Agenda and minutes

The following officers were also in attendance:

S Palmer, Localities Officer, Lancashire County Council

C Mather, Democratic Services, Lancashire County Council

G Concannon, Assistant Director Street Scene, West Lancashire Borough Council

C Brady, Technical Services Manager, West Lancashire Borough Council

A copy of the agreed Protocol in relation to public participation at meetings of the Forum is attached for information.

None.

Apologies were received from County Councillors J Fillis, J Gibson and N Hennessy and from Councillors N Furey and P Greenall.

The note of the meeting held on 10 December 2015 was presented and agreed.

Members received and noted an update on the action taken in response to issues raised at the previous meeting.  The following points were raised:

•  Concerns were expressed about the lack of County Council officers at meetings of the Forum.  Members were advised that meetings were always supported by two officers.  The localities officer was responsible for arranging the agenda items, as well as ensuring that all points raised at meetings were responded to by cabinet members or other council officers.  A democratic services officer attended to take the note of the meeting.

•  Dark Lane/Blythe Lane, Ormskirk had been proposed for inclusion in the 2015/16 capital programme.  An update on the decision taken by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport would be included in the action sheet update.

•  Officers were asked to present a further report which set out and clarified the proposed Ormskirk town centre traffic regulation orders and parking arrangements including enforcement responsibilities that would be introduced once the highway works and temporary restrictions had been competed/expired. The need for adequate parking provision for people with a disability was also stressed.

•  It was agreed that the possibility of s106 monies being used towards improving safety on Stanley Street and St Helen’s Road be kept on the action sheet.

•  It was noted that an initial meeting to discuss parking issues at Appley Bridge railway station had taken place and that a further meeting to consider more detailed options was being arranged with interested parties.

•  Whilst the Borough Council had taken action to encourage developers to sign up to and promote the Considerate Constructors Scheme, concerns were expressed about the lack of planning condition enforcement. 

•  It was hoped that improvement works could be undertaken on the towpath between Parbold and Burscough and in particular the section between Ring o Bells and Spencer’s Bridge.  Any other problem ‘hotspots’ should be reported to the Canals and Rivers Trust in the first instance.  It was noted that Alasdair Simpson, County Council senior cycling officer, should also be made aware of any problem areas as there might be scope for the authority to work alongside the Trust to promote considerate cycling on the canal. 

The attached Dashboard details the performance of the Environment Directorate between October and December 2014 in relation to the delivery of the approved West Lancashire Commissioning Plan for 2014/15.

The Environment Directorate’s ‘dashboard’ performance for the third quarter of 2014/15 was presented.  The following comments were made:

·  Details of the footway improvement works which had been delayed in quarter 3 were noted.  The works were now scheduled for completion in quarter 4 and members would be kept informed of progress.

·  Members criticised the use of the term ‘highway defects’ rather than ‘pot holes’.  It was felt that the dashboard’s statistics did not reflect the true situation and that the condition of the road network was deteriorating.  Members criticised the county council’s response to complaints, as well as the level of highway repairs and maintenance.  Officers were asked to provide a comparison of the defects reported and resolved this year compared to previous years.  A number of pot hole related problems were highlighted and members were asked to report these to the county council for investigation. 

·  Councillor Barron referred to road safety issues on the B565 around the Gravel Lane and Sugar Stubbs Lane junction. He had sought a meeting with the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport but had not received a reply.  It was suggested that a further approach be made to the Cabinet Member with a copy of the correspondence being sent to Sarah Palmer, localities officer.

·  Officers were asked to investigate the on-going bridge works on Lord Sefton Way as the ramp heading west contained a deep and dangerous sharp edge.

The Forum received an update on the Environment Directorate’s 2015/16 Capital Programme that was to be presented to the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport.  A further report including details of any changes would be presented to the Form in due course.

The Forum received a report on the Environment Directorate’s New Starts Programme 2015/16 to 2017/18.

The following items had been requested by members of the Forum.

An oral update will be given on proposals to manage Moss Roads in West Lancashire (requested by Councillor Sumner on behalf of Halsall Parish Council)

Councillor Sumner, on behalf of Halsall Parish Council, had requested an update on proposals to manage Moss Roads in West Lancashire.  Two Parish Council representatives attended the meeting and were permitted to speak on this item.

Members were informed that the County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport was unable to attend the meeting and an update could not therefore be given.  Officers agreed to circulate an update with the action sheet.

The Parish Council representatives commented on damage caused by heavy vehicles.  They added that the new large scale building project in Sefton would result in further pressure and damage to local moss roads including Heathey Lane.  It was understood that the County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport had indicated his support for the introduction of a weight restriction on the roads but this had not progressed.  Officers agreed to look into the position and provide an update on the action sheet.

Attached is an update on proposals to consider alternative local transport models in West Lancashire (requested by Councillor Sumner on behalf of Halsall Parish Council)

Councillor Sumner, on behalf of Halsall Parish Council, had requested an update on proposals for alternative local transport models in West Lancashire.  The Parish Council representatives were also permitted to speak on this item.

The Forum received a report which set out the current position in relation to the possible introduction of a parish bus scheme.  It was noted that this would complement a review of all supported bus services that was being undertaken by the County Council across the county.

Whilst the Parish Council representatives welcomed the review of local transport provision, they and members of the Forum expressed disappointment at the lack of progress on the introduction of a parish bus scheme.  The Parish Council had indicated a willingness to be actively involved in a pilot project and the Council hoped that s106 monies could be used to help run such a scheme.

Officers were asked to present a further report once the review had been completed and more detailed options could be considered. 

An update on the current position has been requested by Councillor Sumner on behalf of Scarisbrick Parish Council – report to follow.

Councillor Sumner, on behalf of Scarisbrick Parish Council, had requested an update on Alt Crossens catchment area flooding issues.

The Forum received a report on future arrangements for land drainage management in the Alt Crossens catchment area.  A copy of a letter which had been sent to the Environment Agency (EA) following consideration of the matter by the County Council's Scrutiny Committee on 13 February was also presented. Members were urged to watch the webcast of the Scrutiny Meeting at http://www.lancashire.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/162195

The Forum welcomed the update and clarification of the current position, as well as the stance adopted by the County Council's Scrutiny Committee.  Members felt that there had been a good deal of misinformation and scaremongering around this matter which had led to unnecessary concerns. Members agreed that a copies of the report now presented and the letter submitted by County Council should be circulated to Parish Councils for information.

It was acknowledged that the establishment of the Internal Drainage Board was a matter for the Borough Council to determine. Members agreed that the EA should not be seen as 'the gatekeeper' on this subject and that all agencies including local farmers needed to be fully consulted and involved in future management arrangements including any flooding incidents. 

An oral update will be given on future plans for the Bridge (requested by Councillor Pope)

Councillor Pope had requested an update on plans for the Derby Street Bridge in Ormskirk.

The Forum was informed that the County Council had undertaken work to examine the structure of the bridge.  Further work to explore future options would be picked up as part of the Ormskirk movement study and a further report including specific recommendations would be presented to the Forum in due course.

Members of the Forum were asked to submit any items for the next West Lancashire 3 Tier Forum to the Chair and Sarah Palmer, Localities Officer, Lancashire County Council sarah.palmer@lancashire.gov.uk

A comment was made about graffiti under Mill Lane Canal Bridge, Parbold.  It was reported that the County Council had previously undertaken work to remove graffiti from the bridge and the County Council was already aware of the new incident. 

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.

None.

To be confirmed in due course.

To be confirmed.

It was reported that this would be the last meeting attended by Sarah Palmer, localities officer.  The Forum thanked Sarah for her support and members wished Sarah every success in the future.