Issue - meetings

To consider report on the achievements of the Council in terms of its public rights of way functions during the year 2009/10 and the proposed work programme for the year 2010/11.

The Committee received a report which detailed the achievements of the Public Rights of Way service during 2009/10 and set out the proposed work programme for 2010/11.

The Public Rights of Way Manager reported that during 2009/10

• the Legal Orders Team had processes more Orders this year than the previous year. However, there was still a backlog of 28 Public Path Orders and 24 Definitive Map Orders and an officer was being recruited on a one year fixed term contract to address this backlog, the cost of this being covered by the income generated.
• Since the disaggregation of the path network into East and West, the Maintenance and Enforcement Team were responsible for an additional 90km each but had not received any corresponding increase in their budget.
• There were no dedicated staff to carry out path inspections under section 58² of the Highways Act 1980 and this was a risk to the Council as previously evidence of surveys being carried out had helped defend against claims for personal injury.
• Random survey results had shown 84% found the footpath network easy to use which was higher than pre Local Government Review survey results.
• One public inquiry had been held, which had found in favour of the Council and the seven Orders which had been referred to the Planning Inspectorate had been successful.
• The budget was falling short of meeting current and future maintenance demands on the network.  There was also insufficient budget to permit the recruitment to cover maternity leave in the Legal Orders Team.

The Committee commended the staff in the Public Rights of Way team for the work they had undertaken, which at times was under difficult circumstances.

RESOLVED:

The Annual Report for 2009/10 be noted and the proposed Work Programme for the Public Rights of Way Team 2010/11 be approved.