Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Darwin, Dickinson and Jones. 

The minutes of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee held on Monday 15 January 2024, as circulated, to be agreed and signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council held on Monday 15 January 2024, as circulated, were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

This report sets out the details of the draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) and Highway Maintenance Investment in U and C Roads and Footways programmes for 2024-25 for consideration and comment by the Local Area Committee, prior to final approval of the programme by the Executive Director for Place and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Improving our Roads and Highways.

The report set out the details of the draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) and Highway Maintenance Investment in U and C roads and footways programmes for 2024-25. Final approval of the programme would be made by the Executive Director for Place and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Improving our Roads and Highways taking into consideration the actual level of funding received from Department of Transport (DfT) and feedback from the Local Area Committees.

R McKenzie, Senior Programme Officer (Highways Improvements) provided an introduction to the report advising that the draft LTP programme for 2024-25 was based on a settlement from the DfT from which a sum would be retained by the North East Joint Transport Committee to cover central transport costs.   The Council had therefore developed a £26,193,624 LTP programme which consisted of improvements and maintenance schemes over the four key areas of sustainable transport; safety; roads; and bridges, structures and landslips.  The full details of the draft programme were set out in Appendices A to D of the report.   The Council was also intending to carry out an additional £4,450,000 of highway maintenance investment in U and C roads and Footways programme utilising Council’s capital funding with the details set out in Appendix E.   The funding for the programme would be subject to approval of the Council’s Capital Programme at the County Council meeting on 21 February 2024. 

Information would be provided in response to Councillor Foster query on what works would be carried out for the £40,000 which had been identified for Stakeford Crescent in Appendix E.

Councillor Dodd was advised that it was too early to identify a timescale in respect of the work to be undertaken on the A696 in Belsay however he would be notified once the timing had been agreed. 

Councillor Sanderson stated that all Councils were facing the same challenges due to roads not being constructed for the types and number of vehicles which were now using the network and the impact of the weather on surfaces.  He advised that the Administration would continue to fund and fight against potholes.  In response to his query regarding the £449,000 identified for highway maintenance and advance design it was clarified that this was for Council staff to undertake preliminary design and testing in advance in order to be ready for each programme. 

Councillor Murphy was advised that the exact allocation from the £100,000 identified for safety schemes for the scheme within her ward was not known as it would depend on the outcome of discussions on the requirements.

In relation to the research into better methods of repairing potholes it was confirmed that pilot schemes were undertaken, and laboratory testing continued on different types of fillings as part of the normal programme of work.  A report had already been provided on the pilot scheme in the North of the County.  Councillor Sanderson advised that additional funding had been included in the budget if this was agreed by Council.  He stated that roads  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.