementation of an upgrade of the existing zebra crossing in Church Street, Eastbourne, to a signalised crossing, is not presently a priority for funding through the County Council’s 2022/23 capital programme for local transport improvements; and

(2) The introduction of pedestrian crossing phases at the Summerdown Road/A259 Church Street/Victoria Drive/East Dean Road signalised crossroads in the Old Town area of Eastbourne is not presently a priority for funding through the County Council’s 2022/23 capital programme for local transport improvements.

REASONS

54.4     The requests for pedestrian improvements at the Church Street zebra crossing and the Summerdown Road/A259 Church Street/Victoria Drive/A259 East Dean Road signalised crossroads in Eastbourne Old Town have been assessed using the County Council’s scheme prioritisation process for local transport improvements.  Whilst both have been identified as schemes for potential inclusion in the capital programme for local transport improvements through the assessment process, their ranking relative to other schemes within the prioritised list means they have not been considered for inclusion in the 2022/23 programme. Both requests will continue to be retained on record for possible inclusion in a future year’s programme.

54.5     The two scheme requests for pedestrian improvements in Eastbourne Old Town are not presently high priorities for the allocation of County Council funding in the 2022/23 capital programme for local transport improvements.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

55.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the proposals for the A22 corridor in Hailsham and Stone Cross to support the delivery of housing and employment growth in the Eastbourne/South Wealden area;

(2) Note the outcome of the stakeholder and public consultation held in summer 2021 on the proposals which will help shape the next design phase for these schemes;

(3) Approve the progression of the A22 corridor proposals to detailed design; and

(4) Approve the submission of an outline business case seeking £29.2m of Major Road Network funding to Government at the end of March 2022, and delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to agree the final content of the Outline Business Case.

REASONS

55.3     As part of the Major Road Network (MRN), the A22 corridor performs a key function in supporting the economic connectivity of our county. With the existing and planned growth in the south Wealden and Eastbourne area at the southern end of the corridor, there is an identified need to ensure that the A22 continues to provide its existing functionality by supporting the additional housing coming forward in the area through the respective Local Plans for Eastbourne and Wealden as well as enabling access to existing and new jobs as well as leisure and shopping.

55.4     A package of improvements has been identified for five junctions on the A22 corridor in Hailsham and Stone Cross as necessary to support the planned and future growth in the south Wealden area. The proposed junction improvements were subject to a stakeholder and public consultation in summer 2021. Whilst there was a level of support for the proposals, there were some concerns raised in relation to the potential level of congestion at these junctions in the future, especially by introducing traffic signals at some to manage the traffic, and the impacts of construction. However, without these improvements traffic in the area would increasingly experience longer journey times, increased queuing and there would be a reduction in the network’s efficiency to accommodate the planned housing and employment development. The detailed comments made at the consultation will help to shape the development of the schemes.

55.5     The consultation analysis also highlighted the need to develop a further package of sustainable transport measures for the area over and above the walking, cycling and public transport improvements already included in the proposals. The further package of sustainable transport improvements are currently being developed in more detail and will be subject to local public consultation.

55.6     These junction improvements are part of the package of basic need transport infrastructure requirements identified in our Capital Strategy as necessary to support the delivery of growth allocated in Local Plans across the county, which would principally need to be funded by Development Contributions, including the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), and external funding sources.

55.7     As one of Transport for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

56.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Agree the programme of local transport improvements for 2022/23 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 2022/23 Programme.

REASONS

56.3     The draft capital 2022/23 programme of local transport improvements represents a balanced programme of improvements which will help deliver not only the objectives of the County Council’s Local Transport Plan but also contribute to achieving broader corporate objectives of reducing carbon emissions, support economic recovery and growth, and health and wellbeing.

56.4     The funding approved by County Council, development contributions and Local Growth Fund monies identified to support the programme of local transport improvements for 2022/23 will be allocated to the programme of schemes set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

57.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the responses to the stakeholder consultation and public information exercise set out in the report;

(2) Approve the proposed changes, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, to the pedestrian crossing facilities at the crossroads of Station Approach / Devonshire Road / Havelock Road / Cornwallis Terrace to improve pedestrian accessibility from Hastings station to the town centre; and

(3) Agree that the Devonshire Road / Havelock Road / Cornwallis Terrace / Station Approach scheme be taken forward to detailed design and construction in 2022/23.

REASONS

57.3     Improvements to the pedestrian crossing facilities at the Devonshire Road crossroads and crossing outside Hastings station will improve accessibility between the station and East Sussex College Hastings campus with the town centre and seafront.  This will encourage more active travel, contributing towards the County Council’s commitment of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the Government’s decarbonising transport agenda.

57.4     No objections have been received to the proposals following the stakeholder consultation and public information letter exercise although requests for additional provisions have been received which will be considered and incorporated where possible as part of the detailed design. The scheme will progresses to detailed design and construction for delivery through the 2022/23 capital programme of local transport improvements utilising Local Growth funding allocated to the Hastings and Bexhill Movement and Access Package.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

58.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve the establishment of a National Trail Partnership to manage the South-East England Coast Path; and

(2) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve any related Inter Authority Agreement in conjunction with the Assistant Chief Executive and the appointment of an appropriate officer to the Partnership.

REASONS

58.3     Natural England is working with local Access Authorities, which includes ESCC, to deliver the England Coast Path. Their preferred model is a strategic trail partnership, which enables them to provide an additional 40% funding for trail management.

58.4     The proposed partnership members all share the view that the five authorities need to work together to manage the 250-mile London to Brighton stretch, running from Medway to Shoreham. This will achieve economies of scale and should allow a pooling of the NE funding, which is relatively small-scale on an individual authority basis.

58.5     The Trail Partnership will consist of a relevant officer from each respective Access Authority.

Report by Director of Communities Economy and Transport.

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

DECISIONS

59.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve East Sussex County Council, as the scheme delivery partner, entering into a grant funding agreement with Eastbourne Borough Council in relation to the £4.74m of Levelling Up funding allocated for the delivery of the Victoria Place pedestrianisation of Terminus Road: and

(2) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Chief Executive, to negotiate and agree the terms of the grant funding agreement between Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council.

REASONS

59.3     In October 2021, Eastbourne Borough Council successfully secured £19.85m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for its ‘Linking Town Centre Regeneration with a ‘Strengthened Visitor Economy @Victoria Place and @Towner’ proposal.  This included £4.74m for the delivery of the Victoria Place pedestrianisation of Terminus Road. The scheme builds on the existing investment the County Council has made using Local Growth Fund and other funding sources in the Eastbourne Town Centre Movement & Access Package and represents an opportunity to sustainably upgrade this section of the town centre by creating more space, priority and accessibility for pedestrians, as well as providing a clear and inviting pedestrian route between the Town Centre to the Seafront.

59.4     The County Council, acting as the scheme delivery body, will be required to enter into a grant funding agreement with Eastbourne Borough Council to defray the Victoria Place funding allocation to the County Council to progress the consultation, detailed design and construction by the end of the LUF funding period of March 2024.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

60.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Consider the changes to Local Authority Member representation on the Combe Valley Countryside Park Community Interest Company; and

(2) Support the proposed changes to Local Authority Member representation.

REASONS

60.3     To enable wider stakeholder representation on the Board and be a more efficient use of Councillor time.