Cllr D Mills (Substitute Cllr R Haddock RH), Fran Hughes, Cllr R Stringer, Cllr M Morey (Substitute Cllr V Ellery), Cllr A Brooks.

To confirm as a correct record the Action Notes of the meeting of the Transport Working Party held on 7^th December 2016 and to receive any feedback.

Minutes were agreed as a correct representation.

Proposed:

Cllr Excell

Seconded

Cllr Doggett

All in favour.

Chairman

Proposed

Cllr Excell proposed for Cllr King to take on the role of Chairman.

Seconded

Cllr Ellery.

All in favour.

Vice-Chairman

Proposed

Cllr King proposed for Cllr Excell to take on the role of Vice-Chairman.

Seconded

Cllr Haddock.

All in favour.

·         The Road Safety Strategy that is currently in place and was approved by the Transport Working Party and published in 2013. This Strategy has now been revised due to the budget cuts this year and incorporates the reduced staffing levels, affecting the Road Safety Education Service.   It is important that the Strategy is clear in respect of what can be delivered in the next three years.

·         The authority has a statutory duty to reduce road casualties and much of this work continues under the revised Strategy, e.g. the collision data analysis and site reviews along with the provision of school crossing patrols and child cycle training. Road Safety Education has moved towards a posted service on the Council’s website.  The proposed revised Strategy is recommended to be in place until 2020 following which a new Strategy will be developed.

·         Cllr Haddock enquired whether Bikeability training remains a service that is offered.   IJ confirmed that it did and this is a service that now sits under the Culture and Events Service.  Secondary schools still provide this service directly.

·         Cllr Ellery and Cllr Haddock raised an issue relating to road safety education within schools following an experience with a primary school in the bay that refused to accept advice from a councillor campaign.  IJ advised it is at the school’s discretion whether they accept any offer of Road Safety education.  IJ advised that Highways still undertake reviews around school sites and review collision data and would still liaise with schools should safety concerns arise as a result.

     Recommendation

     To support the revisions to the Strategy and to be published on the website   

     for next 3 years.

     Proposed

     Cllr Ellery proposed to support the Strategy.

     Seconded

     Cllr Haddock seconded the motion.

     All in favour.

·         The Road Safety Reduction Report is an annual statutory report that publishes collision figures for the year.  This report is always a year behind due to the verification process by the DfT.  IJ advised there is no recommendation for approval for this item, but the report is presented for comments or questions before it is published.  

·         IJ advised that regrettably there were 3 fatalities on Torbay’s roads in 2016, which was an increase on the previous year. In terms of the KSI’s, there was a slight increase over the previous 2 years but still remains at fairly constant levels year on year.  Child KSI’s went from 3 to 2, with both being pedestrians. For slight injuries there was a 6% reduction and that continues the overall downward trend, however Child slight injuries showed an increase of 34%, although again it should be noted that this again refers to relatively low base numbers.

·         Cllr Ellery raised whether there could be a local target figure shown on the graphs to show the comparison from 2010.  IJ to take this on board and implement in future graphs.

·         The report is an annual assessment of road safety interventions to date and details of the annual collision site reviews, which provides the evidence to gauge where engineering interventions are recommended for the forthcoming year.  A site review looks at collision data and identifies anywhere that may be deemed as a collision cluster.  Other issues addressed are works to provide safer routes to schools.

·         Appendix 1 to the report summarises Safer Route Schemes to schools to date.

·         Appendix 2 – advises of our approved schemes yet to be implemented. There was a proposal to make the Strand a 20mph zone, however there has been difficulty in implementing this due to recent changes to DfT guidance.  This is to be reviewed and may be brought back to the TWP at a later date.  It was noted that the TDA is also looking at the Strand as part of the list of places that may need Town Centre Investment.

·         Appendix 3 is the analysis of last year’s priorities, recommended from the Road Safety Initiatives Report 2016/17.  Teignmouth Road shows no further serious collisions however monitoring of this area will continue, but there are no further works planned at present.  Sands Road and Totnes Road – schemes expected to be implemented during the forthcoming autumn/winter period.

·         Appendix 4 is the recommendations of priorities for Road Safety Schemes for 2017/18.

·         There remain 3 cluster sites identified as Riviera Way at the junction of Browns Bridge Road, Teignmouth Road (near King George V playing field) and The Strand, Torquay.  The two areas of concern are the sites at Barton Hill Road, junction of Great Hill and Barton Hill Way, Torquay.

·         Riviera Way remains a cluster site however a connection between collisions is not obvious.  A video survey and further research is recommended to be undertaken over a number of days.

·         Barton Hill Road/Great Hill Road has experienced some loss of control collisions – recommend to investigate whether this is due to speed, the surface or the layout or markings

·         Barton Hill Way there is a potential visibility issue due to parking – a review of the layout is required and potential parking restrictions may be proposed.

20mph zones outside schools - continue with 20mph as detailed in Appendix 3 and Appendix 4 details areas to be assessed in the current year.

·         As part of the Road Safety Initiative a scheme to implement advisory 20mph around the area of Oldway School was proposed.  However concerns were raised by Ward Councillors due to the scheme extending beyond the vicinity of the school. The proposal takes into account the extent of the existing traffic calming already in place, the alteration to some parking and is a slight deviation from the current remit given to officers by the Transport Working Party for 20 mph zones around schools. The Executive Lead for Transport requested this scheme be brought to Members for a formal recommendation to progress as proposed, or to progress as a reduced zone and to leave the parking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 245.

·         Fleet Street Stage 3 has been delayed from the previous proposed start date due to resource issues. Consultation has been carried out with Traders of Fleet Walk who were in favour of a January 2018 start date.   8^th January is now the proposed start date, however no contractor has been appointed yet.  There will be an expected 8 week road closure from the start of the scheme.  Officers are currently liaising with the bus companies regarding bus routes,

·         Scheme will hopefully be completed by the start of the Summer season 2018.

·         This is the final phase of the Fleet Street Regeneration and the biggest phase.  The scheme has been reduced slightly due to the expectation of regeneration of the GPO Roundabout in the future.

·         IJ confirmed that Braddons Hill Road West will be included in the scheme and some housekeeping will take place on traffic orders and signage.

·         Cllr Doggett enquired regarding the bus service during the works.  IJ confirmed currently in liaison with bus operators to try and run a No 12 bus as close to the area as possible as was the case in the previous phase. 

·         Tweenaway to Waterleat section is complete and is working well.

·         Churscome Cross to Luscombe Lane Scheme is well underway with the full closures having taken place in February and March, followed by a number of evening closures whilst resurfacing work is taking place.  The scheme remains on target and is scheduled for completion in the latter part of November.

·         Roselands Drive to Yalberton junction (past Sainsburys). Contractor has been appointed and commencement of works is likely to start in January 2018 – subject to Wales and West Utilities starting work on the gas main diversion, which is a pivotal part of the scheme. Completion is programmed for the following Christmas and the scheme will have to run through the summer.  It was recognised that this will be a challenging scheme, however everything will be done to keep the traffic flowing, however some delays are inevitable.  There are 3 retaining structures that need to be built as part of the scheme as this is a significant road widening scheme. 

·         Cllr Haddock requested there are Press releases 5-6 weeks in advance of the works and diversion routes identified.  It was enquired whether preparatory works for Claylands could take place at the same time. IJ advised that a press release would be issued in due course, however with regard to Claylands, it is likely to be too problematic to have them undertaken at the same time.

·         Long Road – there is a future scheme for a new bus bay near South Devon College.  Cllr Excell raised concern regarding speeding cyclists down Long Road.

·         Windy Corner – IJ advised the Land Exchange was advertised during the Summer and the Planning Inspectorate have advised no objections were raised.  The Order is being progressed and a further Notice will go up as part of this process.  Hopefully this will finalise the process.  Currently it is looking at a start date of September 2018, this is due to the timescale on the utility searches and the desire not to progress the scheme over the summer season.   

·         At the last Council meeting approval was given for the revised funding package for the Western Corridor.  The LEP also approved the £950,000 transfer of funds from the Torquay Gateway to Western Corridor and there is now sufficient funding in place to continue delivery of the scheme.

·         There is one scheme outstanding for the Torquay Gateway Project, which is the widening of Newton Road from Shiphay Lane to Woodlands Road.  This scheme has decreased from the original plan up to Lowes Bridge as it would be difficult to deliver due to Network Rail issues.  IJ advised the Engineers are in liaison with Network Rail for the revised scheme and hopefully the scheme will commence in September 2018. 

·         Torquay Town Centre Access – works in Morgan Avenue have commenced.

·         Brunswick Square Crossing is underway.  The scheme has been delayed due to some technical issues with the surfacing.  Awaiting a date for the rescheduled works.

·         Tor Church Junction – a review has taken place by an independent consultant who is an expert in traffic signals.  IJ is awaiting the formal response with recommendations.  IJ has been advised in advance of the report that there appears to be more capacity to the junction, and that the issues are with the how intelligent control systems of the junction work.  Hopefully a solution can be sought and implemented. 

Other Issues

·         AL confirmed that the LTP implementation plan schemes have been approved by full Council and individual business cases are being built for these schemes within the approved headlines.  The business cases will be presented to Cllr King as Executive Lead for approval in conjunction with Kevin Mowat.  Any larger scale schemes will be raised to a higher level for agreement.

·         Edginswell Rail Station report will be presented to the Council meeting next week.  Despite being unsuccessful in obtaining funding from the DfT, they have provided positive feedback.  Another funding opportunity needs to be sought to progress this scheme.  However AL confirmed that the LEP funding is now at huge risk and the LEP have acknowledged that all schemes must be implemented by 2021, therefore if there is no funding in place by 2019, delivery of the scheme would not be possible by 2021.

The next meeting of the Transport Working Party is provisionally scheduled for Thursday 18^th January 2018.

PROPOSED DATE:

Thursday 18^th January 2018, 4pm, Meadfoot Room.