Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made at the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or the press.

Waste Management Task and Finish Group

Councillor Godfrey, Chair of the Task and Finish Group, reported that the Group had met three times with a further meeting planned shortly.  A visit to North Yorkshire was planned to take place to look at the household waste disposal and policies they have in relation to charging for certain types of waste.  It was hoped to pull together a report before the end of the year.  A meeting was to take place the following week with the British Heart Foundation to discuss a possible partnership in relation to the bulky goods service.

Christine Majer, Policy Officer, also reported that the Group had been invited to a meeting on 20^th October with representatives of the Local Government Association and those carrying out the Health Checks on the Waste Service.

Colin Knight, Highway Network Manager, presented the Council’s Highways Asset Management Policy, Strategy and revised Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP) for the period 2015-2021.

The Chairman drew attention to the fact that the Policy had been considered by Commissioner Manzie and was to be considered at the 21^st October Council meeting.  Assurances had been given that any recommendations made by the Select Commission would be conveyed to officers and Commissioners and raised at the Council meeting.

Members received the following powerpoint presentation:-

Highway Maintenance Background

-          The Council was responsible for maintaining 700 miles of roads and 1,300 miles of footways/PROW

-          The highways network was the Council’s single biggest asset with a value of around £1.72b (gross replacement value)

-          The Authority’s approach to highway maintenance was based on two principles:-

·        Primary objective was to keep Rotherham’s roads and footways in a safe condition and to nationally recognised standard

·        Carry out programmed maintenance works as cost effectively as possible (not necessarily works on roads that are in the worst condition)

-          A deteriorating network means an increasing amount of funding is spent on reactive maintenance (potholes).

Assets and Performance Management

Highway Asset Condition

Policy – Sets out what we want to achieve and links to the Corporate Vision over the medium to long term.

-          We believe good asset management is fundamental in enabling RMBC to effectively deliver highway services to achieve its long term corporate priorities

-          It will enable informed decisions to be made about investment and maintenance funding

-          Resources can then be targeted at where they are most effective

-          Enable the identification and management of risk associated with our statutory duty to manage and maintain

Strategy - Outlines the approach to managing highway infrastructure

-          Corporate objective – to keep highways safe and well maintained

-          Departmental priorities – to national average condition

-          Asset Management Policy

-          Asset Management Strategy

-          Highway Asset Management Plans

-          Rotherham’s Highway Asset Management Plan

·      Good data management (inventory)

·      Levels of Service and Performance Management

·      Asset Lifecycle Planning

·      Risk Management

·      Works Programmes

Outcomes

-          To provide safe highway network for all our users  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Tom Finnegan-Smith, Transportation Highways and Project Manager, presented the draft Rotherham Transport Strategy which outlined the proposed strategic approach to the provision and management of transport and transport infrastructure in Rotherham.

The following powerpoint presentation as given:-

Why do we need a Transport Strategy

-          Lots of policy documents both national and regional

-          Need to know how Policy relates to Rotherham

-          The Strategy captures interaction with other disciplines such as land use planning, air quality, health and regeneration

-          Within this framework, a Strategy is needed to prevent a piecemeal approach to projects

-          Based on the evidence of the need and challenges faced, it sets out priorities and informs decisions

The Role of Transportation in supporting Rotherham’s Economic Growth

-          Government have reinforced the key role that effective and efficient Transportation and Highway networks have on Economic Growth

How Transportation has fed into the development of the growth plan for City Region and Rotherham’s Growth Plan

-          International, national transport and land planning policy and law

-          Sheffield City Region Transport Strategy (2011-2026) and Local Transport Plan

-          Local Plan Core Strategy (local planning and land use)

-          Sheffield City Regional Strategic Economic Plan (Growth Plan)

-          Rotherham Corporate Plan and Health and Wellbeing Strategy

-          Rotherham Growth Plan

-          Transport and highways projects in Rotherham

Rotherham’s Transport Strategy 2015-2026

By 2028 Rotherham will

-          Enjoy sustainable growth – new development will be based on compact mixed use centres focussed on high quality public transport

-          Be a connected place – people and places are connected by an integrated, safe and efficient transport network

-          Make sustainable travel choices – walking, cycling and public transport are a normal part of daily travel

Challenges

-          Economic growth

-          Car dependency

-          Physical inactivity

-          Energy and climate change

-          Traffic congestion

-          Less funding

Objectives

-          Integrated transport and land use – to support well designed new development that reduces the need to travel and is accessible to everyone by frequent public transport, walking and cycling

-          Public transport (bus, tram and train) – to improve the public transport network so it provides an alternative to the private car

-          Active transport network – to make the transport network safe and attractive for walking and cycling

-          Travel behaviour change – to reduce car dependency and increase levels of walking, cycling, car share and public transport use

-          Roads and freight – to develop and manage an efficient road network for the movement of people and goods that can be shared by everyone

-          Safer roads – to make the transport network safe for everyone

Themes and Actions

-          To focus new development along key public transport corridors and in places adjacent to existing shops and services

-          To develop high quality accessible public places (centres)

-          To improve rail services and access to stations and to ensure SCR is served by high speed rail

-          To improve connectivity between major settlements

-          To develop public transport that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission, held on 2^nd September, 2015, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Resolved:-  That a further meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission be held on 25^th November, 2015, commencing at 1.30 p.m.