TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Minutes of the meeting of the Transport Committee held at 7.30pm on Monday, 13 October 2003 at The Institute. Councillor Chambers, Chair, presided over Councillors Blessett, Warrick and the clerk. No members of the public were present.

012    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received and the reason accepted from Cllr Anderson as ex-officio member due to a work commitment.

013    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None.

014     MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 June, having previously been circulated, were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chair.

015    REVIEW OF BUDGET

The clerk produced the budget statement to 30 September 2003. It was explained that certain items had been posted to the Highways heading prior to the formation of this committee. It was agreed to recommend that Community Cleaning and the illumination of the stone bridge were removed from this budget as not applicable to the committee’s remit and placed instead in amenities, as such being under the control of the full Council. There was no objection to the Church Walk lighting scheme remaining in the budget but in view of the work already undertaken on this it was felt appropriate that the full Council should make an order and decide how to reallocate any balance of funds.

Members were content that the budget was progressing satisfactorily.

Members were asked to consider projects for the forthcoming year before the next meeting when the committee’s budget will be prepared.

016    SYSTEM OF SAFETY INSPECTION AND REPORT FOR BUS SHELTERS

The clerk reported that a quotation of £4 per inspection and report per shelter had been received from the Council’s Cleaning Contractor. As the last meeting had been cancelled at short notice, the clerk had sought the approval of the Chair to start the inspections with effect from the September clean. This action was confirmed. It was further agreed to recommend that the clerk is given the delegated power to act upon the reports in cases of urgency subject to existing financial regulations.

017    POLICY FLY POSTING ON BUS SHELTERS

It was proposed by Cllr Chambers, seconded by Cllr Warrick and unanimously agreed to recommend that all fly posting is removed as soon as possible, the offenders written to asking not to repeat and a notice to this effect is included in the timetable information board.

018    BUS SHELTER INSTALLATION PROGRAMME

Members considered the revised quotation for the shelters proposed for Burchnall Close, Crowson Way and Horsegate in the light of the amendment to design agreed at the last meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Warrick, seconded by Cllr Chambers and unanimously agreed to recommend that the following order is placed with Autocross as follows:

Burchnall Close	3m shelter with 600mm wind-break ends, timetable case, no seat	£2,125
Horsegate	3m shelter with 1000mm wind-break ends, timetable case, seat	£2,330
Crowson Way	3m shelter with 1000mm wind-break ends, timetable case, seat	£2,330
	Delivery and installation into pre-prepared bases	£ 885
Total	(all prices + VAT)	£7,670

It was further agreed to recommend approval of the order for the preparation of the bases by Robinson Construction (Deeping) Ltd for the sum of £1,542.68 + VAT.

The clerk confirmed that the total cost would be £9,212.68 + VAT of which 25% (£2,303.17) would be met by grant from L.C.C. A further £1,000 has already been received from the Rural Transport Partnership in this respect.

It was agreed to consider a shelter on Spalding Road opposite the Council Houses when formalising the budget for 2004-05.

020    BUS STOP INSTALLATION PROGRAMME

The clerk confirmed that the licence had been secured for the erection of the bus stops in the licence for the shelters. It was proposed by Cllr Warrick, seconded by Cllr Chambers and unanimously agreed to recommend that bus stop marker posts be provided and installed by Robinson Construction (Deeping) Ltd for the sum of £648.35 + VAT at locations previously identified and approved throughout the village.

021    BUS STOP KERB ACCESS POINTS

The clerk advised that L.C.C. had requested the Council to identify a priority list of bus stops for consideration of inclusion in its pavement raising programme. The Committee welcomed this initiative but was mindful of the needs of wheelchair and push chair users of footpaths. A list was collated identifying those locations where a grass verge has to be crossed.

022    PARISH TRANSPORT GRANT

Members noted that the recent lifting of the embargo on Vital Villages Grants had resulted in new criteria being introduced for applications and the application period being extended by a year. Cllr Warrick volunteered to consider the application form and the new criteria against the Council’s project to improve bus services and report back.

023    SCHOOL SAFETY ZONES

The clerk reported that L.C.C. is only considering primary schools at this stage and there was no policy to extend it to secondary schools at the present time.

024    LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT - The full version of L.C.C.’s plan was received and noted.

025    ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

It was noted that there is a presentation by the Road Safety Partnership at Bourne on 12 November 2003 and agreed to defer making any arrangements at this stage until it was known what resources the Partnership has to offer.

026    ROAD/TRAFFIC ISSUES

Complaints received from residents were considered and the following action recommended:

1. Spalding Road removal of speed signs. Repeater signs cannot be provided in 30mph zones but agree that the road is wide and straight, encouraging a higher speed. Cycles lanes had been requested at the consultation stage and the clerk was asked to pursue this.

2. Bridge Street cars parking in the bus bay by the Tanning Studio causing neighbouring property driveway to be frequently blocked.. Agree that this prevents the bus from safely pulling up which is deterring some passengers from using the stop. Request that L.C.C. investigate a no stopping except buses’ zone and provide line markings for the driveway.

3. Stowgate Road/Locks Close location of the 30mph restriction signs means that Locks Close and the portion of Stowgate Road from this junction to Eastgate is a de-restricted area. Note that L.C.C. is checking records to resolve this anomaly.

027    TRAFFIC CALMING SCHEME

Members agreed that the two schemes undertaken this year had been worthwhile. The roads around the Deepings School continue to be a cause for concern and it was agreed to recommend that the balance of the budget allocation is used on Horsegate, Spalding Road and Linchfield Road near the staggered cross-roads to complete the work already undertaken on Park Road. The clerk reported that it would be possible to bid for more match funding from L.C.C. for the next financial year and it was agreed to take this into account when discussing the committee’s budget proposals at the next meeting.

028    DATE OF NEXT MEETING Thursday, 20 November 2003 at 7.45pm.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 9.10pm.