Decision details

The Chair welcomed County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, and Kirstie Williams, Highways Group Manager – County Wide Maintenance, to the meeting.

A progress report was presented to the committee on the implementation of agreed actions following the recommendations of the Public Realm Agreements Task Group report as adopted by the Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee.

The committee was informed that a number of actions had been completed apart from five actions that were marked as in progress. It was reported that all five outstanding actions related to the requirement for the Public Realm (Section 101) Agreements to be approved by Cabinet. There was an aim for these Agreements to be presented to Cabinet at its meeting scheduled for 16 January 2025.

On the offer to parish and town councils to apply for direct allocations to carry out public realm work, it was reported that following the email sent out to all parish and town councils on 17 November 2023, five had expressed an interest. To date only two of those, including Weeton with Preese Parish Council had been added to the list of providers in 2024/25. It was acknowledged that making a further offer to all parish and town councils could be beneficial.

It was suggested that the progress report be brought annually to the committee for consideration. Updated budget allocations for 2024/25 and where possible projections for 2025/26 for districts and parish and town councils would be circulated to members following the meeting. The list of parish and town councils undertaking public realm work would also be amended.

Resolved: That;

(i)  The Progress Report be noted.

(ii)  A further progress report be scheduled at an appropriate time in 2025.

(iii)Budget allocations for 2024/25 and projected budget allocations for 2025/26 along with an updated list of Parish and Town Council allocations be circulated to all members of the Committee.