Agenda item

To inform the Local Committee on the outcome of the 2019/20 Integrated Transport Scheme (ITS) and highway maintenance programmes in Reigate and Banstead and the amendments to the 2020/21 Local Committee capital budget.

This report also sets out the progress of highway works carried out by Surrey County Council which were not funded by the Local Committee and were not progressed by the Local Area Team, but other teams within the council.

The Local Committee (Reigate & Banstead) agreed:

i) To note the contents of this report.

ii) To note the increased capital budget for 2020/21, following the full council meeting held in December 2019, from £211,111 which was reported at the December Local Committee to £334,000.

iii) That the capital improvement schemes allocation for Reigate and Banstead in 2020/21 be used to progress the Integrated Transport Schemes programme as set out in Annex 4.

iv) To note the increased capital maintenance budget for 2020/21 from £174,000 to £295,000, following the full council meeting held in December 2019. Which will be used to fund capital maintenance schemes, divided equitably between divisional members. Schemes to be progressed using this funding will be agreed by the Reigate & Banstead Maintenance Engineer in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and divisional members.

Reason for decisions:

The above decisions were made to update the Local Committee on the outcome of the 2019/20 highway works programme in Reigate and Banstead, and amendments to the 2020/21 Local Committee capital budget.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers Attending: Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager (AHM), SCC

Petitions, Public Questions and Statements: None

The AHM introduced the report thanking members for the co-operation to help get schemes progressed and work done. She added the details of all the work done and scheduled was detailed in the annexes to the report.

She also highlighted the good news about additional funding that was detailed within the report. She thanked those members who had agreed to pool £6000 of their £7500 Member Highways Fund to help fund a Revenue Maintenance Gang as they had done in the previous financial year.

Key points from the discussion:

· Members questioned the information relating to drainage a gully cleaning. The report stated the information in relation to Mole Valley. The AHM apologised for the typo and confirmed that it should in fact read Reigate & Banstead.

· There was confusion over the various budgets and the changes that had been detailed. There was concern the figures in the report didn’t add up. The AHM advised she would email members separately to explain the various budgets as it would be the most straight forward approach.

· A specific query was raised by the divisional member about Parkhurst Road, Horley and the dreadful state that it was currently in. The forward programme seemed to suggest that more patching work would be taking place when it was felt that a full resurface was needed. The AHM said she would seek clarification on exactly what work was being done and report back. She added that version 1 of 2020-21 Horizons programme was available to view online and members could nominate roads to have work done through this programme.

· A question was asked about Masons Bridge Road and the work that was being done to improve safety here. It was suggested that the single post with a flashing Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) would be insufficient at managing speeds and stopping accidents. The AHM confirmed there were limited options available on this road due to space and accessibility and this was deemed as the best option.

· A concern was raised over the proposed location of a build out in Banstead village. The divisional member raised concerns that the location would lead to confusion and further congestion. The AHM confirmed she would pass this to the Road Safety Team who were responsible for the scheme and ask them to contact the member directly.

· A question was asked about the replacement of old and unusable street furniture and the plans that were in place to replace these. The AHM confirmed the good news that there was additional capital funding for both illuminated and non-illuminated signs to be installed along the A217. She added she would be in contact with the divisional member outside the meeting to discuss.

· It was requested that the statutory 20mph sign on the entrance to Earlswood be replaced as a matter of urgency as there currently was no warning to motorists they were entering the zone. The AHM noted this and stated she would chase this up as a priority.

· A query was raised about the Watercolours Estate and whether it could be possible, funding permitting to bring the work proposed for 2021-22 on reducing the speed limit forward to 2020-21. It was confirmed if there was any underspend for 2020-21 then it would be for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to have discussions about how this funding should be allocated.

· Several members raised concerns over the wild flower scheme on A217 and the lack of planting that seemed to have taken place in some areas. It was confirmed that a trial was currently in place to see how it worked. This included seeing how the flowers took, the public perception of the wild flowers and any changes that would be required to the cutting regime.

Resolution: