Councillor Nicole Amil.

            Councillor Cowell asked if there was any update on the possible disbandment of the Transport Working Party as detailed in minute 131 – Any Other Business, Budgets.  Councillor Hill advised this item will be presented to the Transport Working Party in the New Year and Patrick Carney highlighted that this does form part of the Mayor’s budget proposals.

            Councillor Doggett asked if Patrick Carney and Councillor Hill have formally responded to Mrs Hill as per minute 126 – Traffic Calming in Maidenway Road – Petition.  Patrick Carney confirmed a formal response has been sent.

            The minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record.

            Proposed by: Cllr Brooksbank

            Seconded by: Cllr Addis

            In favour: All

            Against:

            Abstention:

Patrick Carney advised that Mr Cunningham and Mr Hodge were present who requested the opportunity to submit their petition to the Transport Working Party regarding the condition of Polsham Park.

Mr Cunningham addressed the Transport Working Party reporting that the condition of Polsham Park is very poor and would like the Council to review to ascertain if some improvements can be made.

Mr Hodge addressed the Transport Working Party advising he had initiated the petition due to growing safety concerns for road users and pedestrians alike and supports Mr Cunningham’s request for the Council to review the road condition.

Patrick Carney reported that Polsham Park is on the list of proposed sites to be resurfaced but highlighted it is a very long list however depending on funding it is anticipated Polsham Park will be resurfaced during next year or the year after.  Patrick Carney went on to say that it might appear to members of the public that some roads are resurfaced which appear to be in a better condition than others but works carried out on these roads is surface dressing only which is undertaken to prevent any further deterioration of the road.

Patrick Carney advised he would be happy for Officers to meet Mr Cunningham and Mr Hodge on site to review the situation.

Councillor Brooksbank supported the concerns raised as this road is in his Ward.

Councillor Cowell asked if the surface of the road has deteriorated as a result of utility companies working in the vicinity over a period of time and if this is the case does the Council check the condition of the roads following any works completed.  Patrick Carney advised the deterioration of the road would not have been helped by the amount of work undertaken by utility companies and reported the Highways section is funded to inspect 5% of utility works undertaken throughout the Bay but problems exist as these works are only guaranteed for a year and if problems occur after this time, the Council cannot legally go back to the utility company to request to make the area good.

Councillor Addis advised he was speaking on behalf of Councillor Amil who considers this one of the worst roads in the Bay.

Councillor Davies advised she supports Councillor Brooksbank’s comment.

Councillor Hill advised a Council Officer will be in touch with Mr Cunningham and Mr Hodge to arrange a visit to the site.

Patrick Carney advised that Mr Rastrick was present who requested the opportunity to submit his petition to the Transport Working Party regarding traffic calming in Jacks Lane.

Mr Rastrick addressed the working party advising that owing to the increased volume and speed of traffic and the fact that Jacks Lane is a narrow lane residents have encountered problems with entering and exiting their properties due to lack of visibility.  Mr Rastrick went on to say that after consulting with the residents of Jacks Lane they would like to propose the installation of a collapsible barrier at the bottom end of the lane.

Patrick Carney advised a collision analysis has been undertaken in this area which showed there have not been any collisions in this area during the last 3 years so would find it difficult to see this request as a road safety issue.

Mr Rastrick advised there have been recent accidents in the area.  Patrick Carney advised the collision analysis data is obtained from the Police and if these accidents have not been reported to the Police they would not be accounted for.  Patrick Carney advised that all accidents, no matter how small, need to be reported to the Police.

Councillor Stringer advised he supported Mr Rastrick and went on to say 53 years ago Jacks Lane was not accessible by vehicles and in the late 1960’s this was changed.  Safety concerns are an issue as Jacks Lane has very little footways in the area.

Councillor Excell advised he believes Jacks Lane is used excessively as a cut through.

Councillor Pountney stated as the speed recording figures quoted in the petition are from 2007 perhaps this exercise needs to be repeated to obtain up-to-date readings.

Councillor Darling requested that the Transport Working Party explore full opportunities of how this may be resolved.

Patrick Carney advised he would need to liaise with the Police to ascertain if any enforcement has been undertaken in the area over the past few years.

Patrick Carney advised he would arrange for up-to-date speed readings of the area to be undertaken and following this a decision will be made on what action needs to be taken, if any.

Councillor Stringer left the meeting.

Patrick Carney advised he has received a 43 signature petition requesting the closure of Well Street and Councillor Brooksbank is presenting this on behalf of the petitioner.

Councillor Brooksbank advised following the recent road closure to allow for road works to be undertaken the petitioner and residents would like Well Street to be permanently closed to through traffic.

Councillor Davies advised she does not see how this could be done as there are businesses operating in the area which will need to be considered.

Patrick Carney advised he agrees with Councillor Davies but would in the first instance like to gain a full understanding of the issue and conduct speed readings, as the road does have a 20 mph speed limit and speed humps, prior to making any decision.

David Whiteway presented the High Speed 2 report to the Transport Working Party and advised that the Strategic Planning team are lobbying the government for funding to make improvements to train services in the South West.

Councillor Doggett advised he supports the report and the ideas contained within it and fully agrees the Strategic Planning team must continue to pressure the government for funding to be invested in the South West.

Councillor Addis advised it is a wonderful aspiration but is concerned about the lack of power stations to power the electricity for High Speed 2.

Recommendation

Endorse the continued work with four other authorities and to continue to lobby the government to make improvements to train services in the South West.

Proposed by: Cllr Doggett

Seconded by: Cllr Cowell

In favour:  All

Against:

Abstention:

Councillor Darling left the meeting.

Patrick Carney presented the update on proposals report for the Western Corridor Improvements where he advised of further improvements to the area are being proposed in order to improve journey times and promote business growth.

Richard Brown presented the 2012/13 Annual Parking Report and gave a brief overview of the contents of the report which documents the work achieved over the year.

Richard Brown advised Torbay Council’s 2011/12 Annual Parking Report was the winner of the PATROL award which is the joint committee of England and Wales for the civil enforcement of parking and traffic regulations.

Richard Brown requested the approval of the Transport Working Party to advertise the 2012/13 Annual Parking Report online.

Councillor Pountney asked what is the cost to produce the report.  Richard Brown advised the cost is Officer time only as a hard copy of the report is not produced as it is an online document.

Councillor Pountney asked why the report has taken 9 months to produce.  Richard Brown advised the report cannot be commenced until the August due to the legislative process which is followed after the issuing of a penalty charge notice and as a result there is some delay in accounting for the income for the previous financial year and by starting the report in August ensures all of the figures obtained for the report are accurate.

Councillor Cowell asked if the number of permits and types of permits sold should be included in the report and also pointed out that there appears to be some references to the 2013/14 financial year contained within the report.  Richard Brown advised he will look into including figures of the amount and types of permits issued and will also review the contents and remove any references to 2013/14.

Recommendation

Make amendments to the report as identified above and proceed to advertise the 2012/13 Annual Report online.

Proposed by: Cllr Addis

Seconded by: Cllr Cowell

In favour:  All

Against:

Abstention:

Councillor Excell and Richard Brown left the meeting.

Patrick Carney presented the Review of Existing Bus Lanes in Torbay which has arisen following a trial in the City of Liverpool to suspend its bus lanes to ease traffic and to ascertain if this is something Torbay should undertake.

Councillor Cowell suggested no action is taken.

Recommendation

No action.

Proposed by: Cllr Cowell

Seconded by: Cllr Brooksbank

In favour:  All

Against:

Abstention:

Adam Luscombe presented the Local Pinch Point Fund Application – Torquay Gateway and Town Centre Regeneration Scheme report and advised the Strategic Planning team have submitted a bid for further funding and it is hoped the outcome will be known by the end of this year.

Councillor Cowell advised he welcomes the bid but advised he is disappointed the plans for Torre reversal are only going to the end of Trematon Avenue.

Patrick Carney confirmed the proposal put forward will require improvements to be undertaken in the Central Church area but the overall intention was to have a deliverable scheme.  Patrick Carney went on to say that issues were identified with having two way carriageway outside Mary Magdalene Church due to the limited space and was therefore discounted and as a result the report submitted was the same proposal put forward to the Local Transport Board.  Councillor Cowell suggested in order to assist with the limited carriageway space outside the Mary Magdalene Church and to allow for two way carriageway to remove the on-street parking spaces.

Patrick Carney reported the bid that has been submitted is deliverable and advised it is better to have a chance of achieving this rather than nothing at all.

Councillor Cowell requested for a summary report detailing the technical complications for the project is produced.

Patrick Carney presented the report regarding the removal of the build out on Higher Union Street and recommended for resources not to be committed for its removal at this time.

Councillor Cowell suggested no action is taken.

Recommendation

No action

Proposed by: Cllr Cowell

Seconded by: Cllr Doggett

In favour:  All

Against:

Abstention:

Patrick Carney presented the National Express Bus Stop Bolton Cross Lay-by report which has been produced following a request received to ease congestion in Bank Lane and to improve access for the National Express Bus Services.

Recommendation

Implement new bus stop restrictions as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report pack.

Proposed by: Cllr Addis

Seconded by: Cllr Pountney

In favour:  All

Against:

Abstention:

Adam Luscombe provided a verbal update in respect of the LSTF – Ferry Tender where he reported that a new ferry operator has been awarded the contract and he hopes to be in a position to advise the name of company by the end of next week.

23^rd January 2014, 4pm.

23^rd January 2014, 4pm.