Agenda and minutes

To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

There were no substitute members for the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Local Highways Panel held on 25 November 2010.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2010 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note the Terms of Reference (Attached).

The terms of reference were noted.

ECC to report back on:

(i)         Progress on Epping Parking Reviews;

(ii)        Parking Restrictions in Meadow Road, Loughton;

(iii)       Pedestrian Crossing and Developer Section 106 Funding for High Road, Ongar; and

(iv)       Winter Maintenance.

(a)        Epping Parking Review

The draft order for the Epping phase of the review had been published. 120 responses from the consultation had been received and were currently being reviewed and compared with comments from previous schemes. The appropriate Portfolio Holders from the County Council were being contacted, after which information would be disseminated to members.

(b)       Parking Restrictions in Meadow Road, Loughton

A petition signed by 80% of the residents of Meadow Road, Loughton had been submitted and discussed at a Local Highways Panel meeting held on 23 March 2010. Residents were requesting a scheme to ensure they be given priority over Sainsburys staff and local shoppers for parking spaces in this road.

Members noted that District officers had secured additional on-site parking for Sainsburys staff in order to ease pressure on residents parking in Meadow Road. The results seen so far were minimal. It was noted that funding had to be secured before projects could be formalised, and as none was currently available it was for residents to consider whether they would be willing to provide the funding themselves. 

(c)        Pedestrian Crossing for High Road, Ongar

As the cost of widening the footpath to accommodate a zebra crossing at this site had rendered the plan impractical, alternatives were currently being considered. An alternative crossing site had been identified, but funding was required to carry out the necessary feasibility studies. Officers were currently trying to secure Section 106 funding for these.

            RESOLVED:

(1)        Officers to report back on estimated cost for the feasibility study;

            (2)        Officers to approach the landowner of the original site again; and

(3)        A copy of the documents to be sent to Councillor Lesley Wagland as Portfolio Holder for Legal and Estates.

 (d)      Winter Maintenance

At the meeting on 25 November 2010, the Panel had been informed of the changes that had been made to Essex County Council Winter Maintenance Schemes. This included a trial scheme being launched which delivered grit directly to Parishes to be distributed locally. Members noted that the update report given on the pilot scheme was not definitive as the project was still underway. Feedback was currently being received and would be synthesised once the project was complete.

Essex County Council Officers informed members that additional funding had been secured from the government for repairs and maintenance of highways. Compliments were extended to the Reactive Maintenance Initiative (RAMI) on their quick and effective repair work.

To receive a report from the Highways Liaison Officer (report to follow).

The Highways Liaison Officer presented a report outlining progress on the current programme of works. Members noted that the majority of the maintenance schemes had been completed, with the exceptions shown in the document.

The Epping Forest Transport Strategy implementing cattle grids had been developed, installing four of the planned thirteen grids, and the City of London were piloting an invisible fence scheme. If this trial were successful it would not be necessary to install the remaining grids.

It was noted that funding totalling £5,000 had been given to the EFDC Arboriculturist, who has been tasked to undertake tree replacement work on the locations previously identified by members.

(a)        Manor Road, Chigwell

Members of the Panel were updated on the progress made in the installation of a crossing on this road. County officers had recently undertaken a Safety Audit, which had deemed traffic speeds too high to install a zebra crossing. Physical calming measures would be necessary in order to reduce speeds to the appropriate level to install a zebra crossing, but these were not deemed feasible as Manor Road is the B173 and a secondary distributor. As a popular informal crossing point for schoolchildren, Members expressed extreme concern regarding this site.

            RESOLVED:

(1)   Members to receive a copy of the full Safety Audit report;

(2)   ECC to:

(a) contact the Safety Camera Partnership on the criteria and costs for installing a camera;

(b) meet with Councillor Wagland, Councillor Stavrou and a local resident on site to discuss the issue; and,

(c) in conjunction with the Chairman, approach the appropriate County Portfolio Holder with regards to carrying the funding over into the next financial year to be used for a crossing.

(b)       Future Maintenance

Members discussed the indicative programme of future maintenance schemes included in the report, which would not be formalised until next year’s budget had been confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That if funding for the above mentioned crossing scheme could not be carried into 2011/12, the following schemes be completed:

                        Location:                                             Cost:

            -           Mount Pleasant Road, Chigwell          £11,017.00

-           Hobbes Cross Road, Epping              £6,222.80

            -           Limes Avenue, Chigwell                     £5,170.00

            -           Hows Mead, North Weald                   £10,340.00

            -           Queensway, Ongar                            £5,170.00

            With Mount Pleasant Road, Chigwell taking priority.

Concern was also expressed over the length of the current list of highway improvement requests needing attention kept in reserve, should supplementary or additional funding become available. Members were asked to each choose three sites of high priority to be submitted to the Highway Liaison Officer. A report would be given at the next Panel meeting detailing this revised list, and outlining the amount of support for each one.

            RESOLVED:

(1)        That a notice be published in the Bulletin asking all members to submit their proposals by 28 February 2011; and

            (2)        That Essex County Council officers contact parishes.

ECC to report on policy concerning damage to grass verges from parking.

The Highways Liaison Officer provided members with a report outlining County Council guidelines concerning parking on grass verges. Members discussed the potential for residents to install their own physical measures to prevent this, provided they subsequently took responsibility for the maintenance of any measures installed. It was noted that any resident contemplating this course of action should first seek advice from County Highways Officers.

(a)        Future Direction of the Local Highways Panel

The Panel discussed the efficiency of the current arrangements of the LHP, comparing it with similar panels around Essex. Panel members believed that the issue warranted careful consideration and should be discussed further at a later date.

            RESOLVED:

(1)        That this be raised at a future meeting; and

(2)        That Members write to the Highways Liaison Officer with any thoughts or ideas.

(b)       Essex County Council Restructuring

County officers informed the Panel that the reorganisation at Essex County Council was now complete, and the Highways officers remained. They advised of a number of specialised teams that had been created, including a specific team for the area. Detailed information regarding the new arrangements was currently being circulated to the Chief Executives of District Councils, and members would be informed presently.

24 March 2011, Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Epping.

Noted that the next meeting would be held on Thursday 24 March 2011 at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Epping.