Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2006, having been printed and circulated were signed as a correct record.

            It was confirmed that no public questions had been received.

            The Board considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board, Executive Board Sub Committee and the Executive (Transmodal Implementation) Sub Board relevant to the Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board.  

            The Board received the Draft Town Centre Strategies for Halton Lea and Runcorn Old Town, as Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD’s), which had been approved for the purpose of statutory public consultation. The public consultation would take place between 1^st February 2007 and 15^th March 2007 and members were asked to submit any comments, in writing, during this time. It was noted that Widnes would have an Area Action Plan produced instead of an SPD.

 

            The Board discussed various issues relating to car parking provision, both in Runcorn Old Town and in Trident Park at Halton Lea.               

 

            RESOLVED: That the content of the report and appendices be noted.

            The Board received a report which gave details of the outcome of further investigations and a site visit which assessed the current situation at the junction of Derby Road/Peelhouse Lane, Widnes.

 

            The further investigations and site visit had concluded that due to the bus routes and the space needed to allow deliveries to the Co-op shop it was not possible to install a refuge island. The possibility of installing traffic signals was also investigated, but these would increase delays at the junction and cause problems for adjacent properties.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and the junction continue to be monitored.

            The Board was advised of the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Transport on 18^th December 2006 that gave details of the 2007/8 Local Transport Capital Expenditure Settlement and the classifications awarded to the Council’s second Local Transport Plan 2001/2 (LTP2) – 2005/6 (LTP1) Delivery Report.

 

            It was noted that the settlement included an additional £392,000 awarded for the high performance achieved in both LTP2 and LTP1 Delivery Report. The Department for Transport (DfT) performance assessments placed Halton in the top quartile of the 82 local transport authorities in England.

 

            RESOLVED: That the 2007/8 Local Transport Capital Expenditure Settlement and the classifications awarded to the Council’s second Local Transport Plan and Delivery Report of the first Local Transport Plan be welcomed.

            The Board received a report which sought to develop a work programme of topics for 2007/8.

 

            RESOLVED: That the following working groups be established/continue to consider topics identified for scrutiny during 2007/8:

 

Working Group	Membership	Lead Officer
Future of Town Centre Management	Councillors Leadbetter, (Chairperson), Sly, Nolan, Thompson, Rowe	Gary Collins
Housing Strategy	Councillors Wallace (Chairperson), Whittaker, E. Cargill	Steve Williams
Income Regeneration (should it continue into 2007/8)	Councillors Hignett and Leadbetter, Thompson, Rowe, Morley, Sly	Derek Sutton

            The Board received a report on the review of the current Natural Assets Strategy, which was adopted in September 2000. It was noted that the review would reflect the changes in the wider environment in which the Strategy operated, recent changes in legislation and highlight the success of the raised profile of Halton’s natural environment. In this respect two DVD’s, entitled ‘Swifts in Halton’ and ‘Pickerings Pasture’ were played to the Board.

 

            The Board requested further information on how Swifts in the area could be helped and were advised that assessments and assistance in putting up nesting boxes was available as well as working with builders to include nesting boxes within new build properties as part of the ‘Wild about Halton’ initiative.

 

            In addition the need to get the balance of vegetation right, particularly during the planning process was discussed along with the regeneration works at Castlefields. The need for further publicity was also raised.

 

            RESOLVED: That

 

(1)     The Executive Board be recommended to approve:

 

(a)   the review of the Natural Assets Strategy be published as a document available to the public;

 

(b)   the policies and actions contained in the Natural Assets Strategy be noted by all services and followed whenever any of the Council’s activities would potentially impact on the natural environment; and

 

(2)     a public launch of the document to take place on 2007.