Minutes of the Highways Committee Meeting

10 May 2022, 7.00pm

Held in the Community Centre, King Georges Avenue, Leiston

Present: Cllr John Last BEM (Chairman)

Cllr Lesley Hill

Cllr David Bailey

Mr Peter Sparrow – Suffolk Highways

Mrs Caroline Rinder (Town Clerk)

	Action
1. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed to appoint Cllr Last as Chairman for the coming year.
2. PUBLIC FORUM No members of the public were in attendance.
3. APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Cllr Corbett, Cllr Levermore, Cllr Morsley and County Cllr Haworth-Culf.
4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 15 FEBRUARY 2022 It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed that the minutes were a true record.
5. MATTERS ARISING Footpath 8 Stocks Fair Fence Line – Mrs Rinder advised that unfortunately there is no resolution to report regarding the footpath encroachment or high fencing that has been put up. The SCC Rights of Way team are liaising with ESC Planning Enforcement to try and resolve the issues and to engage with the landowners, which is proving difficult. Mrs Rinder will update further in due course. Flooding Issues on the B1119 Saxmundham Road Update – Mr Sparrow advised this scheme is currently being done at the moment in conjunction with the patching and redressing of the Saxmundham Road. He confirmed the ditches on the left had been dug out and verges built up with the programme of works ongoing over the next two weeks. Review of Safety Issues at Station Road Crossing – Mrs Rinder reported she had seen the three ‘slow’ markings had now been renewed and Mr Sparrow confirmed the two warning signs had been changed over. Flooding at the Parrot and Punchbowl – Cllr Hill reported the flooding and Mr Sparrow advised no other reports were received but to report it if the road floods again. Parking Issues at Old Foundry Place – Cllr Last advised he had responded to the resident regarding the difficulties in being able to park by their property suggesting they could apply for an ‘H’ marking across their drive or the possibility of having a residents parking scheme, which would require all the residents to be in agreement and to pay an annual fee to East Suffolk Council. However, this would not guarantee parking outside your property. Drainage Gulleys – Kings Road – It was noted that Cllr Morsley had reported the issues as requested. Cllr Last confirmed the vegetation hadn’t been cleared and the grills were still broken. Mr Sparrow had requested the gulleys were included on the routine cleansing schedule and will chase both these points up with the relevant teams.	CR Highways Highways
6. PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON ALDEBURGH ROAD UPDATE Mrs Rinder confirmed Council had agreed the revised design fee quote and this was paid last week and is now awaiting the design of the pedestrian crossing to be sent. This will include the full cost of the project which, once approved by Council, can then be implemented.	Highways
7. SEAWARD AVENUE PARKING ISSUES Mr Sparrow advised the fire hydrant on that build out needs to be checked to ascertain how deep the pit is and whether it would require lowering before an estimate can be raised. It is hoped if the build out can be removed it will allow parking for 3 or 4 vehicles. Mr Sparrow will chase this up. Cllr Bailey asked if any further details were available on parking bays within the Transport Strategy and Cllr Last explained that the design team (WSP) were working on the revisions and there would be potentially 11 extra parking bays. Two blocks of 4 and also 3 bays near the bungalows.	Highways
8. RED HOUSE LANE JUNCTION Mrs Rinder advised Cllr Cooper had checked with the Planning team and the design of the footpath and splay had been approved as part of the development. Mr Sparrow is still awaiting confirmation if any funding remains from the S106 agreement relating to the housing development to cover the costs. If not, this then means if LTC wanted to take this forward we would have to fund the improvements ourselves. Mr Sparrow will speak to the Design Team for an estimate.	Highways Highways
9. FUTURE PLANNED HIGHWAYS WORKS Mr Sparrow advised that surface dressing in Westward Ho and King Edward Road would be carried out shortly. Cllr Hill requested that these roads be swept beforehand to avoid weeds and debris being covered over. No further works are planned at present.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Recycling Centre Right Turn Cllr Hill queried if the restriction on no right turn at the recycling centre was still in place and Mr Sparrow confirmed this had been removed. Speeding Motorists Cllr Hill raised a point from County Cllr Haworth-Culf’s recent report which stated that SCC had purchased 10 ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras which would be available to parishes to loan for one week. Suffolk Constabulary will review the data and the worst offenders will be sent a letter. All agreed we should request one and Mr Sparrow will forward the link to Mrs Rinder so she can investigate further. High Street Curb Repairs Mrs Rinder raised, on behalf of Cllr Morsley, a curb repair outside Platts and Tiffins Café which was poorly done and had asked Cllr Morsley to report it on the reporting tool. Mr Sparrow confirmed this was a temporary repair and would be repaired correctly in due course.	Highways CR
11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Date of the next meeting is Tuesday 9 August 2022, 7.00pm.
Meeting closed at 7.50pm

Action

1. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed to appoint Cllr Last as Chairman for the coming year.

2. PUBLIC FORUM

No members of the public were in attendance.

3. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Cllr Corbett, Cllr Levermore, Cllr Morsley and County Cllr Haworth-Culf.

4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 15 FEBRUARY 2022

It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed that the minutes were a true record.

5. MATTERS ARISING

Footpath 8 Stocks Fair Fence Line – Mrs Rinder advised that unfortunately there is no resolution to report regarding the footpath encroachment or high fencing that has been put up. The SCC Rights of Way team are liaising with ESC Planning Enforcement to try and resolve the issues and to engage with the landowners, which is proving difficult. Mrs Rinder will update further in due course.

Flooding Issues on the B1119 Saxmundham Road Update – Mr Sparrow advised this scheme is currently being done at the moment in conjunction with the patching and redressing of the Saxmundham Road. He confirmed the ditches on the left had been dug out and verges built up with the programme of works ongoing over the next two weeks.

Review of Safety Issues at Station Road Crossing – Mrs Rinder reported she had seen the three ‘slow’ markings had now been renewed and Mr Sparrow confirmed the two warning signs had been changed over.

Flooding at the Parrot and Punchbowl – Cllr Hill reported the flooding and Mr Sparrow advised no other reports were received but to report it if the road floods again.

Parking Issues at Old Foundry Place – Cllr Last advised he had responded to the resident regarding the difficulties in being able to park by their property suggesting they could apply for an ‘H’ marking across their drive or the possibility of having a residents parking scheme, which would require all the residents to be in agreement and to pay an annual fee to East Suffolk Council. However, this would not guarantee parking outside your property.

Drainage Gulleys – Kings Road – It was noted that Cllr Morsley had reported the issues as requested. Cllr Last confirmed the vegetation hadn’t been cleared and the grills were still broken. Mr Sparrow had requested the gulleys were included on the routine cleansing schedule and will chase both these points up with the relevant teams.

Highways

6. PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON ALDEBURGH ROAD UPDATE

Mrs Rinder confirmed Council had agreed the revised design fee quote and this was paid last week and is now awaiting the design of the pedestrian crossing to be sent. This will include the full cost of the project which, once approved by Council, can then be implemented.

Highways

7. SEAWARD AVENUE PARKING ISSUES

Mr Sparrow advised the fire hydrant on that build out needs to be checked to ascertain how deep the pit is and whether it would require lowering before an estimate can be raised. It is hoped if the build out can be removed it will allow parking for 3 or 4 vehicles. Mr Sparrow will chase this up.

Cllr Bailey asked if any further details were available on parking bays within the Transport Strategy and Cllr Last explained that the design team (WSP) were working on the revisions and there would be potentially 11 extra parking bays. Two blocks of 4 and also 3 bays near the bungalows.

Highways

8. RED HOUSE LANE JUNCTION

Mrs Rinder advised Cllr Cooper had checked with the Planning team and the design of the footpath and splay had been approved as part of the development. Mr Sparrow is still awaiting confirmation if any funding remains from the S106 agreement relating to the housing development to cover the costs. If not, this then means if LTC wanted to take this forward we would have to fund the improvements ourselves. Mr Sparrow will speak to the Design Team for an estimate.

Highways

9. FUTURE PLANNED HIGHWAYS WORKS

Mr Sparrow advised that surface dressing in Westward Ho and King Edward Road would be carried out shortly. Cllr Hill requested that these roads be swept beforehand to avoid weeds and debris being covered over. No further works are planned at present.

10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Recycling Centre Right Turn

Cllr Hill queried if the restriction on no right turn at the recycling centre was still in place and Mr Sparrow confirmed this had been removed.

Speeding Motorists

Cllr Hill raised a point from County Cllr Haworth-Culf’s recent report which stated that SCC had purchased 10 ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras which would be available to parishes to loan for one week. Suffolk Constabulary will review the data and the worst offenders will be sent a letter. All agreed we should request one and Mr Sparrow will forward the link to Mrs Rinder so she can investigate further.

High Street Curb Repairs

Mrs Rinder raised, on behalf of Cllr Morsley, a curb repair outside Platts and Tiffins Café which was poorly done and had asked Cllr Morsley to report it on the reporting tool. Mr Sparrow confirmed this was a temporary repair and would be repaired correctly in due course.

Highways

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Date of the next meeting is Tuesday 9 August 2022, 7.00pm.

Meeting closed at 7.50pm