HUNGERFORD TOWN COUNCIL

The Mayor                                                                                                               The Town Clerk

Mrs Elizabeth Cardwell                                                                                                   Jennie Collins

20 Cherry Grove                                                                                                              The Library

Hungerford                                                                                                                   Church Street

Berkshire                                                                                                                         Hungerford

RG17 0HP                                                                                                       Berkshire    RG17 0JG

Tel:  01488 686195                                                                                                Tel:  01488 686195

cardwells@btinternet.com                                                                     hungerfordclerk@hotmail.co.uk

Minutes of the Highways and Transport committee meeting held on Monday, 16th November 2009 at 7 pm in the Corn Exchange complex, Hungerford.

Present:  Cllrs Hudson, Gaines, Cardwell, Bullock, Parry, Buckwell, Crane and Ravenhill

1. Apologies for absence:  Cllrs Booth (other engagement), Liddiard (hospital), Harries (other engagement), Wilson (ill), Desmeules (Christmas lights)

2. Declarations of interest:  none

3. Minutes of meeting held 19th October 2009:  Item 13, 3rd line, change ‘WBC’ to ‘Thames Valley Police’.  Cllr Gaines proposed acceptance of the minutes, seconded by Cllr Crane, 1 abstention, rest in favour.

4. Christmas Lights – update, tenders, planning & support:  Councillors wishing to help with the lights should go to the car park at the back of the Plume.  Cllr Desmeules’ work is on target.  Cllr Cardwell said that there will be a new carol sheet this year to include the carols which the children have learned.  People should arrive around 4.30 pm for the switch-on by Bear Grylls at 5 pm.  Letters requesting sweets for the children have been sent and Tesco have been very generous. There will be drinks in the Magistrate’s Room afterwards.  The band and choir are liaising.  Councillors will help with handing out the carol sheets.

5. WBC Highways Issues & Progress Programme (see table):  Cllr Hudson reviewed the table:  Bridge across the canal responses are being analysed.  Ideas on where coach can park would be welcomed.  Church Way drainage will be addressed in January 2010.  Smitham Bridge footway to play area request for capital item for next year.  Action:  Request Dist Cllrs Holtby and Hewer to put in capital bid.  Cllr Gaines is to suggest to JoG school that the Priory Place footpath safety issue is added to their Travel Plan:  action:  Cllr Gaines.

6. Parking Proposals & Traffic Regulation Order:  views of HTC required:  Cllr Hudson outlined the response from WBC.  All seems fine except the lack of restrictions on Park Road just before the pub.

7. Precept:  The committee discussed each item and agreed the precept figures – see attached.  The final figure represents a 1% reduction on last year.  The H&T precept was proposed at £37,600 by Cllr Cardwell, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour.  If we take the £4000 income budgeted the net precept is £33,600.

8. Public Seats – update on benches – damage and maintenance:  Cllr Hudson thanked Cllr Crane for taking on the job of monitoring benches.  He suggested stencilling a number on each bench/seat.  Action:  Cllrs Crane and Hudson to discuss.

9. Hungerford in Bloom – watering machine:  Item to be brought to meeting in new year.

10. Rail station:  Cllr Buckwell has arranged an informal meeting with Network Rail, First Great Western and HTC (H&T Chair, E&P Chair and Mayor) for 2.15 pm on 8th December. 

11. Tourist Signs – progress update:  Cllr Bullock said that there was £2.5m in Leader funding available, and outlined four steps:  expression of interest (CoC & HTC);  eligibility checking;  provision of guidance;  and processing of application.  WBC is eager not to proliferate signs.  Andy Garratt is yet to reply to CoC letter

12. Coach Parking – progress update:  Following the CoC ideas on this after a vote on the matter,  they will not progress the  coach parking in Church St car park.

13. Speed reactive signs:  Cllr Hudson emailed Andy Garratt.  He will send the email to the office for onward transmission as a letter.  Action:  Cllr Hudson.

14. Risk Assessments:  There was discussion on how HTC would cope with the lights if Cllr Desmeules was unable to do them.  Action:  Claire to consider for next year.  The clerk said that a risk assessment of the lights’ installation has been requested by Allianz and forwarded to them.

15. Finance: Capital budget 3-year plan (as per item 6, F&GP meeting, 14.9.09):  Cllr Buckwell suggested members consider items which might require funding over the next three years.

The meeting closed at 8.26 pm