Minutes of a meeting of the Highways and Transport committee held on Monday 19th January 2009 at 7 pm in the Corn Exchange complex, Hungerford.

Present:  Cllrs Hudson, Gaines, Desmeules, Booth, Buckwell, Cardwell, Parry and Harries, and District Councillor Holtby

1. Apologies for absence:  Liddiard (holiday), Werrell (work) & Wilson (holiday).

2. Declarations of interest:  None

3. Minutes of meeting held 17th November 2008:  Proposed as a true record by Cllr Cardwell, seconded by Cllr Harries, 1 abstention and rest in favour.

4. Christmas lights      , update & review:  Expected to be on budget, but final figures for income and expenditure will be provided at next meeting.  Action:  Cllr Desmeules.  Re Christmas card sales, £300 of the profit has gone to support the extravaganza;  remaining profit will go to the Christmas lights.

5. H & T Precept 2009/2010:  The budget of £35,000 is the same as last year.  Cllr Buckwell noticed that the greater part of H&T expenditure falls in the second half of the year – he will bring a forecast to the next meeting.  Action:  Cllr Buckwell.

Cllr Booth proposed suspension of Standing Orders, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour. Dist Cllr Holtby tabled an updated version of Cllr Hudson’s spreadsheet. 

6. Pedestrian Bridge crossing of Canal:  A meeting was held on Friday 16th January 2009 attended by Miles Roberts (WBC), Will Burnish (BWB), Dist Cllrs Holtby and Hewer, and Cllrs Harries, Liddiard and Bullock, where it emerged that a low-level bridge would be difficult to implement;  however a response from WBC and BWB is still awaited.  Cllr Hudson suggested that the Council asks Halcrow (who did a review 2 years ago) to review the options, including safety issues, and that £6,000 is put aside for this.  The study would be available by the end of February.  It was pointed out any bridge design would necessarily include safety considerations.  Discussion then took place on the merits of a further study being carried out, which at £6,000 expenditure would require 3 quotes.

Cllr Gaines proposed reinstatement of Standing Orders, seconded by Cllr Parry, all in favour.

Cllr Booth proposed that, before proceeding further, we await answers from WBC and BWB; seconded by Cllr Cardwell.  Cllr Hudson proposed an amendment – that special project monies (£6,000) be paid towards a study of the bridge by an independent engineering consultant.  This was seconded by Cllr Gaines, 2 for, 4 against.  The vote fell.

Cllr Hudson left the meeting at 7.55 pm;  Deputy Chairman Cllr Gaines took the chair.

Cllr Booth proposed again to await feedback from WBC and BWB;  seconded by Cllr Cardwell.  Cllr Buckwell proposed amendment for the setting of time scale of two months and the vote was carried unanimously.

7. Other WBC Highways Issues & Progress Programme: Cllr Cardwell reported that a governor at JoG is to go on a road safety course, after which he will write a Travel Plan.  Cllr Cardwell proposed that a sub-committee comprising Cllrs Hudson, Cardwell and Harries be set up for the John O’Gaunt Travel Plan, seconded by Cllr Harries, all in favour.

Cllr Buckwell proposed suspension of Standing Orders, seconded by Cllr Harries, all in favour, and Cllr Holtby outlined the Speed Limit Review findings. Hungerford Common 40 mph speed limit request is subject to a special dispensation by Dept of Transport.  Regarding free parking on the High Street, unfortunately the High Street is designated not as on-street parking but as a car park, so any consideration for free parking must include all the town’s car parks. 

Action:  Cllr Holtby on the following:   Cllr Cardwell asked that the parking exception be continued for parents parking in the High Street while walking children to school;  there are 6 WBC parking spaces off Station Road;  Chewing gum removal machine;  footpath to Marsh Lane – no funding allocation because there is a viable alternative;  allocation and  maintenance of dog bins. 

Salt bin provision in the town was discussed.  Action:  Cllr Cardwell to research this.  Cllr Harries proposed reinstatement of Standing Orders, seconded by Cllr Buckwell, all in favour.  Cllr Desmeules and Dist Cllr Holtby left the meeting at 8.35 pm.

8. Public toilets      -     Update & Sign for Charnham Street toilet:  The sign is difficult to see.  Action:  Clerk to chase WBC.

9. Public seats        -     Cllr Gaines to report on benches:    Dan is keeping the maintenance of benches up to date.  Cllr Buckwell said that Hampstead Marshall PCC would like to purchase a spare bench if Hungerford Town Council has one available.

                                 -     Benches for Library garden:  Two benches from Hungerford Town Council lock-up have now been installed in the Library garden.  Cllr Gaines pointed out that 2010+ had approached Council for £500 but we agreed to give them benches instead.  The state of the benches will be checked in 12 months time, and Cllr Cardwell proposed that if the two benches do not prove to be strong enough, then the issue will be revisited, seconded by Cllr Harries, all in favour.

10. Parish Bids for Highways & Transport Capital Programme:  already covered.

11. Byelaws consultation  -   Committee to consider:  nothing to add.

12. Risk Assessments:  Cllr Harries reiterated that high visibility jackets must be worn on site.

The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.