Agenda and minutes

County Councillor J Gibson replaced County Councillor M Parkinson at this meeting.

None received.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

None disclosed.

In relation to item 4, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Update, County Councillor Oades pointed out that her request for further work to be carried out on the existing enterprise zone at Warton, as progress had been below the expected level, had not been recorded in the minutes.

Resolved: That, subject to the point above being noted, the minutes of the last meeting held on 18 September 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Chair welcomed Clare Platt, Head of Service, Health, Equity, Welfare and Resources; Jackie Brindle, Safer Travel Manager; Chief Inspector Damien Kitchen, Lancashire Constabulary; Tony Crook, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service; County Councillor John Fillis, Cabinet Member for Highways; and Daniel Herbert, Highways Manager to the meeting.

Clare Platt and Jackie Brindle presented a report on the latest road safety statistics for Lancashire providing details of the number of people who had been killed or seriously injured on the roads in Lancashire set against the national picture.

The report provided details of the latest road safety statistics for Lancashire which focussed upon the identification of current issues and priorities, set out the action being taken and outlined plans to address the rising casualty levels. The context of the road safety budget was also delivered, along with an update on the 20mph speed limit programme.

The officers also presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Committee which illustrated road safety statistics for Lancashire and various initiatives that were designed to aid reduction in road casualties.

Members were invited to ask questions and raise any comments in relation to the report, a summary of which is provided below:

The Committee raised concerns with regard to the issue of dangerous parking outside schools. Officers advised that interventions and resources developed in response to an upsurge in complaints had led to multi-agency interventions and a toolkit of resources in development which included the provision of A-boards to schools.

It was agreed that Officers would provide the Committee with the contact details of the Safer Travel Team and the 'six point methodology' used to identify road safety interventions.

Whilst the Committee welcomed the latest road safety statistics for Lancashire, it was suggested that it would be helpful to receive further context and details of the location and causes of road accidents.  In response, the officers referred to the District Action Plans available on the county council's website and included a spot map of the geographical location of road accidents in Lancashire. However, it was acknowledged that further analysis of the statistics was required and this would be addressed by the recruitment of a road safety analyst. It was explained that the road safety analyst was anticipated to be in post within the next few months.

The Committee welcomed the various initiatives underway to increase road safety including the 'Wasted Lives' young driver education programme and suggested that this and other initiatives should be publicised more widely. 

Members also requested analysis to take place around the potential for extending the Community Road Watch Scheme to allow for the monitoring and recording of vehicle speeds at times when there was a high number of speeding vehicles.

In response to concerns raised in relation to slow moving vehicles, Chief Inspector Kitchen advised that drivers of slow moving vehicles would be expected to adhere to the Highway Code directive and show courtesy to other road users by pulling over when and where possible, to let other traffic pass.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Resolved; That the work plan and task group update be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member's intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There were no items of urgent business.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will be held on 13 November, 2015 at 10:00am at the County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee would be held on Friday, 13 November, 2015, at 10:00am at the County Hall, Preston in Cabinet Room 'B'.