Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor E W Strengiel.

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

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 January 2019 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no announcements.

(A report by Richard Fenwick, Alliance Works Contract Manager, which sets out a proposed amended Plan to take account of changes to maintenance frequencies to grass cutting and drainage cleansing as agreed during the setting of the budget for financial year 2019/20)

The Committee received a pre-decision scrutiny report for the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT in connection with proposed amendments to the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan 2019 to take account of changes to maintenance frequencies to grass cutting and drainage cleansing as agreed during the setting of the budget for the financial year 2019/20.

Comments by the Committee and the responses of officers, included:-

·   The proposed changes were welcomed and would improve the service.

·   Gullies located in villages needed cleaning more frequently due to run off from fields. Officers stated that these gullies were treated by off-road jetting and the Council was currently collecting data which in due course should help to improve the service to these areas.

·  Side street parking in urban areas was a serious problem with vehicles blocking gullies and channels. Officers agreed that this was a logistical issue and channel cleansing was a District Council responsibility. Officers stated that partnership working between the County and District Councils needed to be examined.

·  Officers stated that the Environmental Protection Act 1990 meant that District Councils zoned streets and streets only swept if necessary. The Council only paid for gullies which were emptied.

·  It was suggested that the system of reporting problems with potholes could be used to report problems with gullies.

·  In response to a comment that some gullies had not been cleared for many years in South Holland, officers stated that the new proposals would ensure that all gullies would be cleared once a year on a cyclical basis. Officers added that the problems might have been caused by drainage issues.

·  Riparian water courses needed to be addressed by householders.

·  Overgrown vegetation on cycle tracks needed to be addressed. Officers stated that cycle tracks needed to be included in the maintenance programme and agreed to email Councillor Mrs J Brockway when this information became available.

The Committee unanimously supported the recommendations to the Executive Councillor and agreed that a return to the cleaning of all gullies once a year on a cyclical basis would provide an improved service. A progress report was requested in six months.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the comments by the Committee and the responses of officers be noted and actioned accordingly.

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

(c)  That the Committee receive a progress report on gully cleansing in six months.

(A report by Steve Brooks, Senior Project Leader, which seeks the approval of the capital scheme appraisal by the Leader of the County Council and approval to enter into an Early Contractor Involvement contract for the purpose of ultimately delivering the network improvements at these two locations from the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT)

The Committee received a pre-decision scrutiny report in connection with the A17/A15 Holdingham roundabout and the A17/A153 Rugby Club Junction, Sleaford and the Committee's support was sought to the approval of the capital scheme appraisal by the Leader of the Council, the award of a contract for the delivery of the project and the delegation to the Interim Executive Director for Place the final approval from Early Contractor Involvement to construction of the highway improvements by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT.

Comments by members and the responses of officers, included:-

·    The scheme was welcomed and would ease traffic congestion.

·    Because of the number of lanes proposed it was important that drivers were given as much notice as possible. Officers stated that drivers would be given suitable advanced warning.

·    The installation of traffic lights would help road safety.

·    How long would the contract take?  Officers stated that at this stage, it was likely that the A17/A153 junction improvements would start in April 2020 and take three months to complete. The A17/A15 roundabout improvements were due to commence thereafter and take six months to complete. This was subject to final design and refining the final programme.

·    Had consideration been given to the timing of traffic lights at the A17/A153 roundabout in view of the number of vehicles using this junction at 05.30 due to the change of shift workers? Officers stated that traffic management would take account of this additional traffic and that the designer responsible for modelling the traffic lights at this junction had specialised knowledge in this area.

·    Communication was important. Motorists and local people needed to be informed well in advance of the proposals and details of any proposed diversions. Officers stated that these issues would be addressed in the traffic management plan, by the use of social media and the press and night closures would be implemented when needed.

·    Officers stated that the recovery of S106 money had been included in the Memorandum of Understanding and underwritten by the District Council.

The Committee unanimously supported the recommendations as detailed in the report to the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT supported signage to warn motorists well in advance of new lanes, the installation of appropriate safety measures, the need to factor in the additional traffic using the A17/A153 early in the morning in any modelling of this roundabout and the need for advanced warning to motorists of diversions.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the comments by the Committee and the responses of officers be noted.

(b)  That the recommendations detailed in the report be supported and the additional comments by the Committee for the need for signage to be installed well in advance to warn motorists of the new lane layout, the implementation of safety measures, the need to consider additional traffic using the A17/A153 junction early in the morning in any modelling and the need for advanced warning to motorists of diversions.

(A report by Mark Heaton, Programme Leader (Surfacing and Patching, which seeks approval of the capital scheme appraisal by the Leader of the County Council and approval to enter into a contract (initially for Early Contractor Involvement) for the purpose of delivering the network improvements at these two locations from the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT)

The Committee received a pre-decision report in connection with improvements to the A46/A15 Riseholme Road roundabout and the A46/A158 Nettleham Road roundabout, Lincoln and the Committee's support was sought to the approval of the capital scheme appraisal by the Leader of the Council, the award of a contract for the delivery of the project and the delegation to the Interim Executive Director for Place the final approval from Early Contractor Involvement to construction of the highway improvements by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT.

Comments by the Committee and responses of officers, included:-

·         The current junctions were now overused and the proposals would address the issues of capacity.

·         The two locations were different, the A46/A15 roundabout was mainly used by freight traffic going to the ports on the Humber and the A46/A158 roundabout was mainly by commuter traffic.

·         The effects of the increase in the population in this area on traffic movements.

·    There was a need to examine the effects of traffic on the Caenby Corner junction on the A15.

·    Officers stated that both roundabouts had been examined in detail including the effects on the Caenby Corner junction. Both roundabouts were 30 years old and no longer able to cope with the increase in traffic. The growth of the population in the area had been taken into consideration.

·    Officers stated that publicity well in advance to warn motorists including diversions would be provided.

·    Following a request, officers agreed to bring the design plans of both this scheme and the scheme detailed in minute 62 to the next meeting of this Committee.

·    There was a need to work with the haulage association to ensure that HGVs used the correct route.

·    The length of the merging lanes needed to be carefully considered as this was always an issue for motorists.

·    Councillor Mrs J Brockway stated that she had received communication from the public requesting that the investment for these roundabouts would be better spent on encouraging car sharing and cycle routes and another enquiring whether the roundabouts were in the Joint Transport Strategy and the dangers presented by shrubbery to cyclists. She stated that she would pass the comments onto the officers to respond.

The Committee unanimously supported the recommendations in the report and agreed that the design plans for this scheme should be considered by the Committee at its next meeting.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the comments by members and the responses of officers be noted and taken into consideration.

(b)  That the recommendations in the report and the suggestions by members be supported.

(c) That the design plans for the A46 Lincoln scheme be submitted for consideration to the next meeting of the Committee.

(A report by Satish Shah, Highways Network Manager, which provides an update on the measures being undertaken to improve the highways service communication)

The Committee received a report which gave an update on the measures being undertaken to improve the highways service communication.

Comments by members and the responses of officers included:-

·    The improvements in communication in recent years were welcomed.

·    The FixMyStreet website was welcomed although there were issues with it stating that a fault had been fixed when it had not. Officers agreed the need to cleanse the FixMyStreet site.

·    The negative approach by the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC) towards highways was noted. Officers stated that, together with the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT, they were proposing to meet LALC to examine how the County Council and LALC could improve matters. Officers stated that communication with Parish Councils had improved and members were asked what information they would like to see.

·    The visits by the Executive and Support Councillors for Highways and Transport to Parish Councils were welcomed.

·    Communication between members and local highways manager were good whether it through face to face meetings or the use of email.

·    Consideration should be given to having a dedicated Highways App. Officers stated that they would examine the potential of a Highways App in consultation with the Council’s IT section and the outcome of this study would be emailed to members.

·    Officers agreed to ask the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to make a presentation on their work to this Committee.

·    Officers agreed that public concerns about the lack of adequate publicity about the Spalding By-Pass proposals needed to be considered by officers.

The Committee welcomed the improvements in communication and agreed that consideration needed to be given to developing a Highways App, the production of a daily communication plan, the response time for reporting faults on the highways on-line portal and the need to examine performance information to benefit members.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the comments made by members be noted and that the additional matters raised by members in connection with developing a Highways App, the production of a daily communication plan, the response time for reporting faults on the on-line highways portal and the need to examine performance information to benefit members, be considered by officers.

(b)  That the Committee receive a further update at its meeting on 28 October 2019.

(A report by Ian Kitchen, Strategic Transport Policy Manager, which provides an update on the role of Midlands Connect, the Sub-National Transport Body within which Lincolnshire sits. It also provides information on work which Midlands Connect is doing in relation to the Major Road Network and other studies affecting Lincolnshire)

The Committee received a report in connection with the role of Midlands Connect, the Sub-National Transport Body within which Lincolnshire sat and information on work which Midlands Connect was doing in relation to the Major Road Network and other studies affecting Lincolnshire.

Comments by members and the responses of officers included:-

·         The need for Local Authorities to be in a position to have substantial funding upfront in order to attract funding from Central Government.

·         The need for the Council to have projects ready well in advance to meet the funding timetable.

·         The effects of HS2 and a concentration of funding for the West Midlands was noted.

·         The Government had considered the effects of austerity on Local Authorities' finances.

·         An improved rail service from the port of Felixstowe to the Midlands was required.

·         Midlands Connect needed to put pressure on the Highways England to improve the A1 between Peterborough and Blyth as when there were major traffic incidents on the A1 traffic was diverted through nearby villages.

·         The need for Midlands Connect to avoid becoming a "talking shop". However, it was accepted that it required its own funding and powers.

·         The Committee should invite Highways England to attend a Committee meeting to discuss highways issues affecting Lincolnshire.

The Committee welcomed the report and agreed that Highways England should be invited to a meeting of this Committee to discuss highway issues affecting Lincolnshire.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the report and comments by members be noted.

(b)  That Highways England be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee to discuss highway matters affecting Lincolnshire.

(c)  That an update on Midlands Connect towards the end of 2019 be submitted.

(A report by Ian Kitchen, Strategic Transport Policy Manager, which provides an update on rail issues across Lincolnshire. In particular, it highlights the position on the various rail franchises which cover the county and the service improvements which are expected to be delivered. The report also provides an update on the on-going Williams Rail Review into the structure of the rail industry due to report later this year)

The Committee received a report which gave an update on rail issues across Lincolnshire, in particular the various rail franchises which covered the county and the service improvements which were expected to be delivered. The report also provided an update on the on-going Williams Rail Review into the structure of the rail industry due to be reported later this year.

Comments by members and the responses of officers included:-

·    It was hoped to get the Lincoln to London service later in the year.

·    The resumption of weekday train services into Gainsborough Central station after 26 years was welcomed as was the proposed increase in services on the Lincoln-Doncaster line.

·    The fragmented nature of the rail service was still an issue.

·    The cost of removing the flat line on the Lincoln to Newark rail line where it crossed the East Coast mainline was very high.

·    Because of the changes to timetables the recovering of passengers lost to the rail service because of the confusion was an issue.

·    Had opportunities to transfer freight from road to rail been examined? Officers stated that this was being examined and the Immingham Port project was given as an example. The investment into the Peterborough to Doncaster rail line was also given as an example of the removal of freight traffic off the East Coast mainline.

·    Officers stated that when the new operator of the improved service between Lincoln and London had been appointed they would be invited to the Committee.

The Committee welcomed the progress to date and the invitation to a meeting of the Committee to the new operator of the improved service between Lincoln and London when they had been appointed.

RESOLVED

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

(b)  That an invitation to the new operator of the improved service between Lincoln and London when they had been appointed, be noted.

(A report by Paul Rusted, Infrastructure Commissioner, which sets out the performance of the highways service including the Major Highway Schemes Update, Lincolnshire Highways Alliance Performance, National Road Condition Indicators, the CQC (Customer, Quality, Cost) Efficiency Network Results 2018 and the Customer Satisfaction Information)

The Committee received a report on the performance of the highways service for Quarter 3 (October 2018 to December 2018.

Officers drew the Committee's attention to an error on page 194 of the report (Lincolnshire Highways Alliance Performance) and stated that "87.2%" should have read "91.2%" for the "Highways Works Term Contract Performance Indicators (Kier)".

Comments by members and the responses of officers included:-

·    The overall improved trend was welcomed although it was noted that the deterioration in the overall condition of the network identified by the National Road Condition Indicators 2018/19 was probably caused by the harsh winter conditions in 2017/18.

·    Councillor Mrs J Brockway stated that the compliments she had submitted needed to be reflected in the report.

·    Concrete based roads built in the 1960s were beginning to deteriorate in the North/South Hykeham areas. It was understood that a new trial of repair was being undertaken in Louth and if this was successful then could the Hykeham areas be examined. Officers stated that a start had been made on replacing concrete roads this year.

RESOLVED

That the report and comments by members be noted and actioned accordingly.

(A report by Daniel Steel, Scrutiny Officer, in connection with the latest situation of the Committee's Work Programme)

The Committee received its Work Programme.

RESOLVED

That the Committee's Work Programme be noted and updated accordingly.