Minutes of the Highways and Transport committee meeting held on Monday 19^th March 2007

in the Corn Exchange complex, Hungerford.

Present:  R. Hudson (Chairman), P. Harries (Deputy Chairman), G. Bullock, R. Ballard, E. Cardwell, D. Liddiard, M. Wilson,  R. Desmeules (7.50pm)

Minutes taken by Cllr Cardwell in the Clerk’s absence

1)             Apologies for absence

Apologies were received on behalf of R. Desmeules (who hoped to arrived later and did so at 7.50)

                2)             Declaration of Interests

R. Hudson of item 13 Kintbury Health Hydro (book not available)

                3)             Minutes of 19^th February 2007

07/H0012              GB Proposed, DL seconded.   All voted (6) in favour  (2) abstention (as not attended).

                4)             Christmas Lights (this item deferred to end of meeting after RD arrived)

Concern about lights still on in Church Street trees.  R Ballard reported 4 times and clerk had contacted SEB and West Berks library development.  RB reported that it was not AM electrics responsibility. SEB power payment outstanding. 

RD presented and circulated a detailed costing and income of the Christmas lights.  He reported that there was some money remaining from our budget and while still awaiting some funds from shop keepers he still had over £600 credit and he requested that this be used for next year.

07/H0013              DL proposed and CT seconded that up to £600 be used for Christmas lighting.  All were in favour (9)

ACTION RD

RH requested that LED be used to be environmentally friendly.  RD explained that some residents had objected as they were so bright.  RD likely to request a credit from the company currently used, i.e. so we choose the lights later nearer to Christmas.  RB suggested that a case to purchase now in low season, but RD said it was a difficult trade off as lighting costs are coming down.

                5)             Canal Pedestrian Bridge

Agreed that RH would request that it be put on the next Downlands Area Agenda.  (If April was not now possible the June would be OK as a new Council)                                                                                               ACTION RH

6)             Vehicle Actuated Sign:  Parish Grant Update and Funding.

RH reported good news. The Parish Plan Grant of £4250 has been granted to 2010+.   We had also received information from West Berks Road Safety, Andy Garrett that the cost of the sign was expected to be less than the £5000 at £3750.  RH said that Road safety had been informed that we had funding and that it was booked into the system.

RB asked about any maintenance liability that we may incur.  RH said that it was the Highway Authority, West Berks to maintain.

                7)             Street Lights

                                It was noted that the light was now supplied by Memorial Ground.

8)             Street Cleaning/Footpaths

There was a discussion about the 25/3/07 litter pick day.  Key decisions were as follows:

· Meet at 10am outside the town hall;

· E Cardwell had arranged and would collect the litter grabbers and bags from West Berks (Faraday Rd);                                                                                                                                           ACTION EC

· G Bullock to return the litter grabbers and bags to West Berks;                                 ACTION GB

· West Berks to be informed that litter bags to be collected from Church Street car park Monday / Tuesday AM;                                                                                                                                                ACTION EC

· Key areas to pick litter were the railway cutting, station car park, Skate park, the Priory and top of Priory Rd by JOG,                                                                                                        ACTION All

· E.C. had met with youth Council who would also come along and they were keen to do skate park area;

· To ask friends to come along;                                                                                           ACTION All

· To mention at town meeting.                                                                                             ACTION RH

-  2  -

                9)             Public Seats

E.C. to forward recycle seat brochure to RH.                                                                                  ACTION EC

                                DL reported that his wife and sister in law had purchased a seat to be installed by the canal to include a plaque.

Maurice Barletta report found on condition of each seat in town.  GB suggested that this should be copied to Cllrs.  RH suggested that with the new Council we need to appoint a Cllr responsible to oversee the benches.

                10)           Public Conveniences

Temporary PCs lowered thanks to PH, RB and Lorraine.  No further complaints received

                                Bill of £2100 still withheld as 2 weeks charged when the toilets were closed (1/8^th to deleted)

                11)           Hungerford in Bloom

M Wilson & R. Desmeules to discuss criteria for competitions.  Agreed to progress with:

· High Street door knocker competitions;

· gardens competition;

· hanging baskets outside pubs competition.

Key actions for these to progress are:

· Application forms to be prepared;                                                                                    ACTION MW/RD

· judges to be arranged;                                                                                                        ACTION MW/RD

· Prizes to sort out, but would use low cost items from existing wine stocks (held by RD), certificates (to be produced  by G Bullock and copied  by D Liddiard)  and garden furniture in Council store;

ACTION GB/DL

· To publicise in Open Door, public meeting;                                                                    ACTION MW/RD

· To add some items to HADCAF prog and MW to contact E. Davis on this matter. ACTION MW

12)           Cycle Parking

RH explained that W Berks had written to say that they will place a pair of stands on the High Street outside Herberts, near rail bridge, which was good news.  But declined outside Westminster bank.  The HTC letter of July 2006 identified another location outside Wine Rack next to the Pay and Display ticket machine.  Agreed that RH to write (by email) requesting that this location also be looked.  RB pointed out that lack of cycle parking as while the new library is being built the cycle spaces outside the library are not available and to add this issue to the email.                                                                                                                                        ACTION RH

                14)           Kintbury Health Hydro Redevelopment:  HGV Routing

G Bullock had spoken to the Kintbury clerk about the matter and that she visits the site most weeks.  She said that ground clearance to start soon as Portaloos are in place.                          

15)           HTC Response to Hungerford Area-Wide Traffic Regulation Order

R.H. reported on key issues still over restriction in Croft area and effects on Bridge Street businesses.  Terry Richards of WBC said that he would look to add parking in the Croft and notably under the bridges.  Also to add spaces on Bridge Street out side the Methodist Church.  RD raised the issue of lack of parking outside the pet shop on Bridge Street and that the shop is likely to be objecting.

CT asked about when starting the works.  RH said that May or June, but depended on time of dealing with objections.

CT questioned enforcement controls with traffic warden not replaced.  PCSO to take over, but not yet in place.  The Croft area occupants are introducing more parking restrictions.  Issue likely to be raised at next NAG.

                16)           Risk Assessments

Nothing to update at present.

Meeting closed at 8.20pm.

Signed…………………………..R H C Hudson…………

Chairman, Highways and Transport

17^th April 2007