Agenda and minutes

The Committee’s membership is set out below:

Cllr Albury

Cllr Ali

Cllr Baldwin

Cllr Britton

Cllr Greenway

Cllr Kenyon

Cllr Milne

Cllr Oakley

Cllr Oppler

Cllr Oxlade

Cllr Patel

Cllr Quinn

The Committee is asked to elect a Chairman for 2022-23. If the election is contested, a secret ballot will be held in accordance with Standing Order 2.17.

1.1        Cllr Britton was proposed for the position of Chairman for one year by Cllr Patel and seconded by Cllr Greenway.

1.2        Resolved – that Cllr Britton is duly elected as Chairman of the Communities, Highways and Environment Scrutiny Committee for a period of one year.

The Committee is asked to elect a Vice-Chairman for 2022-23.  If the election is contested, a secret ballot will be held in accordance with Standing Order 2.17.

2.1        Cllr Oakley was proposed for the position of Vice-chairman for one year by Cllr Baldwin and seconded by Cllr Britton.

2.2        Resolved – that Cllr Oakley is duly elected as Vice-Chairman of the Communities, Highways and Environment Scrutiny Committee for a period of one year.

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

The Committee is asked to review the membership of the Business Planning Group in view of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman appointments.  For the last year the membership has been Cllr Britton (Chairman), Cllr Oakley (Vice-Chairman) and Cllrs Carson, Milne and Oxlade.

3.1        Resolved – that the Committee appoints the following members to its Business Planning Group: Cllr Britton, Cllr Oakley, Cllr Kenyon, Cllr Milne and Cllr Oxlade.

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it.  If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

4.1        In accordance with the County Council’s code of conduct, the following declarations of interest were made:

·       Cllr Ali declared a personal interest as a member of Crawley Borough Council under the Integrated Parking Strategy item.

·       Cllr Baldwin declared a personal interest as a member of Horsham District Council.

·       Cllr Burgess declared personal interest as a member of Crawley Borough Council.

·       Cllr Oakley declared a personal interest as a member of Chichester District Council under the Integrated Parking Strategy item.

·       Cllr Oxlade declared a personal interest as an employee of the Manor Royal Business Bid under the Integrated Parking Strategy item.

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances, including cases where the Committee needs to be informed of budgetary or performance issues affecting matters within its terms of reference, which have emerged since the publication of the agenda.

5.1     No urgent matters were raised.

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meetings held on 24 February and 2 March 2022 (cream paper).

6.1        The Committee were asked to agree the minutes of the meetings held on 24 February and 2 March 2022.

6.2        With regard to the minutes of 24 February 2022, comment was made on paragraph 48.2, first bullet point, that the words “should be industry led” were ambiguous. 

6.3        Resolved – that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 24 February 2022 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

6.4        With regard to the minutes of 2 March 2022, paragraph 55.2, second bullet point, it was agreed to add “and conditions are complied with” after “forward for use”.

6.5        Resolved – that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 2 March 2022 be approved as a correct record with the addition of the point raised under 6.4 above and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee is asked to note the responses to recommendations made at the 24 February and 2 March 2022 meetings from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Urquhart, and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Joy Dennis.

7.1        The Committee noted the response to recommendations made at the meetings on 24 February and 2 March 2022.

7.2        Concern was raised on the following items:

7.3        Page 26, West Sussex Transport Plan, first point on the cycling network as to whether the County Council really were joining up cycle lanes.

7.4        Minute number 54.5, of the minutes of the meeting on 2 March 2022, recommendation 2, that there had been no response from the Cabinet Member.  It was asked that this be followed up with the Cabinet Member.

7.5        West Sussex Transport Plan, Page 27, last paragraph, the question was raised under what circumstances would the County Council support new road building?

Report by Assistant Director of Highways, Transport and Planning.

Following a review, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport plans to publish an updated Integrated Parking Strategy in summer 2022. The Committee is asked to scrutinise the draft Strategy and make recommendations to the Cabinet Member.

8.1        The Parking Manager, Mr Davy, talked the Committee through a presentation on the Integrated Parking Strategy (IPS) review (appended to the signed minutes).  As the Highway Authority for West Sussex, the County Council has an IPS that sets out its approach to managing parking.  This mainly includes the management and enforcement of on-street parking controls and regulations but also sets out the County Council’s view and role in off-street parking provision, primarily provided by district and borough councils, as well as how its approach to parking management relates to other policies and strategies.  The IPS was last updated in 2014 and this latest review, covering the period from 2022 to 2027, seeks to ensure that the County Council’s approach to managing parking remains appropriate and effective.

8.2        The Committee thanked officers for the report and were asked to scrutinise the report and draft IPS, to ensure it contained the right aims and objectives, and was appropriate and achievable. A summary the questions raised by the Committee and answers follows.

8.3        The Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee had fed back that parking restrictions in town centres were impacting businesses.  Problems with loading and unloading and easy access were affecting trading, particularly in Worthing, during what was already a challenging time for businesses.  It was asked that consideration be given to a permit parking scheme for independent traders in town centres and shopping parades.  Mr Davy agreed to discuss the issue directly with County Councillors in Worthing as well as share information with the Committee on a new Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) policy, which sets out how requests can be made to change existing schemes.

8.4        A number of issues were raised in relation to footway and verge parking, particularly that rural areas needed to be considered differently to urban areas.  In response, Mr Davy outlined the current approach of the County Council and the alternative policy options that were being discussed at a national level.  Mr Davy agreed to share a position paper with the Committee and update Members as soon as there was any further information from the Department for Transport (DfT).  It was requested that should there be an update from the DfT on the alternative options, Members have an opportunity to consider this.  It was noted that the IPS referred to the use of physical barriers to deter footway and verge parking at particular locations, and this could be an option open to the County Council in the future, particularly where there is a risk to life.

8.5        It was also hoped that the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process for proposing new waiting restrictions would be a quicker process in the future, as this was still the most appropriate way of dealing with footway parking issues.  It was noted that responsibility for determining whether an obstruction exists currently lies with the Police. 

8.6        Members reported that feedback from Arun District Council was that they did not have a sufficient number of officers to enforce all-day parking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee to consider the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport’s response to the TFG’s recommendations, which were reported direct to the Cabinet Member in time to inform her work.

Members will additionally be updated on any developments since the preparation of the TFG report.

Members will be invited to consider the need for, and timing of, any further work for the TFG which can be identified at this time.

9.1        The Chairman of the Bus Enhanced Partnership Plan Task and Finish Group (TFG), Cllr Oakley, introduced the item by reporting that the TFG had met on 11 April to look at Bus Enhanced Partnership Plan and the considerable challenges bus companies were expecting at the end of the financial Covid support from the Government in September 2022.  The paper included the Cabinet Member’s responses to the recommendations suggested by the TFG.

9.2        The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Joy Dennis, thanked the TFG for their work in such a tight timeframe.  The work aimed to improve bus service delivery in a time when consumers were changing their usage habits, in a climate of increased costs and labour shortages.  She reported that an important part of the bid planned for some of the funding received to be used to encourage young people to use bus services by offering children’s fares for all those under 21 years of age.  This scheme would be limited to within West Sussex and operate for up to three years whilst funding was available with the intention that the operators continue to provide such discounts commercially thereafter.

9.3        Members of the Committee asked questions on the report and below is a summary of the questions and answers.

9.4        There are areas of the county that have no bus services, both rural and urban areas.  Concerns were raised as to how services could be improved to help relieve problems of isolation.  Cllr Dennis reported that routes were altered, reduced and expanded based on patronage.  Members were reminded that demand-led community transport services were also available in some parts of the county.  Community Transport Sussex (CTS) provides support to local community groups as well as development expertise to help them sustain existing services and grow where they can.  CTS funds this from a service level agreement with the County Council and also district/borough/parish/town councils through a paid membership scheme.  Many of the community groups are looking to expand their services from elderly and disabled customers to include those with social isolation and those who did not have access to conventional services.  Discussion was ongoing on improving access through the introduction of new Digital Demand Response transport schemes for isolated people.

9.5        The proposed A259 bus lane was very much in the early planning stages yet and work would need to be done with National Highways to facilitate.  There had been clear indication that the funding of such a scheme would not be allowed in the County Council’s bid for funds at this time as it could not be delivered by March 2025.  However, the County Council would continue to explore this proposal with the view that central future funding may become available later.

9.6        Bus usage data was collated by bus companies from ticket sales, driver intelligence and contactless payment data.  It was hoped in the future to collect data on where journeys ended through the introduction of readers to be used when passengers alight in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Committee is asked to review its current draft work programme taking into account the Forward Plan of Key Decisions and any suggestions from its members for possible items for future scrutiny.  The programme reflects discussions and decisions arising from April’s BPG meeting.

10.1     The Committee received a tabled copy of the most recent Forward Plan of Key Decisions dated 9 June 2022 and Work Programme from the Business Planning Group (BPG).

10.2     The following requests were made:

·       To note the slippage of the Speed Limit Policy item from the September meeting to the meeting on 18 November 2022, in order to ensure a proper consultation is undertaken.

·       The future of the County Archive service be an item for consideration by the BPG.

There have been no requests for call-in to the Scrutiny Committee and within its constitutional remit since the date of the last meeting.  The Director of Law and Assurance will report any requests since the publication of the agenda papers.

11.1     There had been no requests for call-in to the Scrutiny Committee within its constitutional remit since the date of the last meeting.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held virtually on 8 July at 2.15pm to review the Performance and Resources Report for Quarter 4, January to March 2022.

The following meeting will be on 21 September 2022 at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·       Performance and Resources Report Quarter One, April-June 2022

·       Speed Limit Policy

·       Transport for the South-East Strategic Investment Plan Consultation

·       Climate Change Strategy Delivery Interim report

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 9 September 2022.

12.1     The next meeting would be a virtual meeting held on 8 July at 2.15pm.