Agenda item

The panel received a short presentation from the Acting Area Highways Manager for the West Essex Area, Peter Massie defining the Localism Initiative and the roles and responsibilities of the Local Highways Panel, allowing the community to have an influence on highways issues. Additional information for new Panel Members could be found on the ECC website or by contacting the West Area Office. (highways.westarea@essex.gov.uk)

The Highways Liaison Officer, Rosa Tanfield informed the Panel that budgets were being finalised and due to recent Government announcements on in-year efficiency savings, ECC were currently working through the impact of these savings on the programme. As such officers had been instructed to place orders up to the value of 50% of the budget whilst awaiting the finalised figures.

The current budgets for the Capital and Revenue totalled £4,715,280 of spending across the District on highways maintenance, traffic management improvements and all-purpose maintenance. Furthermore funding had also been identified for a major surfacing overhaul programme to target the deterioration brought about by the poor weather conditions during the winter period. This had been incorporated into the Capital programme and the Department of Transport had allocated £189,915 for pothole repairs and patching work in order to return the network to conditions comparable to prior the winter period.

Members commented on the programme of works 2010/11 only identifying indicative dates for some of the schemes rather than all of the schemes listed and how the additional £333,333 funding for the surfacing overhaul programme had been allocated across the County.

Officers advised that they had identified schemes whilst awaiting the finalised budget to allow works to begin and that the maintenance budget allocations where calculated using a formula that took into account, the types of roads, population and length of roads across District.

The list of Priority 1 road and footway maintenance projects approved by the panel for the 2010/11 budget had been incorporated into the programme. Officers had also identified additional roads that had experienced serious deterioration beyond those that had already been identified and approved by the Panel and the Area Office had set targets for the level of surface dressing undertaken in the programme of works. Members had before them this list of schemes and Members agreed for the inclusion of these into the programme. The roads that had not been included would remain on the list and if further funding became available later in the year, they would be added to the programme.

Officers informed the Panel that the traffic improvement schemes included the completion of the positive signage review in Nazeing, four locations that had been included in the Safer Roads Improvement programme and additional funding allocated for two route studies, where a high number of treatable road collisions had been identified. These were subject to the budget allocations set by County.

Members enquired about the historical accident information that the County uses when selecting the sites, so that they could explain to residents why certain sites have been identified.

Members were asked to note that the ECC Speed Management Strategy had recently been under review and would be ratified in the coming year, involving a Countywide review on all Priority 1 and 2 roads to ensure that they adhered to the new Policy.

One Public Rights of Way improvement application had been successful for funding and officers would update the panel accordingly.

The Bus Infrastructure Upgrades received a budget of £136,550 to allow for assessment and improvement on routes and three schools within the Epping Forest District would receive funding through the Safer Journeys to School Programme, with other additional locations to be identified.

The Highways Community Initiative Fund had been confirmed and allocated to enable £104,500 of the schemes to be achieved.

Officers advised Members that Localism Initiative allows the Panel to prioritise and oversee the localised highway improvement schemes and the time table of works for the Highway Rangers. The budget allocation for the Local Highway Panel for 2010/11 was £129,275.

Officers informed the Panel that the budget allowed for the Highways Rangers to carry out 6 months work at £60,000, installation of disabled bays at £2,000, new signs and lines at £2,000 and several schemes that were not completed in the last financial year that had a political commitment from the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation for £45,000. This taken into account, the Panel would have £20,275 for traffic improvements. Schemes could be identified from those that the Panel had approved as a high priority at the last meeting on 26 January 2010.

In addition, £5,000 had been allocated for the replacement of trees, in locations identified by the Panel. Members were requested to identify locations where trees had been removed historically so that they could be replaced and advice the Highways Liaison Officer Rosa Tanfield. (rosa.tanfield@essex.gov.uk)

Members were disappointed that schemes which were not completed in the last financial year would now affect the 2010/11 budget considerably.  

Members discussed the merits of the Highways Rangers and the service they provide around the whole District. There was divided opinion on the whether the cost of the service for the 6 months warranted the reduction in locally determined schemes being implemented across the District in comparison to the minor maintenance but essential jobs carried out in the Parishes by the Rangers. Members asked whether there were alternative ways of performing the Highways Rangers jobs.

The Assistant Director Technical (Environment and Street Scene), Kim Durrani advised that EFDC could provide a joint service similar to the Highway Rangers for half the cost and that this could be investigated.  

Members enquired about the process for completion of a Traffic Regulation Order. The Acting Area Highways Manager for the West Essex Area advised that schemes were put through a pre-design process, followed by an informal consultation, then a formal consultation. At each stage, if any objections and comments were received, consideration and review would need to be taken on the design. He advised that this is then followed by public advertisements and processing of the Order through the  Legal Department at County Hall to produce the Traffic Regulation Order. The process normally takes approximately 12 months.

Councillor J Hart, a Ward Member for Loughton Forest spoke on behalf of the residents from Meadow Road, Loughton about the parking problems endured with commuters and local employees parking within the street all day. The residents had advised previous Members of Panel in March 2010 of a petition signed by 80% of the residents, looking for a parking permit scheme. Residents had been advised that the Department of Transport (DoT) were piloting a parking scheme for cul-de-sac roads.

Members discussed the parking problems in Meadow Road, Loughton and whether an alternative solution could be put forward, including further investigations funded by ECC, if the DoT pilot scheme was not possible.

Officers advised that all parking reviews were currently suspended and no new parking reviews would be taking place. They were awaiting a response from the DoT about the pilot scheme and would advise the Panel accordingly.

Councillor L Wagland, a Ward Member for Chigwell Village spoke on behalf of residents about the request for a pedestrian crossing at the Manor Road East of Tomswood Road. The scheme had been given high priority at the last meeting because of the case put forward by residents. The Ward Member suggested that the pedestrian refuge listed as an alternative solution within the available Locally Determined Budget would not be suitable causing the pedestrians to become spread across the carriageway rather than a safe passage across the road being created. Residents reported several accidents that have happened within the last 5 years and they were surprised that there were no records of these.

Members discuss the estimated costs of £170,000 for a puffin crossing at the junction of Manor Road East of Tomswood Road in relation to the available Locally Determined Budget of £20,275 and whether a more economical solution could be found. Questions were raised about a possible transfer of funds intended for a highways maintenance initiative costing £63,000 on Mount Pleasant Road, Chigwell to subsidise a pelican crossing at the Manor Road junction for an estimated £40,000 and have a reduced amount of work carried out on Mount Pleasant Road.

Members also agreed that should it not be possible to achieve funding from the maintenance scheme that EFDC and the Parish Council would investigate whether funding could be obtained elsewhere for the additional £20,000 required for the scheme.

Members requested that officers look into alternative traffic improvements on the 14 schemes that the panel members approved as a high priority in light of the current financial restrictions.

RESOLVED:

1. That the report of the Highways Liaison Officer be noted;
2. That the Panel noted the budgets for Maintenance and Traffic Improvements;
3. That the Panel agreed to the additional maintenance schemes identified by officers and their inclusion within the 2010/11 programme;
4. That Members agreed to the allocation of the Locally Determined Revenue Budget for the disabled bays, signs and lines, completion of 2009/10 schemes and Highways Rangers Scheme;
5. That EFDC will investigate the possibility of performing a Highway Ranger service  at a reduced cost for approximately 12 months;
6. That the Panel formally applies to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, the transfers of funds from the highway maintenance initiative/footway maintenance budget for a scheme at Mount Pleasant Road, Chigwell, to provide a zebra crossing at Tomswood Road, Chigwell and request alternative maintenance to the footway;
7. That EFDC and Chigwell Parish Council shall investigate whether funding could be obtained for £20,000 to fund the zebra crossing in Tomswood Road, Chigwell; and
8. That Members noted the tree replacement funding and would advise officers of identified locations.