Meeting documents

Claire Hudson, Definitive Map Team

Jonathan Clark, Strategic Access Advisor

Joanna Taylor, Operations Team Leader

Phil Turner, Rights of Way Officer took Members through the Definitive Map update which detailed matters determined by the Rights of Way Committee.

No questions were asked.

Joanne Taylor, Operations Team Leader took Members through the Rights of Way Operations update, during which the following key points were highlighted.

·           A new Assistant Rights of Way Officer was appointed and started the post in May 2015.  A new Area Rights of Way Officer is due to start in August 2015.

·           133km of clearance was carried out between April to March 2015.  A further 80km of clearance was carried out by parish councils under the devolvement scheme.

·           There has been a drop in numbers compared to the previous year which is due to resource issues.  Budgetary cuts are reflected in the figures for path and surface problems and access work.

·           Additional revenue money has been secured for the post of a Rights of Way Bridge Inspection Officer. Over the next 4 years, every known bridge structure on the network in Buckinghamshire will be inspected, recorded and assessed for condition.

·           The number of parishes involved in surface clearance as part of the devolved services has increased from approximately 20 to around 55.

·           290km of surface path clearance has taken place this year.

During the update, the following questions were asked.

In terms of the 600 structures per annum to be inspected, does this figure include those bridges inspected by Network Rail and could BCC and Network Rail work jointly in the inspections? This figure could include some bridges that BCC are responsible for.  Information required for an insurance claim might mean that an inspection needs to be carried out twice.

Is carrying out an inspection of bridges a new process? Bridge inspections were identified under the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.  Carrying out the inspections has now become critical.

Could the point be reached where a report identifies multiple bridge repairs are required and there are no funds to carry out the repair? A pot of money has been identified to carry out 600 inspections annually.  If the structure poses a danger to members of the public, the possibility of closing it would have to be looked at. 

If a bridge, structure or footpath is unsuitable in terms of safety, does the County Council have a statutory duty to close/suspend use? There is the issue of liability if a bridge or structure isn’t closed and there is an accident. The bridge/structure could be closed until a funding source is identified and a programme of repairs in put in place.

How many repairs were carried out last year? About 8/9 bridges were repaired last year.  The project has not started as the Bridge Inspection Officer is not currently in post.  We will have a better idea of the project once the inspections have started.

Surface repairs are needed on some of the bridleways as gullies are appearing. There is not an identified budget to carry out these repairs. The possibility of sourcing single bids for capital money is being looked into.