Agenda and minutes

52.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2023.

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.

53.1     Councillor Hilton declared a personal interest in Item 6 as a member of the Hastings Garden Town project. She 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.

54.1     There were none.

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

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 together with written comments of Local Member Councillor Holt.

DECISIONS

56.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the outcomes of the stakeholder and public consultation on the Bus Service Improvement Plan bus priority measures;

(2) Approve the recommended next steps for each proposed scheme within the Bus Service Improvement Plan bus priority programme as set out in Appendix 4 of the report; and

(3) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve, in consultation with the Lead Member for Transport and Environment the final content of the bus priority package included in the Project Adjustment Request submitted to the Department for Transport and to take any actions necessary to give effect to (2) above.

REASONS

56.3     Following receipt of Government funding to deliver the County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), the initial package of bus priority measures was identified and developed focussed on two areas – Eastbourne and Newhaven / Peacehaven. A final package of seven bus priority schemes across these two areas were prioritised and put forward for public consultation between July and September 2023 on the basis that they generated the highest benefits for bus users and could generate additional bus passengers and meet the Department for Transport’s delivery timescales. An initial costing exercise highlighted that the cumulative value of the schemes put forward for consultation exceeded the £18.5m BSIP capital allocation available.

56.4     The delivery of the bus priority measures (bus lanes, bus gates) will contribute towards achieving the objectives of East Sussex’s draft Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) and BSIP. Various factors have been considered in determining which schemes should proceed to the next design stages and construction, including the consultation feedback, bus user benefits, the delivery timescale of 31 March 2025 and costs of each scheme, and that not all schemes can be afforded within the funding envelope.

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.

57.2     Mr David Hodkinson, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to introduce traffic calming measures including a 20mph speed limit, relevant mandatory signs and occasional radar checks to deliver safety in Southfields Road, Eastbourne spoke to highlight safety concerns relating to speed of vehicles and the use of Southfields Road for buses and large vehicles.

DECISIONS

57.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise petitioners that:

(1) A potential scheme to implement a 20mph speed limit, traffic calming and relevant mandatory signs has been assessed through the approved High Level Sift process and is not a priority for the County Council at the present time;

(2) Petitioners may wish to consider setting up a Community Speed Watch group for the area to carry out occasional speed checks; and

(3) Petitioners may wish to consider taking a potential scheme forward through Community Match. A Community Match Appraisal at a cost of £500 would be required prior to a Community Match application.

REASONS

57.4     A scheme to implement a 20mph speed limit, traffic calming measures and relevant mandatory signs in Southfields Road has been assessed through the approved High Level Sift process and did not meet the benchmark score to be taken forward. However, appropriate improvements could be considered should an alternative source of funding become available, or an application through Community Match was successful.

57.5     To determine what measures could be suitable in this area, prior to a Community Match application, the petitioners would need to commission a Community Match Appraisal at a cost of £500. This would help identify possible improvements for further discussions and provide the group with an estimate of what they might cost to assist in their budget considerations.

57.6     Occasional radar checks could be carried out by concerned residents, should they wish to form a Community Speed Watch group. Contact details for the District Speedwatch Administrator can be provided to Councillor Rodohan and the Lead Petitioner upon request.

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) Note the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Accountability Board decision to proceed with a revised delivery package for the Hastings and Bexhill Movement and Access Package;

(2) Approve the revised package moving forward to construction in 2024/25 to be included in the forthcoming Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements 2024/25; and

(3) Delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Chief Executive, to negotiate and agree the financial package development costs with the South East Local Enterprise Partnership as covered in paragraphs 2.15 to 2.18 of the report.

REASONS

58.3     Since the County Council secured £9m of Local Growth Fund monies from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) towards the development and delivery of the Hastings and Bexhill Movement and Access Package in 2018, significant progress has been made in progressing each of the schemes towards delivering cycling, walking, bus infrastructure, traffic management and public realm improvements, aimed at supporting economic growth across Hastings and Bexhill.

58.4     Due to sharp increases in costs across the construction sector because of high inflation, the war in Ukraine and delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost to deliver the remaining schemes now exceeds the £3.84m remaining funding.

58.5     Following a comprehensive cost estimate and business case review exercise undertaken by transport consultants, and in consultation with key stakeholders as set out in paragraphs 2.9 of the report, a revised scheme package was approved by the SELEP Accountability Board in September 2023 to deliver the following remaining schemes by March 2026:

·       Albert Road, Hastings

·       Station Approach, Hastings and

·       Bexhill Cycle Route A.