Agenda and minutes

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.

42.1 In accordance with the Code of Conduct, the following personal interests were declared in relation to:

·         Mr Baldwin as a member of the Task and Finish Group (TFG) in relation to Bus Strategy 2018-2026 and Financial Changes to the Non-Commercial Bus Network

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018 - attached (cream paper).

43.1 Resolved – that the minutes of the Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee held on 14 November 2018 be approved as a correct record, and that they be signed by the Chairman.

The Committee is asked to note the Cabinet Member’s Response to the Committee’s Recommendations on the Littlehampton to Bognor Regis Cycle Path (NCN2) – Lessons Learnt – attached.

44.1 The Committee noted the Cabinet Member’s Response to the Committee’s Recommendations on the Littlehampton to Bognor Regis Cycle Path (NCN2) – Lessons Learnt

Report by Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure and Environment – attached.

This report outlines the County Council’s draft response to the Gatwick Airport Draft Masterplan 2018 consultation.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and give comment on the draft response.

45.1 The Committee considered a report by Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure and Environment (copy appended to signed minutes). 

45.2 Mike Elkington, Head of Planning Services and Lee Harris, Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure and Environment introduced the report which outlined the County Council’s draft response to the Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) Masterplan consultation.

45.3 The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure recognised that GAL hadn’t provided a comprehensive amount of detail for the consultation, but that he was open to listening to members and their views before finalising the County Council’s response.

45.4 Brenda Smith, Local Member for Langley Green and Ifield East, was invited to address the Committee. Key points were: 

·         She believed the initial draft Masterplan was a second runway by stealth.

Her main concerns were over the impact and effect of airport growth on the immediate surrounding areas affecting Crawley residents particularly in the Langley Green area.

·         She felt that although GAL had acknowledged that road improvements would be needed they had provided no detail in the proposals on how to manage greater vehicle movements and deal with higher volumes of traffic in the surrounding areas, potentially leading to West Sussex residents bearing the costs of any road damage and improvements needed .

·         She also highlighted the effect of increased noise and subsequent sleep deprivation of those living in affected areas and noted there was little to address the effect that an increase in passenger numbers would have. She believed that if the extension happened it would be disastrous for the neighbourhood and asked the County Council to oppose anything that would lead to a second runway.

45.5 Mr Elkington advised that GAL had said they would carry out a full transport assessment to determine the wider impact of the Existing Standby Runway scenario and that the County Council would need to work with them to address these issues. GAL would also need to do a full environmental assessment of the impact of noise, including on health.

45.6 The Committee made comments including those that follow.  It:

·         Suggested that even though economic growth was good for West Sussex, it should not be encouraged at the expense of either residents or the environment. Concerns were raised that further expansion could lead to overall economic dominance in the area by the airport and supress other economic activity. It could also constrain future growth for housing, transport and commercial development that would better benefit residents. It was highlighted that the County Council needed to adopt a neutral position, but to make a strong point that any adverse impacts would need mitigating and that the response also needed a description of the environmental and social impacts

·         Raised concerns over the safeguarding of land surrounding the airport especially given the amount of local development planned and suggested the County Council enter into a new legal agreement to seek reassurances over any future construction of a new runway. There were also suggestions that the land could alternatively be used for affordable housing or business  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Report by Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure and Environment and Director of Highways and Transport – attached.

Road Space Audits are now being used to identify where there is a need to implement better settlement wide parking solutions that support the County Council’s aspirations in terms of economic development, improved safety and sustainable transport. The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure will be asked to agree a strategic parking management plan programme to implement on-street parking controls in various locations across the county and to review the operation of the parking service county-wide, including charges. 

The Committee is asked to scrutinise the proposals.

46.1 The Committee considered a report by Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure and Environment and Director of Highways and Transport (copy appended to signed minutes). 

46.2 Andy Ekinsmyth, Head of Transport and Countryside and Miles Davy, Parking Manager introduced the report which outlined the proposals for a strategic parking management plan programme to implement on-street parking controls following proposals arising from the programme of Road Space Audit’s (RSA’s), to be progressively rolled out around the County. Key points were:

·         The decision to consult upon or formally advertise RSA parking management proposals would be taken by the Director for Highways and Transport, following consideration from the relevant County Local Committee (CLC).

·         The decision to implement RSA parking management plans, subsequent changes to parking arrangements and charging structures would be taken by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure.

46.3 The Committee made comments including those that follow. It:

·        Welcomed and supported the principal of the RSA’s, but believed the current CLC decision making process worked well and that previous proposals for a change of scheme had been abandoned due to lack of support.

·        Raised concerns over the accountability and process of the new proposals if the decision making power was given to senior officers and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, believing it would erode local democracy and the relationship between local members and their residents.

·        Raised concerns the proposals were a charter for sweeping controlled parking and that costs could be imposed on motorists in towns with no checks or balances, in particular forcing those struggling with finances off the road.

46.4 Mr Jones made the following proposal, seconded by Mr Oppler which the Committee considered: -

46.5 That the Committee, while supporting the continuation of the Road Space Audits to identify parking problems across West Sussex, believes the current CLC arrangements for creating Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ’s) are sufficient and the recommendations are not supported.

46.6 A vote was held and the proposal was carried

46.7 Resolved – That the Committee, while supporting the continuation of the Road Space Audits to identify parking problems across West Sussex, believes the current CLC arrangements for creating Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ’s) are sufficient and the recommendations are not supported.

Extract fromthe ForwardPlan dated 23 November – attached.

Anextract fromanyForwardPlan publishedbetween the date of despatchof the agenda and the date of the meetingwill be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider whetheritwishes to enquireinto any of the forthcoming decisions withinits portfolio.

47.1 The Committee considered the Forward Plan dated 23 November (copy appended to signed minutes).

47.2 Resolved – That the Forward Plan be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 14 January 2019 at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·         Updated Guidance on Parking in New Developments

·         Savings Proposals

·         Highways Maintenance Contract - Options Appraisal

·         Velo South

·         Major Events Protocol

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 2 January 2018.

48. The Committee noted that its next scheduled meeting will take place on 14 January 2019 at 10.30am at County Hall, Chichester.

Report by Executive Director of Economy, Infrastructure and Environment and Director of Highways and Transport – attached.

This report presents the final draft of the West Sussex Bus Strategy 2018 to 2026 together with recommended changes to financial support to the non-commercial bus network.

The Committee is asked to consider and give feedback on the revised Bus Strategy 2018-2026 and the findings and overall approach of the Task and Finish Group; along with the recommendations for changes to financial support for the non-commercial bus network.

If required this item will continue in Part II.

49.1 The Committee considered a report by Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure and Environment and Director of Highways and Transport (copy appended to signed minutes). 

49.2 Bill Leath, Transport Bureau Manager and Andy Ekinsmyth, Head of Transport and Countryside introduced the report which presented the final draft of the West Sussex Bus Strategy 2018-2026 together with recommended changes to financial support to the non-commercial bus network. Key points were:

·         The introduction of the Bus Services Act 2017, gave the County Council an opportunity to look at alternative ways to engage and work with bus companies.

·         A Passenger Transport Executive Task and Finish Group (TFG) was set up to review the various bus services and a draft strategy was brought to the Committee in June 2018 at the same time as a public consultation took place. The strategy was then redrafted after the TFG took on board all comments. Smart technology, ticketing and other areas to improve bus companies’ commercial fares were also reviewed by the TFG.

49.3 The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure welcomed members’ views on the strategy. He advised that it was important the County Council had a strategy that would deliver residents’ requirements and include a funding framework and infrastructure that would assist bus services in the county. He highlighted the need to give guidance to partners and for the strategy to be commercially viable.

49.4 The Committee made comments including those that follow. It:

·        Raised concerns that the reduction or withdrawal of certain bus routes would impact the elderly, isolated and less well-off who depended on them as a lifeline out of their community; noting that the consultation responses had shown there was a great deal of human impact to the implementation. 

·        Sought reassurance from the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure that subsidies for registered disabled people would not be withdrawn. The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure advised that these subsidies would not be withdrawn. 

·        Questioned whether it was correct that as expressed by the South Downs National Park (SDNP) that the County Council had a duty to maintain the level of bus services within the park’s boundaries. Mr Leath advised legal advice would need to be sought and then an answer could be provided to the Committee.

·        Requested to see the listed criteria that had been provided as guidance to the TFG.

49.5 Mr Jones made the following proposal, seconded by Mrs Brunsdon which the Committee considered: -

49.6 That the Committee supports the principles of the draft Bus Strategy and notes the methodology adopted by the TFG and that the methodology applied only managed to identify around 50% of the savings the Cabinet Member was seeking to find.

49.7 A vote was held and the proposal was carried

49.8 Resolved – That the Committee:

1)   Supports the principles of the draft Bus Strategy and notes the methodology adopted by the TFG and that the methodology applied only managed to identify around 50% of the savings the Cabinet Member was seeking to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The Committee is asked to consider in respect of the following item whether the public, including the press, should be excluded from the meeting on the grounds of exemption under Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as indicated against the item and because, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption of that information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Resolved - That under Section 100(4) of the Local Government Act 1972,

the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I, of Schedule 12A, of the Act by virtue of the paragraph specified under the item and that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption of that information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee is asked to consider and give feedback on the revised Bus Strategy 2018-2026 and the findings and overall approach of the Task and Finish Group; along with the recommendations for changes to financial support for the non-commercial bus network.

Exempt: paragraph 3, financial or business affairs of any person (including the authority).

(Exempt, paragraph 3, Financial or business affairs of any person (including the authority))

The Committee further discussed the Bus Strategy 2018-2026 and members gave comment.