South Parking SESC6 27 February 2012

MINUTES

of the

SOUTH ESSEX PARKING PARTNERSHIP SUB- COMMITTEE (SIGNS AND LINES BACKLOG)

27 February 2012

Present:

Councillor Alan Cheshire District Council (Chairman) Councillor Keith Parker Brentwood Borough Council

In attendance:

Nick Binder Borough Council Brian Boyce Borough Council Trudie Bragg Borough Council Richard Heard Maldon District Council James Hendry Basildon Borough Council Derek Latimer Chelmsford Borough Council Averil Price Chelmsford Borough Council Liz Saville Essex County Council Shaun Scrutton District Council Carol Tomlin Brentwood Borough Council

1. Welcome

Councillor Cheshire as Chairman welcomed all those present to the Sub-Committee meeting.

2 Apologies and Substitutions

Councillor Peter Burch had sent his apologies.

Ashley Culverwell (Brentwood Borough Council), Gary Edwards (Basildon Borough Council) and Richard Holmes had sent their apologies and Carol Tomlin, Brian Boyce and Richard Heard respectively were substituting for them.

3. Update on Signs and Lines Backlog Work Already Agreed

Nick Binder began his oral update on the signs and lines backlog work by explaining that the list of works (Batches 1 and 2) which he circulated at this meeting were those agreed at the last two meetings of the Sub-Committee. Chelmsford Borough Council staff had been looking at the signs and lines in that Borough and with regard to the other Council areas; that work had been or was being carried out by Essex County Council. He was not able to provide the overall position as information that was needed from Essex County Council had not yet been provided. Liz Saville had certain information with her and she undertook by 2 March 2012 to provide the information in a form that could be cross referenced.

South Essex Parking SESC7 27 February 2012

Councillor Parker asked whether the earlier works had been fully costed and Averil Price confirmed that some had been individually costed and others had only been costed in batches. Councillor Parker then expressed his concern that if the estimates by Essex County Council of the work were not detailed, it would have implications as to whether a scheme would appear feasible. Averil Price explained that from now onwards the estimates were being done by Parking Partnership staff. Liz Saville confirmed that Essex County Council’s contractors would complete schemes they were currently committed to undertaking but no schemes would commence after April 2012.

The Chairman asked for clarification of the uncompleted works in Batch 2. Averil Price understood that they were schemes that had not yet been commenced and Nick Binder confirmed that all schemes that remained incomplete by April 2012 would be assumed by the Partnership.

The Chairman requested that all members of the Partnership receive as soon as possible revised lists of the works already agreed and what was likely to be completed by the end of March 2012 and this was agreed.

4. Consideration of Funding for Further Backlog Work

Nick Binder circulated a list of the schemes that been identified by the Civil Enforcement Officers in each District or Borough area and also in the areas where the backlog surveys had taken place. These schemes related to locations where enforcement was not possible because of discrepancies between traffic orders and the situation with signs and lines on the ground. Averil Price confirmed that what was not spent out of the 2011/2012 budget of £250,000 for the backlog and £150,000 for maintenance would be rolled forward into the 2012/2013 financial year.

There was general agreement that the allocation of the funding of further work on the backlog needed to be based on completed survey work and each Council needed to assist with the prioritisation of works in its local area. No further funding would be allocated to schemes until this work was complete.

5 Discussion of Prioritisation of Surveys Undertaken

Arising from the discussions under Minute 4 above it was noted that prioritising the work required in Basildon, Chelmsford and Maldon could start immediately. For the other three Council areas, prioritisation could take place as soon as the survey work was completed. Liz Saville reported that the other three surveys would be completed by the end of this financial year. Meetings will be set up with the lead officers and Councillor representatives to discuss the surveys and produce a prioritised list for each locality. Shaun Scrutton commented that individual Council’s priorities needed to be viewed in the light of overall South Essex Parking Partnership priorities and it was agreed that the Sub-Committee would undertake this role.

6. Update on Outstanding Requests for new Schemes across the South Essex Parking Partnership Joint Committee Area

Averil Price stated that work was also ongoing to identify all outstanding requests for new schemes. The list was already in place for the Chelmsford Borough and Liz Saville explained that Essex County Council would compile a list for the other five areas based on what the Boroughs and Districts had requested and on those requests that came into Essex County Council via its Customer Liaison Team. It was agreed that the Partnership should await the receipt of such a list and then the Sub Committee could consider the best way

South Essex Parking SESC8 27 February 2012

forward to deal with these requests.

It was reiterated that there was no funding allocated for new schemes. Averil Price reported that at a recent meeting between Essex County Council and the Chairmen of the South and North Essex Parking Partnership Joint Committees, the issue of how local Highway Panels might be involved in the funding new schemes had arisen. The likelihood would be that if schemes met the Essex County Council’s criteria the County Council would fund them and if not they would be consider by the Parking Partnerships. If they did not meet the Partnership’s criteria and priorities either, but the relevant District or Borough still felt the scheme should be implemented the Council could seek funding from the Local Highways Panel. The Chairman reported that after discussion with County Councillor Martin it was understood that the Locality Boards will deal with some highways matters. Liz Saville commented that it would be the responsibility of the Highways Panel to allocate any funding.

The Chairman asked for clarification of the relationship of Councils to the Partnership about the generation of schemes. Averil Price advised the Sub-Committee that the existing arrangements whereby Councils liaised with Essex County Council would remain in being until 1 April 2012 but that thereafter, Councils would be liaising with the Partnership staff at Chelmsford Borough Council.

The meeting closed at 2:50 p.m.

Chairman