Agenda item

The Committee is asked to consider the attached report and to make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Executive Director – Commercialisation introduced the report and explained that the Committee’s Terms of Reference had been amended to allow it to consider small scale highway improvement schemes within the unparished areas of King’s Lynn and West Lynn, under the County Council’s Parish Partnership Programme (PPP).  The PPP allowed Parish Councils to bid for match funding for small scale highway improvement schemes in their area.  In the unparished area of King’s Lynn and West Lynn, KLACC would now consider any scheme put forward.  If KLACC decided to support a particular scheme, the recommendation would be passed to Cabinet for their consideration.

It was explained that one scheme had been put forward for 2018/19.  This was a scheme for two Speed Awareness Messaging (SAM) signs to be located on either Vancouver Avenue, Goodwins Road, or Tennyson Road.  The proposed signs showed the speed of vehicles if they exceeded the limit, with the legend ‘slow down’ as part of the unit.  There were 5 locations on Vancouver Avenue, Goodwins Road and Tennyson Road which could accommodate the signs, which were moveable, and should only be at each location once every 3 months.  Further locations would be agreed with Highways as required.  Arrangements were being put in place with local residents to charge the signs and move them as required.

In relation to the financial implications of the proposal, it was reported that the costs of the scheme would be:

2 SAM signs @ £3,500 each               =          £7,000

KLWNBC Match finding required        =          £3,500

It was explained that in the same way that Parishes would fund highway works in their areas through precepts, funding for the signs would need to come out of King’s Lynn Special Expenses.

The Chairman suggested that if the Committee decided to support the proposal then recommendation 2 be deferred and considered with the Special Expenses item on the agenda.

The Chairman introduced Andy Wallace from Norfolk County Council to answer any technical questions that the Committee might have.

In response to queries, Andy Wallace explained that the signs would be battery powered.  Local volunteers would charge the batteries and change the location of signs.

Councillor Middleton explained that each County Councillor had been allocated a highway budget of £6,000 which they could spend within their division.  Councillors Kemp and Smith had pledged to put their budget towards reinstating the 7.5 tonne limit on the B1144.  Therefore there would not be any funds available to put towards the SAM signs.  It was explained that the budget for County Councillors would be reviewed year on year.                                                                                                    

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson expressed concern that if the County Councillor had allocated their budget to one area, what happened to the other areas.

Councillor Middleton outlined how he had gone about allocating his budget but added that it was up to the individual Councillor to prioritise.

The Leader advised that a Legal Order in respect of weight restrictions was expensive to impose, but it was down to the choice of the County Councillor concerned how they spent their budget.

Councillor Bambridge informed the Committee that another speed-watch session took place recently and in an hour and a half, 39 vehicles were caught speeding.

The Executive Director – Commercial Services advised the Committee that the SAM signs would be able to collect data in terms of what speeds people were travelling.

Andy Wallace informed the Committee that the company who supplied the signs would give training to the volunteers on how to use the signs, charge them, etc.

Councillors Miss Bambridge and the Chairman informed the Committee that ideally residents wanted a crossing at the Avenue Road junction however there was a slight bend in the road.  Another alternative for a crossing was close to the railway lines but this would need to be an alternative scheme.

The Committee agreed to defer recommendation 2 to the next item of business on the agenda, as options on how to fund the scheme had been outlined.

The Committee then made the following recommendations to Cabinet:

(1)        That the King’s Lynn Advisory Consultative Committee supports the proposal for SAM signage in King’s Lynn.

(2)        That the Chairman and Councillor J Collop be nominated to represent the Committee’s view to Cabinet.