Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Elaine Bamford (CDC), Michael Brand (BCC), Justine Fulford (BCC), Peter Jones (BCC) and Merrin Molesworth (Chesham Town Council).

The Chairman thanked Cholesbury Parish Council for the welcome to Cholesbury Village Hall.

There were none.

Tim Fowler, Area Maintenance Manager North, Transport for Buckinghamshire

The Forum received the Winter Maintenance Report.

Tim Fowler (Area Maintenance Manager North, Transport for Buckinghamshire) told Members the following:

·         An extensive exercise had been carried out several years ago using a risk assessment matrix which scored roads in terms of traffic flow, gradient, collision record etc.

·         The ‘cut-off’ line for gritting was based on resources available.

·         There were 3300 km of roads in Buckinghamshire, and approximately 40% of these were salted each year on a precautionary basis (approximately 1375km).

·         Roads not falling into Priority 1 were placed in categories 2 or 3, depending on the matrix score. Roads in categories 2 or 3 were gritted only when there were prolonged periods of cold weather or snowfall.

·         A forecast was received daily from the Meteo Group, both for the next 24 hours and for the next 2-5 days.

·         There were also ten ice-monitoring sites in the County which provided real-time information.

·         Gritting was usually undertaken outside peak hours, as long as it was not urgent gritting (e.g. when rain was followed by a cold front).

·         Gritting of the 1375km of roads mentioned above was covered by 25 vehicles. The Chesham Local Area was serviced by both the Amersham Depot and the Aylesbury Depot.

·         Treatment took 2-2.5 hours per route, based on normal ice conditions.

·         There had been changes to the regulations covering drivers’ hours, and two drivers were now required for each vehicle (50 drivers were employed across the County).

·         There had been national problems with gritting in the previous Winter. The severe weather has caused massive demand and the Government had intervened regarding distribution.

·         Buckinghamshire had re-stocked its grit supplies in January 2009. However there had been no guarantee that there would be another delivery of grit, so BCC had decided to reduce the gritting of roads in Priority 1 and carry out gritting of A and B roads to ensure that they remained open.

·         National recommendations recommended increasing the amount of grit in storage, and countywide salt stock had been increased by approximately 1,500 tonnes. The total county stock level was now in excess of 10,000 tonnes.

·         ‘Safecoat’ grit had been used in recent years, which was coated in molasses. This type of grit was more effective as it did not migrate from where it was laid, thereby reducing the amount required.

·         However under the new contract with Ringway Jacobs, a decision had been taken to change to ‘Pre-wet’ grit, which mixed salt and water at the point of delivery, and again would not migrate.

Members then asked questions, which are summarised below.

What part can Local Area Forums play to influence the gritting programme?

Feed any relevant information to BCC so that this information can be used when planning for next year and years following.

Do you still provide salt bins?

Bins are no longer provided free of charge. If a bin is requested, a charge is made and the location for the bin is vetted. Once the initial fee has been paid, BCC will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Louise Whitney, Policy Officer, Transport for Buckinghamshire

Louise Whitney, Policy Officer, took Members through a presentation on the Local Transport Plan 3. 

Louise Whitney made the following points:

·         The Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) would have a long-term, broad vision. It would not include individual schemes.

·         LTP3 would be a 15 year Strategy (2011-2026) with a rolling 3-year Implementation Plan.

·         LTP3 would not be reward-funded in the same way that LTP2 had been. However it could attract regional grants.

·         Nine Local Transport Areas had been identified which were based on Local Community Area boundaries.

·         Consultation was being carried out on three areas – LTP3 Objectives, Local Issues/Problems and Options to address problems.

·         An LTP3 pack would be sent to all Parish Councils by e-mail or by hard copy if requested.

·         Feedback could also be supplied via the BCC Website (‘Have your Say’ pages).

·         Information which had previously been gathered from Parish Councils would be included in the Consultation. However if things had changed, this should be fed back.

·         A full public Consultation would take place in Summer 2010.

·         An LTP3 Workshop would be held on 19 November 2009 at Chiltern District Council, following the LSP meeting. All Members were invited to attend this.

A Member said that he was aware of proposals for speed corridors in Chesham, regarding lights at every junction, which would be inappropriate. The Member was pleased that no action had been taken on this.

Chris Schwier said that the Chesham and Amersham Transport Strategy included priorities which would remain and which would be reviewed if funding was available. Air quality was an important issue, and traffic needed to be kept moving.

A Member asked if LTP3 would include rail and bus travel. Louise Whitney said that it included all forms of transport.

A Member of Ashley Green Parish Council said that Ashley Green had only two bus routes running through it, and that one of these had been cut with only 3.5 weeks’ notice. The Member said that if delivery of a service ceased in this way, the requirements identified in the Local Transport Plan would become insignificant. Louise Whitney said that they were acutely aware that the Plan had to be realistic and deliverable. This would be ensured through the Implementation Plans.

A Member asked about the bus service through Whelpley Hill which had been cut. The current status would be checked.

Members also made the following comments:

·         Air quality was a top priority - residents in New Town were suffering from poor air quality.

·         The off-peak bus from Chesham to Watford had stopped running, which many young people had relied on to get to Watford College.

·         Chenies Village had also lost its only ‘through’ bus.

·         Transport to Stoke Mandeville Hospital was an issue.

·         Rural transport was a huge issue as 70% of Buckinghamshire was rural.

Louise Whitney said that there was an ongoing rural bus review. All the comments made by Members should be fed into LTP3. A Bus Strategy would run alongside LTP3. Provision would always depend on budgets  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Eric Meek, Area Manager South, Transport for Buckinghamshire

The Forum received the Report on Highways Issues.

Eric Meek (Area Manager South, Transport for Buckinghamshire) told Members the following:

·         Patching of roads was now very successful, and much bigger areas of road were being patched, rather than just filling in pot-holes. Up to 40% more patching had been obtained for the same cost.

·         The Service was having to look at new ways of working to meet budgets.

·         The new contract with Ringway Jacobs had brought in new ideas and technology.

·         Brand new machines had been purchased for emptying gullies, which would record the location and condition of each gully, recorded on GI systems. Changes in condition could then be identified.

·         There were over 70 000 gullies in Buckinghamshire, all of which could now be recorded.

·         The Service was moving away from area budgets, to countywide budgets, with contractors being given countywide jobs, and therefore providing better rates.

·         Total road enhancement programmes were being adopted, e.g. not just emptying the gullies, but also killing weeds, cleaning signs etc. This meant that traffic management systems only had to be used once for each road. This had been done recently in St Mary’s Road, working in partnership with the Town Council. Close work was also ongoing with District Councils.

·         In the current financial year every gully in the County would be cleared.

A Member asked what quality control was used for contractors, and said that the method for filling pot-holes sometimes seemed random. Eric Meek said that now that the client and contractor were all part of the same team, there was a lot to learn. About 50% of small jobs were checked. The aim was for 100% of work to be checked.

Long-term, a camera-operated system would be used, which would ensure quality control.

A Member said that their Parish Council had asked Transport for Buckinghamshire for a schedule of work, and had been promised this by July 2009. However it had not yet arrived. Chris Schwier said that it was taking longer than expected but should be available from April 2010. The Member asked if it would be possible to get a short-term list of work in the meantime. Eric Meek said that he would speak to the Member afterwards.

A Member said that they had eventually had speed limits put into their Parish. However the signage was taking longer. Eric Meek said that there was now a dedicated sign gang but that more traditional signs could take longer.

A Member said that there had not been a village sign for Asheridge at the North side for five years. Eric Meek said that he would follow this up.

A Member asked if there would be sub-contractors. Eric Meek said that Transport for Buckinghamshire would self-deliver as much as possible.

A Member asked about the materials used on roads. Eric Meek said that the same material was being used, but in thicker layers.

A Member of Latimer Parish Council said that they had been told that they would receive a Gang  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

2 December 2009, 7:30pm, at Chartridge Village Hall

2 December 2009, 7:30pm, at Bellingdon and Asheridge Village Hall (Transportation drop-in session from 7pm)

AOB

Kerry Stevens (Head of Service Provision, Adult Social Care and Lead Officer for the Chesham Local Area) asked members for their views on the voting structure for the Forum.

Members said the following:

·         Some Members did not envisage a vote ever taking place.

·         Collective issues should be addressed by the Forum, rather than parochial issues.

·         Each Parish/Town Council should supply only one representative, who would therefore have more ‘air time’ at the meeting.

·         A formula idea for voting was not the right way to address the issue.

·         Party politics should not be brought into the Forum. Parish Councils were apolitical.

·         Chesham Town Council should not have 5 votes (3 votes etc. could be debated, but should be avoided).

·         Parish Councils felt that the ‘goalposts had been moved,’ which had created suspicion.

Kerry Stevens thanked Members for their views.