Agenda item

This report summarises progress with the Local Committee’s programme of

Highways works for the current Financial Year 2016-17.

Committee is asked to approve the strategy for allocation of budgets for next

Financial Year.

That the Local Committee [Epsom & Ewell] agreed to

(i) Defer construction of the Stoneleigh Park Road to Bradford Drive Cycle Link, and the Scotts Farm Road Cycle Link, to 2017-18;

(ii) Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s), to prioritise schemes as necessary to ensure the remainder of this Financial Year’s budgets are fully invested in the road network in Epsom and Ewell;

(iii) Note that 5 year programmes for structures and drainage are being developed and that members are invited to make suggestions of priority works for these programmes to the relevant officers by 30^th September 2016;

(iv) Approve the strategy for allocation of next Financial Year’s budgets as detailed in Table 4;

(v) Ask officers to seek an extension from the developer to the time limit on the use of the s106 funding and to set up a Task Group comprising two Borough and two County councillors to discuss the options for the use of the funding, within the agreed purpose, and make recommendations to the Committee. Membership to be agreed after the meeting and notified to the Community Partnership & Committee Officer;

(vi) Approve a new Bus Stop Clearway in Church Street, Epsom, as detailed in Annex G;

(vii) Approve a new Bus Stand Clearway in Station Approach, Epsom, as detailed in Annex H;

(viii) Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.

Reasons: The recommendations are intended to facilitate delivery of the 2016-17 Highways programmes funded by the Local Committee and to facilitate development of Committee’s 2017-18 Highways programmes, while at the same time ensuring that the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Members are fully and appropriately involved in any detailed considerations.

Specific recommendations are made to ensure developer monies arising out of the Espom Station development are invested according to the terms of the s106 agreement, and to facilitate the implementation of Clearways to prevent obstruction to the operation of local bus services.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Nick Healey, Area Highways Team Manager; Alan Flaherty, Engineer

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: CllrDallen queried whether it would be appropriate to change the previous decision of the Committee regarding the cycle scheme in Waterloo Road before the completion on the Plan E work. He requested that a Task Group should be set up to look at the options available.

There was no indication of any further public questions or statements so the Committee moved to debate the options outlined in the officer report.

Member Discussion – key points

Members asked whether if the Committee agreed to defer the proposed schemes they would be included in the programme of work for next year. The Area Highways Team Manager responded that this would be a decision for the Local Committee when they consider the priorities for future years, within the budget available.

Members were informed of the work of the highways works communication team, who are working to improve communications on highway work both with members and local residents/businesses. The Area Highways Team Manager agreed to find out whether Borough members could also be informed if works are delayed.

Noted that the final phase 9 parking proposals have now been agreed and details will be published shortly on the SCC website. It is hoped that the signs and lines will be in place by the end of October.

Mrs Mason asked whether the community enhancement budget could be spent on cleaning illuminated bollards which are becoming increasingly dirty. The Chairman responded that £5,000 is available for each division and that Mrs Mason could ask for bollards to be cleaned in her area if this is a high priority for her.

In relation to paragraph 2.35 and the s106 agreement for funding of “cycle, pedestrian and public transport facilities in Waterloo Road” members asked whether the developer could be asked to extend the deadline for the return of this funding to allow the final decision to be made once the Plan E work is completed. Members felt that nothing had changed since the last discussion and alternative options should be considered. The Area Highways Manger reported that the traffic modelling work for Plan E has now been completed so that a reduction in traffic congestion at the Spread Eagle can be demonstrated. Members acknowledged that the current informal double queuing in Waterloo Road can make it difficult and dangerous for cyclists

Resolved: to