Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/036

Contact: Rikke Hansen, Service Manager – Highways, Transport & Waste Tel: 07554 103536

Report by Director for Infrastructure Operations (CMDE8).

This paper has been produced to seek approval for a number of policy statements that have been produced to meet the requirements of the Highways Code of Practice (October 2018). It follows the papers (Review of Highways policies) presented to cabinet in November 2017 which outlined the development of a new highways management framework and it was agreed that sign off of updated policies and procedures would be via reports to the Cabinet Member Delegated decisions meetings or by the relevant Directo dependent on the level of service charge.  As this is the first round of policy updates it was agreed that these should be taken to the Cabinet Member for Environment Delegated Decisions meeting irrespective of level of service charge.

It also seeks approval to apply a more flexible approach in how the Council manages the Statement of Priorities Definitive map caseload.

In preparation of the new documentation it should be noted that the statements have been developed in collaboration with our legal and insurance teams in addition to consultation and lengthy discussion at the Cabinet Advisory Group for Environment and Transport in November 2018.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to agree:

(a)      the revised Highways Policy Statements at Annex 1 – 10 to the report CMDE8;

(b)      the revised Statement of Priorities at Annex 11 to the report CMDE8.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE8) a number of policy statements produced to meet the requirements of the Highways Code of Practice (October 2018) following the papers (Review of Highways policies) presented to cabinet in November 2017 which had outlined the development of a new highways management framework. It had been agreed that sign off of updated policies and procedures would be via reports to the Cabinet Member Delegated decisions meetings or by the relevant Director dependent on the level of service charge but as this was the first round of policy updates it was agreed that these would be taken to the Cabinet Member for Environment Delegated Decisions meeting irrespective of level of service charge.

The report also sought approval to apply a more flexible approach in how the Council managed the Statement of Priorities Definitive map caseload.

The new documentation had been developed in collaboration with legal and insurance teams in addition to consultation and lengthy discussion at the Cabinet Advisory Group for Environment and Transport in November 2018.

Officers presented each Annex and responded to questions from the Cabinet Member as appropriate.

Annex 1 – the county council would work closely with road safety teams and police etc with regard to future use of coloured surfacing.

Annex 2 – a parish council request for no street lighting would be considered with the safety of highway users in mind.

Annex 3 – there were different investigatory levels all machine based and all in line with national guidelines.

Annex 4 – the authority would continue to work closely with parish councils.

Annex 5 – the service aims were a proactive approach to protect and maintain highway assets.  There were set programmes for maintenance etc but where an incident was considered unsafe for road users but was not the responsibility of the authority work could be carried out and charged to the relevant landowner.

Annex 6 – lines and studs would be replaced on a need/safety basis using DfT guidance and consultation with key stakeholders including road safety teams and police.

Annex 7 – enforcement of speed limits remained the responsibility of the police and would continue to be imposed after the necessary consultation to promote safety etc.

Annex 8 – opportunity to reduce street clutter and redirect resources to provide facilities where need was greatest.  Biannual checks of vehicle barriers and quadrennial checks for pedestrian barriers would be carried out.

Annex 9 – a lot of traffic mirrors these were placed on private land so had not formed part of this inspection and were not maintained by the authority. However, if glare was found to be a problem then that issue would be investigated. 

Annex 10 – no specific issue raised.

Annex 11 – progress welcomed and Cabinet Member aware of the need for a different and more consistent approach.

Having regard to the information set out in the report before her and the representations made to her at the meeting the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed her decision as follows:

to agree:

(a)      the revised Highways Policy Statements at Annex 1 – 10 to the report CMDE8;

(b)      the revised Statement of Priorities at Annex 11 to the report CMDE8.

Signed…………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing………………………..