There were no apologies for absence.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2011 to be submitted for signature. All minutes are available on the Council’s website.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2011 were submitted and signed.

There were no matters arising.

Report of the District Manager

This report advises on the current status of petitions, advises members of any objections to traffic regulation orders and informs the panel of other local issues of importance.

The Panel received a report of the District Manager setting out the current status of petitions, information on any objections to Traffic Regulation Orders and other local issues.

Petition – First Avenue and Fourth Avenue

The Chair, County Councillor Giles-Medhurst, invited Borough Councillor J Brown to present a petition she had received from local residents.

Borough Councillor Brown explained that the petition related to First Avenue and Fourth Avenue.  Fourth Avenue was scheduled to be resurfaced in 2013/14 even though there were no potholes.  First Avenue had more reported potholes but was not due to be resurfaced until 2017.  The 21 signatories asked that the programme was altered and that First Avenue was resurfaced at the earlier date and Fourth Avenue later.

County Councillor Oaten advised that she supported the petition.  First Avenue was a main thoroughfare compared to the other road, as it was a direct to a school.

Borough Councillor Johnson said that he agreed with the petition but the residents in Fourth Avenue should be consulted about the alteration to the programme.

Borough Councillor Brown replied that she had spoken to residents in Fourth Avenue and they were in agreement with the change.  They acknowledged the state of the road in First Avenue.

The Chair asked that the Joint Member Panel noted the petition and that it was forwarded to the relevant officer who managed the Integrated Works Programme.

RESOLVED –

that the petition be noted and forwarded to officers for action.

Petitions Received – St James Road

County Councillor Bell thanked officers for the update regarding the petition for the introduction of a one-way route in St James Road.

The District Manager advised that officers were waiting for the results of the survey, which would be provided to the County Councillor.  A report would be presented to the next Joint Member Panel for further discussion and consideration of any proposals.

Borough Councillor Dhindsa stated that he had witnessed arguments between drivers when they had met in the road and were unable to pass each other.

RESOLVED –

that the position of the St James Road petition be noted.                      

Objections to Traffic Regulation Orders

The Joint Member Panel was informed that at the previous meeting Members had agreed to support officers’ recommendation to overrule the two objections to the Traffic Regulation Order for the prohibition of driving and cycling in The Parade when ‘specialist’ markets were held in that area.  The Traffic Regulation Order had been completed and was ready for sealing.  Members would be informed when it came into effect.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

Local issues- Woodmere Avenue width restriction scheme

The Joint Member Panel noted that there had been fewer complaints about the Woodmere Avenue width restriction.

Borough Councillor Rackett asked whether the residents in Woodmere Avenue were happy with the situation.

County Councillor Oaten advised that she had not received any comments from residents for some time.

The Chair suggested that the situation should be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Report of the Network Manager

This item includes a briefing note concerning National Grid Gas and a report concerning Taxis in Bus Lanes.

Proposed National Grid Gas (NGG) Works in Watford – 2012/13

The Joint Member Panel was informed that there would be a presentation on 6 February when NGG would present the outline programme and traffic management proposals for the schemes.

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

Use of Watford’s Bus Lanes by Hackney Carriages

The Chair advised that many of the Transport Panel Members had not been aware that taxis were unable to use bus lanes.  He suggested that option 5.1 ii should be the preferred choice but sought Members’ views.

Borough Councillor J Brown thanked the Chair for ensuring this was reported to the Joint Member Panel.  She had been trying for two years for people to consider this matter.  Hackney carriages needed to be able to use bus lanes, particularly in Station Road.

County Councillor Brandon said that his concern with taxis using the bus lane in Station Road was the amount of space between the traffic lights.  Generally there was the maximum space for two buses.  He asked whether an increase in the space could be considered.

Borough Councillor Dhindsa agreed with Borough Councillor Brown’s comments.  He advised that drivers had approached him asking why they were unable to use bus lanes.  This might encourage people to use taxis more.  He welcomed the proposal to change the access arrangements at the Lower High Street.  Hackney carriages near the Harlequin would be able to access it from the Lower High Street.

County Councillor Bell commented that when this suggestion had been raised on a previous occasion, a senior officer had advised that there were major legal problems.  He was pleased that it appeared the situation had changed.

The Vice-Chair, Borough Councillor Wylie, stated that he had raised this matter when he had been Portfolio Holder responsible for Transport.  The Passenger Transport Unit had refused the request and that the preference was for people to use buses.  Taxis were a good alternative form of transport.  He hoped that the proposal was agreed by the County’s Panel.

Borough Councillor Dhindsa asked how the bus lanes would be monitored, as not all taxis were black and white.  He asked whether permission would be given to allow private hire vehicles to use the bus lanes; they carried out the same role as hackney carriages.

The Chair replied that the report clearly specified that this would apply to hackney carriages.

The District Manager added that it was important to take one step at a time.  The request had been for hackney carriages to be able to use bus lanes.

The Chair agreed that this was the approach that should be taken.  He said that having heard the discussion it appeared that all Members were in favour of the second option.  Both he and County Councillor Bell were members of the Transport Panel and they would ensure that the Joint Member Panel’s opinion would be heard.  He acknowledged the Member’s comments about enforcement. 

The Vice-Chair advised that enforcement was generally carried out by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

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 lists new contributions received by HCC to allow Members to suggest possible uses.

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

The Chair referred to paragraph 2.3 of the officer’s report.  He said that it appeared that the £250,000 released from the Croxley Rail Link funding had been fully allocated to schemes.

The Area Highway Development Control Manager informed the Panel that Appendix A explained the approved requests to use S106 monies in 2011/12. 

The Area Highway Development Control Manager reminded the Panel that the Croxley Rail Link had received government funding approval in December.  It was now necessary to ensure there was available funding for the required value for the scheme and that it was set aside.  It was possible that other development sites may come forward nearer the scheme in the future.  This could release some of the funding currently reserved for it which would make it available for other local schemes.

The Area Highway Development Control Manager reminded the Panel that £250,000 had been released from the ring-fenced funding in July 2011 and it was available for local schemes.  At the last officer meeting, officers had identified schemes which had support from the Panel and were deliverable in the required timescale.  The proposals were set out in Appendix B to the report.  This appendix also included details of new S106 obligations which had been ring-fenced for the Croxley Rail Link.

The Area Highway Development Control Manager added that Appendix C set out the current S106 contributions and the possible schemes that might be supported.  The final part of the report set out the contributions which had been received from developers since the last meeting.

The Chair noted that the funding from two large developments in Leggatts and Nascot had been allocated to the Croxley Rail Link.  In his opinion this did not provide for any funding to mitigate traffic issues in the local area arising from those developments.  It appeared that there had been no consultation with Members to discuss where the £250,000 released funding should be allocated.  He referred to the proposal to use £68,000 for Clarendon Road pedestrian improvements in 2013/14.  Previously this was due to be paid for from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) budget.

The Area Highway Development Control Manager replied that it would be necessary to speak to the relevant officer regarding that particular scheme.  LSTF was still at bid stage and was therefore not guaranteed.

The Chair said that the Area Highway Development Control Manager was responsible for the S106 budget.  The Clarendon Road scheme did not need to use the S106 funds.  This allocation should have been kept aside for schemes in Leggatts and Nascot.

The Chair added that the £250,000 would not have been available as it had been set aside for the Croxley Rail Link.  Two of the schemes had been suggested by the Joint Member Panel; however, the first four schemes were new.

County  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

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 provides an update on the local schemes as part of the forthcoming Highway Locality Budget for the 2012/13 year.

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

The Lead Assistant District Manager reported that it had not been possible to carry out a deep clean in Cardiff Road.  Officers had tried to carry out the works on two occasions but lorries constantly used the road.  He updated Members on the schemes which still needed completion.

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

SuperCAT2 Works

The Lead Assistant District Manager reported that the majority of the schemes had been completed.  Following a question from the Chair he advised that the works to resurface the roads would be carried out in March as officers were waiting for improved weather.

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

Highways Locality Budget Phase 1 Schemes 2012/13

The Lead Assistant District Manager reported that officers had received some costings and had spoken to the individual County Councillors.

Highway Locality Budget 2012/13 – Cross Watford Issues

The Lead Assistant District Manager informed the Joint Member Panel that he would arrange meetings with each of the County Councillors to create a batch of lining work in their areas.

The Chair explained that this only related to non-statutory road markings as statutory markings would continue to be refreshed by the County Council.  He asked that Members were provided with the definitions for statutory and non-statutory road markings.

With regard to Probationers, the Lead Assistant District Manager advised that they were used to carry out certain work.  The Borough Council match-funded the amount provided by the County Council.  It was recommended that each County Councillor should set aside £1,666 for this work.  The work undertaken included painting subways and cutting hedges and growth at the base of trees.  If Members agreed to the amount it would be transferred to the Borough Council who held the budget.

County Councillor Scudder said that it was important that the work was spread evenly across the area.  He felt that this scheme was good value for money.

RESOLVED –

1.         that officers’ request for batch lining be noted.

2.         that £1,666 be set aside from each County Councillors’ Highways Locality Budget for funding the works carried out by Probationers.

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 and other programmed works on the highways network in Watford.

Active Works List

County Councillor Brandon asked why it was proposed that there would be a lane closure at the junction of St Albans Road and Bushey Mill Lane for four or five days.

The District Manager replied that in many cases the closure would not be required for the full period.

The Lead Assistant District Manager added that if the contractor did not met their deadline they would be fined for going beyond the end date.

The Vice-Chair suggested that the lane closure might be due to the need to divert pedestrians on to the road.  It would be necessary to look at the plans for the scheme.

The Chair asked officers to confirm which part of North Western Avenue was due to be resurfaced.  Where long roads were referred to it was not clear which sections were affected.

The Lead Assistant District Manager responded that this scheme referred to the section of road adjacent to the printers.  The plan would be to do the anti-skid surface at the same time.

Following County Councillor Bell’s question about the casualty reduction proposals for Wiggenhall Road, the Chair said that he understood the work to have been completed.  He asked officers to inform him and County Councillor Bell of the works referred to by this scheme.

Following a further question from County Councillor Bell, the District Manager explained that the Whippendell Road and Hagden Lane signal refurbishment scheme would be carried out in the current year, but he could not give a precise date.

Integrated Transport Schemes

The District Manager advised that he would check whether all the Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras were operational. 

County Councillor Brandon referred to the proposed 20 mph scheme for roads west of St Albans Road, including Victoria Road, Regent Street, Cecil Street and Judge Street. 

The District Manager replied that these schemes had been brought forward as part of the locality budget.  The locality budget would be used to fund the feasibility works and surveys.  Once this work had been carried out a decision would be made on how to progress them further.

County Councillor Brandon commented that he had understood the schemes to have been funded.  Officers had suggested the inclusion of roads west of Leavesden Road.

County Councillor Bell stated that he supported the 20 mph scheme for Park Avenue.

Borough Councillor Dhindsa added that the scheme had been discussed at a local residents’ association meeting.  Currently this was the only street not in the local 20 mph zone.  At this point Borough Councillor Dhindsa stated that he should probably have declared an interest as he was a resident of Park Avenue.  He asked whether residents would be consulted about the proposal.

The District Manager replied that a full consultation would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

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. 

The Vice-Chair noted that there had been a significant increase in footway trip repairs in comparison to previous months.  In addition there had been a significant reduction in the number of street light repairs.

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

22 March 2012

22 March 2012