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ITEM EX9

HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT POLICY MANUAL

Introduction

1. It was agreed by the Executive on 19 March 2002 that the draft Highway Management Policy Manual be circulated for consultation and feedback and further developed prior to reporting back to the Executive in October 2002.
2. It was also agreed to refer the Manual to Environment Scrutiny Committee as part of the consultation.

Consultation

3. A summary version of the Manual was circulated to all County Councillors, District, Town and Parish Councils, Parish Meetings, Council Officers and a range of interest groups (Annex 1).
4. The Key Policies contained in each section of the full Manual were reproduced as a series of bullet points in the Summary document. Copies of individual policies in their entirety or copies of the complete Manual were also provided on receipt of specific requests from consultees. A simple form was included in the main correspondence to facilitate this (Annex 2 – Summary document, Form, and Table of Information requested).
5. A target return date of 12 September 2002 was specified for feedback although comments received by the October print deadline have all been considered.

Feedback

6. To date, over 82 returns have been received from a total of over 430 formal consultees. Of these, 29 registered "No Comment". A significant proportion of respondents commented favourably, stating that the Manual was a useful and readable document.
7. Various other comments and queries were received, many seeking clarification or assurance on particular points that were covered in more detail in the complete version of the draft Manual.
8. Common themes to emerge were:-

• Winter maintenance pre-salting routes
• Frequency of gully cleaning and attention to problem areas
• Provision of advance works information to Parish Councils

9. Of the enquiries received for specific policy information, the Sections on Routine, Reactive and Cyclic Maintenance, Major Carriageway and Footway Schemes, Street Furniture and Enforcement were most requested.
10. A summary of responses from consultees is contained in Annex 3. As responses are still being received an update will be provided prior to the 29 October meeting of the Executive.
11. Comments of Environment Scrutiny Committee are also presented in Annex 3, along with a list of suggested additions or amendments to the draft Manual, as identified through the consultation exercise.
12. Where identified, reviews of particular service areas will be incorporated into future Service Plan programmes.
13. It is intended that public access to the approved version of the Manual be made available permanently on the County Council website.

RECOMMENDATIONS

14. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. approve the Highway Management Policy Manual incorporating the additions and amendments as described in Annex 3 of the report;
2. agree that any future significant departures from standard policy as reflected in the Manual be brought to the attention of the Executive Members for Transport and Strategic Planning & Waste Management at the earliest opportunity and be subsequently reported to the Executive where appropriate;
3. agree that the Highway Management Policy Manual should be reviewed on a regular basis.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Kevin Haines Tel: Oxford 815687

October 2002

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