Agenda item

To be presented by Helen Francis, Interim Definitive Map and Highways Searches Team Leader; Jonathan Clark, Strategic Access Officer; and Joanne Taylor, Rights of Way Operations Team Leader

Mr Clark presented the Rights of Way Group Report, to summarise progress on the Gardenway. A final report, expected in December 2021, would give a design specification and detail of the route. The team were beginning to parcel up the routes around Aylesbury and had put in funding bids to deliver a new bridleway. It was expected to be completed in 2030.

A planning application had been submitted to the Aylesbury Area Planning Team for the Quarrendon Path through Berryfields and Buckingham Park. Mr Clark informed the Forum that the application was live and available for comments. The Buckinghamshire Local Access Forum would be consulted on the High Wycombe Cycling, Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Ms Taylor updated members on the Rights of Way (RoW) operations over the previous six months. The team was comprised of one RoW Team Leader, two RoW Officers, 1.6 Assistant RoW Officers, and 1.5 Bridge Structure Inspectors.

The BVPI Condition Survey was carried out largely using volunteer effort during February / March 2021. The results were that 75% of paths were easy to use. The RoW Team were looking to carry out the 5% survey later in the year, due to the additional workload from COVID restrictions. Ms Taylor explained the importance of the condition survey, as it provides a benchmark on the state of the network against previous years. Ms Taylor invited members to give feedback on the survey.

The Forum were informed of the ongoing capital projects. Ms Taylor highlighted the work regarding bridge improvements and surface work that had been completed. This included Fawley Bridge and Ms Taylor explained that the team were still in negotiation of the replacement of the bridge structure and the annual clearance.

The summer clearance had been completed, using two additional clearance crews for twelve weeks. Autumn clearance of bramble and side growth would be completed. Several projects would run through the winter, as it cannot be achieved in summer due to the nesting season.

In reference to Appendix 5 on the Rights of Way Group Report item, Ms Taylor welcomed comments from members and explained that it showed an average for April to October in comparison to previous years. The results for the last financial year were quite low, due to the limited work that could be achieved during COVID lockdowns.

Ms Taylor gave feedback on the priority matrix, on how issues were categorised into priority A, B, C, and D to work out a target time. Figures were also provided for the beginning of the 2021 Condition Survey. Ms Taylor welcomed comments on whether they should continue the Condition Survey or postpone the survey for a year. The reasoning provided was that the team had a large backlog of issues, as a result of increasing usage on the network over the pervious two years. More individuals were reporting issues, as people were using the network for recreation during lockdown.

In the discussion that followed, the following points were raised:

·         Ms Taylor explained that the workload was due to it being easier for people to report issues through the reporting website. Moreover, volunteers were unable to work due to restrictions. Staff were also redeployed to community work to cover the pandemic and there were restrictions on site visits. In combination, this had resulted in a backlog.

·         Feedback from members regarding the Condition Survey was that it should continue, without the year break. This would avoid issues mounting up and the importance of knowing the state of the network was emphasised.

·         Concerns were raised over the RoW Team being under resourced. Cllr Peter Martin said he would speak to Cllr Steve Broadbent on this concern.

·         The target times of resolving issues were published online, on the same pages as the Report It page. This allows individuals to see how their issue is prioritised.

·         There was a set of core issues that may be difficult to resolve due to an enforcement issues, for example. The effort to resolve them might be quite intensive so one solution was to put a notice or informative on the land charge layer. Therefore, if the property is sold, it notifies the potential purchaser that there is a defect on the land. This had resulted in a history of problems left unresolved, but they would be monitored and reviewed.

·         Parish surveys were useful in enabling volunteers to go out in the field and check to see what is outstanding in their parish against the database. This aids in clearing out old data.