NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET MEMBER
8 November 2002
144 (67) PERSONAL SEARCHES - APPROVAL OF CHARGE - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking approval to implement a charge for personal searches of £5 per enquiry for access to building control information other than by an official land charge search.
Information held on building regulation files was not the public domain as plans and documents did not come within the scope of sections 225 and 228 of the Local Government Act 1972. The public, therefore, had no right of inspection. However, councils had agreed to the inclusion of questions relating to building regulations on the new land charge search form and provide information in response to an official search, via the land charge section.
The question had arisen as to whether the same information which councils provide in response to an official search should be made available with regard to personal searches.
Access to date had been withheld but recent advice had been received from the Local Government Association that councils must behave reasonably and not act in a way that inhibited access. The advice stated that "given the importance of public rights of access, any restriction must be rationally based, be sufficiently justified, be proportionate to the need sought to be served, and be only for a legitimate aim".
All the council's relevant building control records were held in electronic format. Anyone undertaking a personal search would have to be accompanied into the workplace where a member of staff would have to access the data and provide the information sought. It was estimated that this would take on average 15 - 20 minutes per search.
Mindful of the above, it was proposed to make available the information for a small charge of £5 per search which would go towards funding the administrative costs of resourcing the demand.
Resolved - That a charge for personal searches of £5 per enquiry be made.
145 (68) INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL LAND AVAILABILITY SCHEDULE - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report informing the cabinet member of the findings of the industrial and commercial land availability survey and seeking approval for it to contribute towards the regional assessment of industrial land currently being undertaken. The report also sought approval to publish and circulate the schedule to interested parties.
The industrial and commercial land availability schedule identified all land within North Lincolnshire with planning consent in April 2002 together with all local plan proposed and committed sites identified for industry and commerce.
The council was required to monitor the amount of industrial land available and the rate of development in order to comply with regional planning guidance monitoring requirements. The schedule was updated on an annual basis and monitored the amount of land and rates of development.
The schedule contained 1011.89 hectares of land on 37 industrial and commercial locations on 63 separate sites. This included 854.31 hectares located on the South Humber Bank for estuary related development. The development of the Humber Bank was dependent on the special requirements of estuary related business and was safeguarded from non-estuary related industrial development. Development of this site had important implications for the wider economy and prosperity of the region and would take many years to develop.
Resolved - (a) That approval be given to the findings of the industrial and commercial land availability survey contributing to the regional assessment of industrial land currently being undertaken, and (b) that the schedule be published and circulated to interested parties.
146 (69) PRECAUTIONARY SALTING OF THE HIGHWAY 2002/2003 AND REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL SALTING ROUTES - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking approval of additions to the precautionary salting programme for 2002/2003.
Criteria for the selection of routes that qualified for precautionary salting was contained in the highway maintenance code of practice. Secondary salting routes were treated in severe weather conditions where known hazards existed. The definitions of a secondary salting route and the minimum criteria for treating secondary salting routes were set out in an appendix to the report.
The council treated over 600 kilometres of road, approximately half its road network. This minimised the risk of ice forming on the carriageway.
Since last winter a number of requests to include extra routes in the salting programme had been received, details of which were appended to the report. None of the routes met the criteria for inclusion on the precautionary salting route. Three routes had previously been approved for inclusion on the secondary salting routes and a further three met the criteria for inclusion in the programme for 2002/2003.
The A15 (south) from the M180 junction four to the North Lincolnshire boundary was now the responsibility of the council and had been included in the precautionary programme as a primary route.
Resolved - (a) That, with the addition of the A15 (south) the main precautionary salting routes for 2002/2003 be those agreed for the 2001/2002 programme, and (b) that the following routes be added to the secondary salting programme -
- North Killingholme, Church Lane.
- C137 Kirmington.
- Westwoodside, Commonside and Park Lane.
147 (70) HEATHLAND, WOODLAND AND LOCAL NATURE RESERVES - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking approval for the appointment of a post of Local Nature Reserves Community Liaison Officer to manage the Heathland, Woodland and Local Nature Reserves projects following successful bids for wildspace grant and Heritage Lottery funding.
Details of each of the projects were set out in the report. Many of the initiatives within each of the projects were interconnected and it was for this reason that it was proposed to amalgamate them under the management of the Local Nature Reserves Community Liaison Officer.
Resolved - (a) That approval be given to the establishment of a four year fixed term post of Local Nature Reserves Community Liaison Officer, and (b) that the staffing implications be referred to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.
148 (71) ISLE OF AXHOLME PROJECT - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report on the current situation regarding the Isle of Axholme project, and seeking approval to submit a bid for Heritage Lottery funding to deliver the next phase of work.
To date the project had -
- undertaken a historic landscape characterisation of the Isle of Axholme;
- produced a project strategy to guide the activities of the four partner organisations;
- produced an open field management strategy to target landscape conservation;
- designed and secured an in principle approval for a separate Isle of Axholme special project under the National Countryside Stewardship scheme;#
- proposed and delivered on the implementation of the Isle of Axholme Greenway and secured funding from the Single Regeneration Budget and Local Transport Plan; and
- enabled action by Belton Parish Council to purchase strategically important areas of strip land in Belton Fields.
Details of discussions held with the Heritage Lottery regional office regarding possible funding for the final phase of the project were expanded upon in the report. Heritage Lottery had suggested that a bid development worker be engaged to prepare the detailed bid.
£5,000 had already been secured from the Countryside Agency towards employing a development worker. The council's contribution would be £3,000.
Resolved - That approval be given to the appointment of a consultant to act as bid development worker to undertake the development bid to a stage suitable for submission to Heritage Lottery funding.
149 (72) BARNETBY-LE-WOLD PROPOSED WAITING RESTRICTIONS, ST BARNABAS ROAD/VICTORIA ROAD JUNCTION - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking approval for the introduction of a 'no waiting at any time' traffic regulation order at the junction of St Barnabas Road and Victoria Road, Barnetby-Le-Wold.
Barnetby Parish Council had requested that the council assess traffic safety issues at the location. St Barnabas Road was the only access to a new housing development and there had been a noticeable increase in the volume of traffic approaching the junction with Victoria Road.
The traffic assessment showed that it was necessary to improve the layout of the footways and mini roundabout at the junction, primarily for safety reasons.
For the revised layout to function effectively it was also necessary to implement a 'no waiting at any time' traffic regulation order at the junction of St Barnabas Road and Victoria Road. This would allow the junction to remain clear of parked vehicles.
Resolved - (a) That approval be given to advertise the proposed 'no waiting at any time' traffic regulation order as indicated on the plan appended to the report, and (b) that subject to no objections being received, the order be made and implemented.
150 (73) PROPOSED TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS, CROWLE TOWN CENTRE - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking approval for the introduction of various traffic regulation orders at Crowle Town Centre.
Complaints had been received from Crowle Town Council about congestion and potential dangers to road users arising from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) using the High Street, which formed part of the A161, a principal route linking Gainsborough to Crowle.
A series of traffic surveys had been carried out along the A161 to investigate the claims. The results indicated a relatively small number of HGVs used it as a through route but the majority of HGVs were travelling between the A18 and Crowle, completing the journey in Crowle itself or at surrounding farms and settlements.
A number of traffic management options had been suggested to assist in reducing the traffic problems. These had been discussed with the Town Council, the agreed option being the introduction of a traffic signal scheme restricting traffic to single file through the narrow section of the High Street, and a 20 mph speed limit being introduced in two roads linking High Street to Fieldside.
Part of the traffic management option also required the introduction of waiting restrictions, the construction of mini roundabouts and the introduction of a one way system in the market place.
The proposed traffic regulation orders were advertised on 1 October 2002. A letter of support had been received from Crowle Town Council. A number of objections to the proposals had been received, details of which were commented upon in the report.
Both orders were important elements of the overall scheme and, if they were not approved, the scheme as designed would not be viable.
Resolved - That consideration of the matter be deferred.
151 (74) PROPOSED EXTENSION OF 30 MPH SPEED LIMIT - STATION ROAD, MANTON LANE, REDBOURNE ROAD AND MILL ROAD, HIBALDSTOW - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking approval to introduce traffic regulation orders to extend the existing 30 mph speed limits in parts of the above roads as indicated on plans appended to the report.
Residents and the Parish Council had expressed concerns regarding the dangers brought about by speeding vehicles entering the village. Requests had been made for the existing 30 mph speed limit to be extended north and south to include Manton Lane and Mill Road.
The junctions of Manton Lane and Mill Road were just outside the existing 30 mph speed limit and, as the risk of accidents increased at junctions, it was considered appropriate for the two junctions to be included within the speed limit. Both Manton Lane and Mill Road had residential properties on part of the road and therefore those lengths of road had also been included within the proposed extension of the 30 mph speed limit.
Resolved - (a) That approval be given to the advertising of a traffic regulation order extending the existing 30 mph speed limit in Redbourne Road, Station Road, Manton Lane and Mill Road as indicated on plans appended to the report, and (b) that subject to no objections being received the order be made and implemented.
152 (75) SAFETY CAMERA PROJECT UPDATE - SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT - The Director of Environment and Public Protection referred to minute 90 and submitted a report giving details of the current position of the above project, and seeking approval for the council to enter into a service level agreement for the Humberside Police Force area safety camera project.
The service level agreement set out how the project would be managed and included details of each partners role and responsibilities.
The object of the project and the council's commitment to it was summarised in the report.
A project board had been established to co-ordinate policy and general project management. The Assistant Director, Highways and Transportation represented the council on the board.
The project was due to start on 1 April 2003. Details of advance site works for the location of the mobile safety cameras and associated signage were set out in the report. The council's contribution towards the project was £100,000.
Resolved - That, subject to the satisfactory establishment of a funding mechanism for the advance works, approval be given for the Assistant Director, Highways and Transportation to sign the Humberside Casualty Reduction Project service level agreement.
153 (76) CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POST IN THE HIGHWAY CONTROL TEAM - The Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report seeking approval for the creation of an additional post in the highway control team. The post was required in order to respond to a significant increase in the land charge search workload.
The system of local land charge searches changed in July 2002. Significant additional work was now required on statutory procedures. Each of the searches handled by the team had additional questions relating to traffic issues.
The directorate received over 5,000 searches each year. Previously the traffic questions were optional, but all searches now had to include a response.
The questions attracted a charge of £5 per search and it was proposed to use this income to finance the additional post.
Resolved - (a) That approval be given to the establishment of a post of Technical Assistant (Highway Control), and (b) that the staffing implications be referred to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.
The following item contains exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
154 (77) DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL LAND PROPERTY GAZETTEER (LLPG) AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) WITHIN THE DIRECTORATE OF ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC PROTECTION - The Director of Environment and Public Protection and the Director of Corporate Affairs submitted a joint report regarding future management and project development arrangements for the North Lincolnshire Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and for directorate level development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Proposals were made to set up a GIS/LLPG implementation team and a joint IT working group.
Geographic information systems were databases designed to handle geographic information (issues of place and space). They used digital mapping to display and analyse this data. There were about 65 users of this information within the council, the majority in the Environment and Public Protection directorate.
The National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) was a central government supported scheme to create definitive standard format land and property information that could be used to link data. The council's own LLPG was a key component of its data hub along with the organisation directory and the client index.
Both the LLPG and GIS could improve service delivery and performance to customers by integrating, querying and plotting data geographically.
The council's IT Board in June 2001 approved the corporate GIS strategy. The benefits to services from this needed more data sharing and standardisation. As a start work would be done in the Environment and Public Protection directorate as part of the Gazetteer, creating a standard for basic data cleaning for the council.
The council's IT Board approved a feasibility study into the storage and sending of geographic information. This was part of the e-government strategy to meet the 2005 target for electronic service delivery. An implementation team, funded from surplus income in Building Control, would take forward the project. Based in the Environment and Public Protection directorate the team would work on GIS identified projects.
The report gave details of how the work of the team would impact on the directorate's IT resources and made proposals to address the additional impact of GIS and LLPG.
Resolved - (a) That approval be given to the setting up of a GIS/LLPG team and IT working party as set out in the report and accompanying appendix, and (b) that the staffing implications shown in the appendix be referred to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.