Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room One, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln Lincs LN1 1YL. View directions

Contact: Steve Blagg  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

29.

Apologies for Absence/Replacement Members

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M Brookes.

 

The Head of Paid Service reported that under the Local Government (Committee and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, she had appointed Councillor T R Ashton to the Committee, in place of Councillor Mrs P Cooper, until further notice and that she had appointed Councillor Mrs P Cooper, in place of Councillor M Brookes, for this meeting only.

 

30.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest at this stage of the meeting.

31.

Minutes of the previous meeting of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee held on 16 September 2019 pdf icon PDF 246 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 September 2019, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

32.

Announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillors and Lead Officers

Minutes:

Officers presented the Green Apple Awards for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage given to the Council as the "Civil Engineering Gold Winner" for its Lincoln Eastern Bypass Team.

 

The Committee asked that their compliments should be sent to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass Team.

33.

Engagement with Network Rail and Rail Franchise Update pdf icon PDF 236 KB

(To receive a report by Ian Kitchen, Strategic Transport Policy Manager, which provides an update on various rail matters in Lincolnshire. Representatives from Network Rail, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and East Midlands Railway (EMR) will be in attendance to outline current proposal and answer questions)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, welcomed Phil Dawson, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), Max Taylor, East Midlands Railway (EMR) and Laura Etheridge, East Midlands Railway to the meeting. Paul McKeown, Network Rail, was unable to attend the meeting because his travel arrangements had been affected by flooding. Paul McKeon would respond to any written questions from members.

 

The Committee received an update on various rail matters in Lincolnshire. Officers stated that the railway representatives were attending to make presentations on their current proposals and respond to questions. Officers updated members on the proposed improvements to Gainsborough Lea Road Station, Spalding Station and improvements to the railway line between Lincoln and Newark not mentioned in the report.

 

Phil Dawson, LNER, gave a presentation on the proposed changes to LNER's timetables which would improve services to Lincoln.

 

Comments by the members included:-

 

·    An enquiry was made about the cost of providing two new bridges across the Lincoln to Newark railway line in Lincoln due to future housing development. Phil Dawson stated that he would provide a written response to the member on this matter as he was not involved in this project. The bridges would provide an alternative route for traffic currently held up at the level crossings on Doddington Road and Skellingthorpe Road.

·    "Real Time" information on the new Azuma trains was welcomed. Phil Dawson stated that improvements had been made to LNER's "reservation of seats" system and that it was proposing to invest £3b in improving services.

·     An enquiry was made about the environmental impact of the proposed timetable changes. Phil Dawson stated that while the proposed improvements to the timetables would mean fewer stops which would help the environment.

·    Capacity and recovery were issues on the main line between Edinburgh and London. Phil Dawson stated that capacity issues on this line were a huge challenge. He outlined the improvements being made to overcome these challenges including the "Werrington Grade Separation" at Peterborough, more reliable trains and the introduction of bio-mode trains.

·    The provision of a diesel service on the joint line to London by LNER would help those living in South Holland. People in this rural area had problems in getting to services. Phil Dawson stated that this had been examined but had proved difficult to implement because of the loss a train on the main line. They were currently examining providing one train a week down the Joint Line and this was likely to be a weekend service. He stated that LNER would examine the effects of increased population growth planned for the South Holland area.

 

Max Taylor gave a presentation which included details of the new EMR franchise, proposed investment and improved strategic partnerships, including, amongst others, local authorities and businesses. This would lead to improved timetables, more trains, improved ticketing facilities, more rolling stock and additional stations.

 

Comments by members included:-

 

·    The proposals were welcomed including the removal of one carriage trains, the new timetables and a wish to see the proposed improvements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

34.

Events affecting the Highway Network policy pdf icon PDF 18 KB

(To receive a report by Ellie Baker (Senior Street Works and Permit Officer – Events Management), which invites the Committee to consider a report regarding events affecting the Highway Network policy, which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and I.T between 30 October 2019 and 6 November 2019. The views of the Committee will be reported to the Executive Councillor as part of his consideration of this item)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report in connection with Events affecting the Highway Network Policy. A decision was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT between 30 October and 6 November 2019 and the views of this Committee would be reported to the Executive Councillor as part of his consideration of this item.

 

Officers stated the replacement of the current policy by this new policy was due to the police no longer able to get involved in the administration of Events because of the reduction in personnel and increased costs had necessitated the Council stepping in to provide this service.

 

Members welcomed the new policy. A member stated that there had been some issues involving a vehicle interfering with the Lincoln 10k race and disabled people having access issues to their homes.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the recommendations to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT, detailed in the report, be supported.

35.

Highways Customer Engagement and Liaison Strategy pdf icon PDF 121 KB

(To receive a report by Karen Cassar (Assistant Director – Highways), which outlines what the Council will do to improve public satisfaction levels in its highway services by placing its customers at the heart of the service and taking ownership in everything it does and the ways it works)

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report in connection with the Highways Customer Engagement and Liaison Strategy which outlined what the Council would do to improve public satisfaction levels in the highway service by placing the customers at the heart of the service and taking ownership in everything the highways did and the way it worked.

 

Comments by members included:-

 

·   A spelling error on line 3, paragraph 7.1 on page 48 of the Strategy. Officers agreed to investigate.

·  The public's main interest was in seeing highways repaired. An example of where improved public engagement was needed was in connection with the improvements being made to Nettleham roundabout where there had been little public engagement about the removal of trees in the vicinity of the roundabout. Officers agreed that there was a need for highways to think how it communicated with the public.

·         Officers agreed to inform members when it was proposed to update the highways web page. Members noted this information would help Parish Councils.

 

RESOLVED

 

          That the new Strategy be supported and that the Committee receive a           progress report in six months.

 

36.

Highways Fault Reporting Performance pdf icon PDF 678 KB

(To receive a report by Georgina Statham (Highways Liaison Manager), which provides an update on the highways' fault reporting system performance/response times)

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report in connection with the performance of highways fault reporting which highlighted the improvements made and recommendations for future improvements.

 

Members welcomed the improvements and noted that the new "Confirm" website would provide more functionality and links to the FixmyStreet website which would improve the response to the public.

 

RESOLVED

 

          That the recommendations for improvement to the highways fault      reporting performance be supported and that the Committee receive a      progress report in six months.

37.

Civil Parking Enforcement Annual Report 2018 to 2019 pdf icon PDF 37 KB

(To receive a report by Matt Jones (Parking Services Manager), in connection with Civil Parking Enforcement related activities and financial statement showing the cost of operation, including any deficit or surplus)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the standard annual report on Civil Parking Enforcement for 2018/19. The information provided was in accordance with the Statutory Guidance to Local Authorities on the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions.

 

Comments by members included:-

 

·         An enquiry about loading issues in Market Place, Westgate, Grantham. Officers stated that the Committee would receive a report on parking issues in Grantham at its meeting on 20 January 2020.

·         The annual cost for software had increased. Officers stated that the annual cost had increased and this was due to, amongst others, the increase in the cost of the licence.

·         An enquiry was made about whether it was possible to have compulsory "zig-zag" markings outside of schools. Officers stated that most schools did not have enforceable parking zones and a Traffic Regulation Order was required to enforce parking restrictions. Officers stated that the trial of CCTV outside of certain schools was due to finish and the results would be reported to a future meeting.

·         Some Blue Badge holders had been given parking fines and this had caused confusion. Officers stated that Blue Badge holders had been issued with parking information and parking enforcement officers had discretion in the issuing of tickets.

·         The public should be made aware that parking enforcement did not end at 5pm. Officers stated that evening enforcement was being examined.

·         There were parking problems with a pedestrianised area and taxis parking in an area reserved for public parking used by the public to use nearby facilities in Spalding. Officers stated that discussions were on-going with highways to bring these areas up to enforceable standards and South Holland District Council as the licencing granting authority needed to address this problem when it issued taxi licences.

 

Officers gave a presentation on the information which was available on the Council's website. This included the provision of an interactive map and the number of tickets issued in electoral Divisions.

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)  That the comments made by members be noted.

(b)  That the publication of the report on the Council's website be supported.

 

38.

Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 268 KB

(To receive a report from Daniel Steel (Scrutiny Officer), in connection with the Committee's Work Programme. Members' comments are sought on the items for future consideration) 

Minutes:

The Committee received its Work Programme.

 

Comments by members included:-

 

·         The Road Safety Partnership report which went to the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee should also be received by this Committee.

·         The Lincoln Western Growth Corridor needed to be programmed in the Work Programme.

·         Grass verges needed to be converted for more parking to prevent green verges becoming rutted. (This was related to "Footway Parking" in "Future items for consideration" in the report). Officers stated that the Government was examining this matter and it was expected that local authorities would be given the task of enforcement. Members would receive an update on this matter in 2020.

 

RESOLVED

 

          The Work Programme be noted and updated accordingly.

 

 

 

 

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