RESOLVED –

1.  that County Councillor Giles-Medhurst be elected Chair for the 2011/12 Municipal Year.

2.  that Borough Councillor Wylie be elected Vice-Chair for the 2011/12 Municipal Year.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Scudder.

There was a change of membership for this meeting: Councillor Burtenshaw replaced Councillor Sharpe, Councillor Khan replaced Councillor Dhindsa and Councillor Forrest replaced Councillor J Brown

County CouncillorBrandon declared a personal interest as he said that he may be buying a property on the Leggatts Campus site.  The Panel agreed that he could stay and discuss the items.

During the discussions of minute number 6, Borough Councillor Johnson declared a personal interest as he lived in Ridge Lane.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2011 to be submitted for signature.  

It was agreed that since the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2011 had not been available online for Members to read that they would be signed at the next meeting.

There were no matters arising.

Report of the District Manager

The purpose of this report is to advise members of the current status of petitions, to advise members of any objections to traffic regulation orders and to inform the Panel of any other local issues of importance

The Panel received a report of the District Manager setting out the current status of petitions and local issues.

Petition – Courtlands Drive/A411 Hempstead Road junction

The District Manager summarised the report and said that the lead petitioner had made some suggestions for improving the junction which officers would investigate and report back to both the lead petitioner and the Panel in the autumn. 

The CountyCouncillor for NascotPark said that this was the first time that he had heard of the option of revoking the no right turn into and out of Ridge Lane and consultation was imperative. He felt that it was important that the matter was resolved as soon as possible.

A Member agreed and expressed his concern that the option had been brought to the Panel prior to officers investigating the proposal.

The Vice-Chair observed that it was important to remember why the no right turn had been introduced in the first place; traffic was backing up to turn right and it was used as a rat-run to get to Courtlands Drive.

Later in the meeting, the CountyCouncillor for NascotPark informed the Panel that he had spoken to the lead petitioner who had been present during the discussion about the petition. The lead petitioner had confirmed that he had not suggested changing the access into and out of Ridge Lane.

RESOLVED –

that officers should not pursue the option of revoking the no right turn into and out of Ridge Lane.

Petition for permanent pedestrian crossing on Horseshoe Lane near northerly junction with Boundary Way

The Chair reported that he had undertaken a site visit and that a CS99 application had been submitted. Officers were happy for a pedestrian crossing to go ahead at this location.

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

Local issues- Woodmere Avenue width restriction scheme

The Chair referred Members to the briefing note in Appendix A. The issue had been covered by the Watford Observer.

The District Manager reported that Herts Highways had received 70 complaints since March and 11 insurance claims, all of which had been rejected. He reiterated that the restriction had been in place for many years, it was well-signed and it was up to each driver to consider whether to proceed through the restriction.

The Chair advised the Panel that since the last meeting officers had established that the cost for CCTV was prohibitive; at least £30,000.

The Vice-Chair advised the Panel that there was an error in the press statement in Appendix A; the sentence read “there have been posts, seven feet apart, at this site for many years”. This should read “seven feet six inches apart”.

The CountyCouncillor for Meriden Tudor commented that there had never been such a controversial issue in the division but that the number of complaints was reducing. The local residents’ association was in favour of the width restriction.

The County councillor for Vicarage Holywell said he supported the restriction as it is.

RESOLVED –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Report of the Area Highway Development Control Manager

This report advises the Panel of schemes which are funded by S106 contributions held by HCC. It includes deals of sites from which funds have been set aside for use on the Croxley Rail Link.

The Panel received a report of the Area Highway Development Control Manager including the financial position and proposed uses for Section 106 (S106) monies held by Hertfordshire County Council. 

The Chair informed the Panel that he had had meetings with officers regarding the ringfencing of £1.55million in S106 funds for the Croxley Rail Link. Of the six county divisions in Watford, four would have no S106 monies available to them if the ringfencing went ahead.

The Area Highway Development Control Manager informed the Panel that in the last quarter four developments in Watford had raised approximately £19,000 in S106 funds. The best and final business case for the Croxley Rail Link was to be presented to the Department for Transport in September. The more third party funding that was identified, the more viable and robust the bid would be. He added that further S106 funding would come in for the scheme between now and the completion of the Croxley Rail Link. 

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) would be replacing the system of S106. Under the CIL regime authorities would only be able to pool funds from up to five projects from S106 payments received from June 2010.  It was hoped that funds from larger developments, such as the Health Campus, could be reserved for the Croxley Rail Link to free up funds from smaller developments.

He added that developments in Hertsmere, and particularly Bushey, should contribute S106 funds to the Croxley Rail Link as residents in Bushey were also likely to benefit from the scheme. However, this had not yet been discussed with Members.

There had been successful bids to the Local Strategic Transport Fund, which had freed up some S106 funds and made the Clarendon Road project possible.

The Chair reported that officers had ringfenced £1.3 million in January 2011 and this had now increased to £1.55 million. The West HertsCollege and Leggatts Campus developments had contributed to the Croxley Rail Link while funds had not been available to ameliorate the effects of the developments themselves. Residents were not happy when S106 funding was used in a different ward from the development. He suggested that at least £200K from the ringfenced amount should be retained for use in local schemes and that the wording of at least two Section 106 schemes,  Leggatts Campus and WestHerts College, supported that.

A CountyCouncillor expressed his concern that the ringfenced amount had increased from £1.3 million to £1.55 million and that this was likely to increase further. It was a sensitive issue in Nascot where a lot of S106 funding had been generated but no improvements had been made. There was a risk of turning residents against what was a good scheme.

The Vice-Chair expressed the view that £1.55 million was a small amount compared to the overall cost of the Croxley Rail Link. The comparatively small amounts in question would not make a substantial difference to the success of the bid.

A Borough Councillor commented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report of the Lead Assistant District Manager

This report provides information about local works programmes that are client managed by the Herts Highways Watford area team. This includes the Discretionary budget, approved Section 106 funds for local schemes and the Super CAT2 maintenance budget. The report also has additional information items on works financed through extra DfT funding and current progress on jet patching.

The Panel received a report of the Lead Assistant District Manager which provided information about local works programmes that were client managed by the Hertfordshire Highways Watford area team, including Discretionary Budget, approved Section 106 funds for local schemes and the Super CAT2 maintenance budget.

Discretionary Programme 2011/12

Scheme 5- Francis Road and Percy Road one ways

The Chair informed the Panel that the work would allow for the creation of four extra parking bays.

In response to a question from a County Councillor, the District Manager explained that an incorrect list had been sent out to Members which included last year’s schemes.

Scheme 7- Dell Road and Elm Grove one way system

The District Manager informed the Panel that there were two main options for this scheme; widening the two roads at their junctions with Gammons Lane, and a one-way traffic management option for the two roads. Widening the road would mean reducing the footpath near a school and would be more expensive and so the traffic management option would be recommended.

The CountyCouncillor for Callowland Leggatts said he did not understand the Design Team’s reasoning and would like to meet them to discuss the scheme.

A Borough Councillor for Leggatts stated that it was crucial to consult with residents and he had found that opinion was divided at present. 

Scheme 9- North Western Avenue Vehicle Activated (VA) signs

The District Manager reported that fixed warning signs had been erected in May. There was money available from S106 monies to fund this.

A Borough Councillor referred to the speeding on North Western Avenue, it was extremely difficult for those visiting the Mosque to cross the road safely.

The District Manager responded that they were aware of the issue and although there had been accidents, there had to be a certain number before speed cameras could be considered. The current government had also said they did not want any additional cameras to be installed. It was a main corridor into Watford but it was important that speeds were reduced.

The Chair said that the VA signs were needed as soon as possible after the speed survey in September.

It was agreed that Panel Members would be sent copies of the results of the survey as soon as possible, as well as the results being sent to all Borough Members for Stanborough and Leggatts.

Scheme 14- Waterfields Recreational Ground

The District Manager reported to the Panel that Herts Highways had agreed a good price from a supplier for lighting enhancement on Waterfields Recreational Ground which had provided a saving of £2,600.

The Chair said that he was aware of the lighting issues on Reeds Walk and Bushey View where the lights were in need of upgrading. He recommended that the money saved should go towards this work.

On being put to the Committee, this was AGREED.

Scheme 15- Greenbank Road

The District Manager informed Members that it had been agreed by Chair and Vice-Chair at the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of the District Manager

This report updates members on their comments on the sites for inclusion in the preparation 2012/13 IWP programme and the Forward Works Programme up to 2015/16.

The Panel received a report of the District Manager including comments from Members. The District Manager informed the Panel that the comments would be presented at a meeting with the Integrated Works Programme team.

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

Report of the Lead Assistant District Manager

This item summarises progress on the delivery of the Integrated Works Programme and other programmed works on the highway network in and around the borough carried out by Hertfordshire County Council, Watford Borough Council and third parties.

The Panel received a report of the Lead Assistant District Manager which summarised progress on the delivery of the Integrated Works Programme.

It was noted that the contact officers shown at the end of the report needed to be updated with Justin Bloomfield replacing Linda Baker as Parking Services Manager.

ACTION: Lead Assistant District Manager

The District Manager apologised that the list was more comprehensive than it needed to be as it included last year’s schemes. The list would be reissued.  The casualty reduction schemes were all in the design process and were planned for the 2012/13 financial year.

Integrated Transport Projects- Scheme Update

The Chair drew Members’ attention to the example road sign that officers had brought to the meeting.

The Transport and Infrastructure Section Head informed the Panel that the new signs were designed to declutter the signage in the Clarendon Road area. They utilised the space below the sign to give pedestrian information.

A Borough Councillor asked how the time taken to complete journeys on foot was judged as it would vary for different people.

The Vice-Chair responded that it was based on the average person’s walking speed which was approximately two to three miles per hour.

RESOLVED –

that the new signage be approved.

Variable Message Signs

The District Manager reported that the Variable Message Signs (VMS) had been quite well used. For example during the recent Police incident in the town centre they were used to notify motorists of road closures.

In response to a question from a Member, the District Manager confirmed that the Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras would solely be used to measure journey times. If a journey had taken a particularly long time officers could look at CCTV and establish where there was a problem and inform motorists via the VMS system.

Schemes being investigated in 2011/12

The District Manager informed the Panel that the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Langley Road and Stratford Road was not likely to be viable due to a low crossing count and poor intervisibility between motorists and pedestrians.

Regarding the quality of life schemes for 20mph zones West of St Albans Road, in the Alexandra Road area and in Park Avenue, all three schemes were being progressed. The District Manager said that a 20mph zone was feasible in each area but traffic calming measures were also needed.

The Chair noted from his attendance at a recent HCC Highways and Transport Panel that in respect of a trial 20mph Zone in the Cathedral area of St Albans, officers had applied to the Department for Transport under Section 64 and 65 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for exemption from the requirement to have traffic calming measures in part of some of the roads within the trial area.  He queried if this could be used in Watford for the Alexandra Road area.

Post meeting note- the District Manager checked the particular circumstances of the St Albans trial, and the roads for which exemption from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the District Manager

This report advises the Panel of the performance of Hertfordshire Highways in the Borough of Watford.

The Panel received a report of the District Manager which advised on the performance of Hertfordshire Highways in the Borough of Watford. 

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

27 October 2011

27 October 2011