Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

None

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers

In accordance with the constitution Mr P Smith, addressed the Committee regarding the next Local Transport Plan and made reference to bus timetables being more readily available.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To review the street cleansing performance

Consideration was given to a report on the Council’s performance in relation to the place survey and peoples perception of street cleanliness in relation to street cleaning as measured by National Indicators 195 a, b, c and d. It was noted that the data and benchmarking used related to 2008/09 and that the updated Place Survey would not be available until June 2011.

Street cleansing scored low in the Place Survey, citizens identified it as the 3^rd priority in terms of importance and 4^th in terms of needing improvement for Cheshire East. Several possibilities were raised to rectify this issue such as employing litter picking teams or offenders serving a community service order  implementing a charter and raising awareness, particularly in schools. Members agreed that the authority also needed to improve the way it publicises the work currently undertaken to clean streets.

Members then went onto discuss the cutting of hedges and grass verges, it was agreed that a report should be brought back to the Committee on the standard, frequency of works and comparisons with past years.

RESOLVED

1. That the Portfolio Holder be made aware of the issues highlighted above.
2. That the updated Place Survey be brought back to Committee in June 2011.
3. That a representative from Street Cleansing attend a future meeting of the Committee to explain how the issues around street cleansing are being dealt with.
4. That a report on the cutting of hedges and verges be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

To give consideration to the progress made to date in developing the next Local Transport Plan

Consideration was given to a report setting out the progress made in developing the Councils next Local Transport Plan, providing an early assessment of the emerging issues from the ongoing public and stakeholder engagement and examined the next steps in the process to develop the Local Transport Plan.

The Committee focussed its discussions around the emerging issues and agreed the following priority order:

1. Maintenance of roads and footpaths (timetable to be provided)
2. A more ‘integrated’ transport network and a need to reduce dependency on the car including improved public transport between our Market Towns and to the wider area (such as Manchester and Stoke)
3. The need for flexible/innovative transport solutions in rural areas.
4. The need to tackle congestion ‘hotspots’.
5. The importance of ‘sustainable’ development, the importance of ensuring that the transport implications of development are fully mitigated and that ‘Travel Plans’ are much more strongly enforced.

The Committee also agreed that additional funds would need to be included in the budget for 2011/2012 to address the issues surrounding the condition of the roads particularly pot holes and that more effort should be made to ensure that Travel Plans are implemented.

RESOLVED

That the Portfolio Holder for Prosperity be recommended to give consideration to the above priority order and additional funding requirements.

To receive an update on the ITU Review

Consideration was given to an update on the emerging Total Transport Transformation Programme and the review of the Integrated Transport Unit (ITU) which is a transitional shared service with Cheshire West and Chester. The Committee was requested to identify the transport priorities for Cheshire East.

Members made the following comments and observations:

1. The Committee had no adverse reaction to the outsourcing of the current fleet.
2. The possibility of providing vouchers for taxis in rural areas be investigated.
3. The possibility of sharing costs with Cheshire West and Chester be investigated.
4. Transport systems need to be integrated with other cross boundary towns including Cheshire West and Chester.
5. Further use should be made of community transport schemes such as dial a ride and village rider.

RESOLVED

The Portfolio Holder for Prosperity be informed of the above comments and observations.

(Councillor Simon left the meeting during consideration of the above item)

To give consideration to the extracts of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee

Consideration was given to the extract of the forward plan which fell within the remit of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the extract of the forward plan be noted.

To give consideration to the work programme

The Committee gave consideration to the work programme for the 2010/2011 municipal year. It was agreed that the Membership for the Task and Finish Panel on the Highway Maintenance Term Contract from 2011 comprise of Councillors Walton, Walker, Neilson, Davenport, Parsons and Hollins.

The following amendments were also made to the work programme:

1. Planning Enforcement be deleted from the work programme (this issue was being investigated by the Strategic Planning Committee).
2. Market Towns (Snowhills), Place Survey, street cleansing and verge cutting be added to the work programme for future meetings of the Committee.

RESOLVED

1. That a Task and Finish Panel comprising of Councillors Walton, Walker, Neilson, Davenport, Parsons and Hollins be established to review the Highway Maintenance Term Contract from 2011.
2. That Planning Enforcement be removed from the Work Programme.
3. That market towns (Snowhills), Place Survey, street cleansing and verge cutting be added to the work programme for future meetings of the Committee.