Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E. Morgan, S. Phillips and D. Thomas.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

The Committee considered a Highway Footway and Road Safety Investment Programme Update report which provided Members with an update on the current investment programme in relation to road safety and associated infrastructure.

The report apprised members with information on the following aspects:-

·      Local Transport Plan / Local Transport Fund

·      Active Travel Act and Local Authority Obligations

·      Safe Routes in communities

·      Road Safety Improvement and Footway Improvement Programme

·      Road Safety Grant (Capital and Revenue)

·      Traffic Management and Accident Prevention Programme

Set out within the report was a summary of funding for road safety related and other infrastructure schemes for 2019/20 and the prioritised programme for road safety, footway and other infrastructure.

The following questions/issues were raised on the report:-

• In response to a request, the Transport Strategy and Infrastructure Manager provided a verbal update on the progress of the Towy Valley Path.  Members were informed that:

­   negotiations with landowners were still ongoing,

­   planning has been approved for West section,

­   planning has been applied for the Eastern section – delayed due to conditions in place with NRW,

­   construction has stated on the Western section of the path by White Mill,

­   further bids have been placed for the western section.

• In connection with the recent storms which have caused the water levels to significantly rise, it was asked, if an analysis had been made of the extent of the flooding on the path?  The Transport Strategy and Infrastructure Manager stated that a detailed flood modelling had been completed for the whole route of the path.  It was acknowledged that by the very nature of the path running alongside the Towy river it was accepted that flooding would occur.  Flooding measures were in place by means of gates and operational procedures.

• With regard to road safety improvements, a concern was raised in relation to the necessity of a reduction in the speed limit outside Nantgaredig School to 20mph which had been requested on several occasions.  The Transport Strategy and Infrastructure Manager stated that whilst he personally did not manage the requests for speed limit reductions, he explained that there were a number of factors that influenced the introduction of a speed limit change.  Requests would be considered by the Speed Limit Working Group seeking community support for the change and for the speed limit to be self-enforcing where possible.  

The Transport Strategy and Infrastructure Manager stated that he would liaise with the Local Councillor outside of the meeting on the matter.

• At the Committees request, the Executive Board member for Environment and the Chair of Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee had written a letter to the Minister of Transport raising concerns regarding the inadequate funding available to develop walking and cycling infrastructure [minute 8.2, 5^th July 2019 refers].  The Chair announced that a response from Lee Waters, Minister of Transport had been received and provided a verbal summary of the letter to the Committee.  The Chair stated that the letter would be shared with Committee members.

·       Reference  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee considered a report detailing progress in relation to the recommendations identified from the findings of the Task and Finish group’s review on the maintenance provision of highway hedges and verge rows. The group’s report along with their recommendations were adopted by Executive Board on the 4^th March 2019.

The report provided the Committee with a brief background along with:

·       the scope and objectives of the Task and Finish Group’s work;

·       it’s methodology;

·       the Group’s recommendations;

·       detailed progress report on the actions allied to the Task and Finish Group recommendations.

The Committee noted the progress on each of the recommendations as set out in the report

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report detailing progress in relation to actions, requests or referrals emerging from previous scrutiny meetings, be noted.

The Committee was advised that the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 27th January 2020, had following consideration of the Environment Departmental Business Plan 2020-23 relating to the Property Division relevant to the Committee’s remit, resolved “the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee be requested to consider means of securing improvements to the Joint Transport Plan for South West Wales with a view to maximising opportunities to improve public transport within Carmarthenshire.”  

It was reported that during consideration of the Business Plan, reference was made to the problems faced in recruiting staff and it was considered that the lack of suitable public transport was probably also a contributory factor.

In order that the Committee could undertake the request, a report providing information on the Joint Transport Plan for South West Wales was requested to be included on the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for 2020/2021.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that an information report on the Joint Transport Plan for South West Wales be included on the Environmental and Protection Scrutiny Committee’s Forward Work Programme 2020/2021.

The Committee considered the list of forthcoming items for the meeting scheduled to take place on 21^st April, 2020 and was afforded the opportunity to request for information to be placed in to the reports.

The Chair emphasised that due to the number of items on the agenda, the meeting would likely continue into the afternoon.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items be received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Environment and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held on the 13^th January, 2020 be signed as a correct record.