TOWN CL ERK DISS TOWN COUNCIL Ms D J Sarson, MILCM Counci l Of f ices, 11-12 Market Hi l l ,

Diss , Norfo lk , IP22 4JZ. Telephone/Fax: (01379) 643848 Emai l : towncounc i l@diss.gov.uk

NOTICE OF MEETING Dear Members of the Public & Press, You are cordially invited to attend a meeting of the Infrastructure Committee to be held in the Meeting Room at Diss Youth & Community Centre on 29th November 2017 at 7.15pm to consider the business detailed below.

Town Clerk

A G E N D A 1. Apologies

To receive and consider apologies for absence.

2. Nomination of Substitute Representatives To note nominated substitute representatives attending in place of those who have sent their apologies.

3. Declarations of Interest 1 and Requests for Dispensations

To note any declarations of members' pecuniary and/or non-pecuniary/other interests pertaining to items on the following agenda, to note any dispensations granted in respect of business to be discussed and to consider any requests for dispensations.

4. Minutes

To confirm as a true record, the minutes of the meeting of the Infrastructure Committee held on 4th October 2017 (copy herewith).

5. Public Participation

To consider a resolution under Standing Orders 3d to 3h to suspend the meeting to hear comments from members of the public on items to be discussed on the agenda. (Members of the public are entitled to speak for a maximum of three minutes).

6. Items of URGENT business To discuss any item(s) of business which the Chairman has previously been informed at least 24 hours before the meeting and decides should be considered as a matter of urgency (Councillors are reminded that no resolutions can be made under this agenda item).

7. Vinces Road Junction Improvements a) To receive an update following a meeting scheduled for Friday 24th November with the new Chairman

of the LEP, hosted by Midwich, to discuss funding options for junction improvements at Vinces Road plus Nelson Road improvements along with wider Diss transport network issues.

b) To receive an update following further consideration of the feasibility of moving the bus stop outside the Shell garage on Victoria Road to west of the Vinces Road junction prior to the proposed Station Road connection with Nelson Road

8. Diss Station Railway Group

To receive an update from the meeting of the Diss Station Railway Group held on 14th November. 9. Bus Station Locations

To consider and refer where necessary, bus station locations which require review.

Please ask for: Ms Deborah Sarson Our ref: INF 29.11.17 Date: 23 November 2017

NOTES 1 - Council has a statutory legal duty under the Localism Act 2011 s2 and has adopted a code dealing with the conduct that is expected of members in order to promote high standards of conduct as required by the Act. Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests are kept on a register available to view on the Council’s website. Allegations about the conduct of a councillor may be made to the district council’s monitoring officer. Diss Town Council has also adopted a dispensation policy. The reports and enclosures referred to in this agenda are supplied to councillors only. They are available (unless marked confidential) for public inspection at the Council Offices during normal opening hours or on our website at www.diss.gov.uk/your-council/our-committees/ Please note that the Council Chamber is currently on the first floor of the Corn Hall. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting who will require access to the lift should contact the Deputy / Town Clerk prior to the start of the meeting.

10. Parish Partnership Scheme To consider costs received for installing bollards along the Market Place in front of the raised pedestrian access area and to determine whether to submit this scheme as a bid to the Parish Partnership scheme (relevant information to be tabled).

11. Local Members Highways Budget

To note there is still £6,000 for our local County Councillor to deliver small schemes in the area and to consider proposals for same.

12. A1066/Victoria Road Pedestrian Crossings To update members on the proposal to change the pedestrian crossing on the A1066/Victoria Road near the swimming pool from a controlled crossing to a pedestrian Zebra crossing (relevant correspondence herewith).

13. Market Place/Mere Street

a) To further consider a review of the Traffic Regulation Order for parking in the Market Place and the pedestrianised section of Mere Street.

b) To consider options for improving the junction of Mere Street with the A1066 to reduce the traffic hold ups experienced at peak times.

14. Brown Tourism Signs

To receive an update on improvements to the Brown Tourism Signs for Diss. 15. Improved Town Centre & Car Park signage along the A1066.

To receive an update from SNC on the progression of improved signage to be installed on the A1066 following the MTI project for Diss.

16. Progress Report

To note the progress report from the last meeting of the Infrastructure committee (herewith). 17. Date of Next Meeting

To note that the next meeting of the Infrastructure Committee will be held on 24th January 2018.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: FOR INFORMATION: Councillors: Town Clerk Deputy Town Clerk

M. Bardwell Responsible Finance Officer Maintenance Manager J. Mason G. Minshull (ex-officio) Councillors: S. Olander S. Browne D. Traube M. Gibson N. Howard T. Wenman (ex-officio) K. Kiddie (County Cllr) C. Liggett A. Kitchen F. Wenman District Cllr A. Palmer Diss Express Diss Mercury

Infrastructure Committee 26.04.17 Page 1 of 3

DISS TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting of the Infrastructure Committee held in the Council Chamber at Diss Corn Hall on Wednesday 4th October 2017 at 7:15pm. Present: Councillors A. Kitchen G. Minshull (ex-officio) T. Wenman(ex-officio) S. Olander (C)

M. Bardwell J. Mason

In attendance: Ms D Sarson, Town Clerk

INF1017/01 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Councillors elected the Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee for the Municipal Year 2017/18. It was RESOLVED: to elect Councillor Olander as the Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee for the

Municipal Year 2017/18.

INF1017/02 APOLOGIES An apology was received and accepted from Councillor Traube.

INF1017/03 NOMINATION OF SUBSTITUTE REPRESENTATIVES There were none. INF1017/04 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN

Councillors elected a Vice Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee for the Municipal Year 2017/18. It was RESOLVED: to elect Councillor Mason as the Vice Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee for the

Municipal Year 2017/18

INF1017/05 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 1 AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS

INF1017/06 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

It was

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Infrastructure Committee held on 26th April were a true record and were duly signed by the Chairman.

INF1017/07 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Councillors considered a resolution under Standing Orders 3 d., e., f., g. & h to suspend the meeting to receive comments from members of the public on items to be discussed on the agenda. The members of the public in attendance would be invited to speak at the appropriate item.

INF1017/08 ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS It was brought to the committee’s attention that a number of complaints had been received about the significant increase in on street car parking around the town since the introduction of new car parking charges and short and long stay car parks. It was noted that South Norfolk Council will not review the effectiveness of the new car parking arrangements for at least a year to allow a full cycle of annual permit renewals. Discussion was held around availability of spaces at various car parks and it was noted that the Park Road car park is not being well utilised for long stay because people consider it is too far away. It has been the Town Council’s intention to install a path across the park for several years so now would be a good time to push this forward to better link this car park to the town centre.

(Action: DepTC/H&F; by 31.12.17) INF1017/09 PLANNING DELEGATION POLICY

Minute No. Councillor’s Name

Personal/ Other Interest

Pecuniary Interest

Reason

INF1017/10 J. Mason ✓

The Councillor is a resident affected by the Vinces Road traffic issues

INF1017/08 INF1017/09 INF1017/10 INF1017/11 INF1017/14

G. Minshull ✓

The Councillor is an elected member of South Norfolk Council.

Infrastructure Committee 26.04.17 Page 2 of 3

Councillors carried out the annual review of the Planning Delegation Policy. Following concerns raised from within the community it was agreed to amend the policy to include ‘significant extensions to existing premises’ to those items that would automatically go to committee. It was also agreed to ensure that all councillors receive a copy of applications received on a weekly basis. It was RESOLVED: to approve the planning policy with amendments.

(Action: Clerk; by 06.10.17) INF1017/10 VINCES ROAD JUNCTION IMPROVEMENTS

a) Councillors received an update following the meeting held with Tom McCabe, Executive Director Community and Environmental Services at Norfolk County Council, Tim Horspole from South Norfolk Council and representatives of the larger affected businesses, residents and Diss Town Council regarding a programme for when junction improvements will take place and to discuss Nelson Road improvements along with wider Diss transport network issues. It was agreed that Diss Town Council should take a lead on communicating with Norfolk County Council about funding the junction improvements and to chase the other meeting attendees to follow up on the agreed actions. It was

RESOLVED: to write to Tom McCabe, Executive Director Community and Environmental Services at Norfolk County Council to promote the Vinces Road scheme for funding in the next financial year and to chase the other meeting attendees to follow up on the agreed actions.

(Action: Clerk; by 31.10.17) b) Councillors considered the feasibility of moving the bus stop outside the Shell garage on Victoria

Road to west of the Vinces Road junction before the proposed Station Road connection with Nelson Road has been implemented. The Clerk had emailed Norfolk County Council setting out the issue that when the bus stops at this point, it prevents all traffic from moving on the A1066, further exacerbating the existing rush hour congestion at the Vinces Road junction and the proposal to move the bus stop. She tabled a response which included an alternative proposal from Norfolk County Council which was to move the bus stop further east to the other side of Station Road. There was concern this would not resolve the problem and would be an unnecessary exercise if the Nelson Road connection is to be delivered within the foreseeable future. There was concern raised about the location of a number of other bus stops around the town. It was RESOLVED: i) to respond stating that the Town Council is concerned the proposal to

move the bus stop east of Station Road will not have such a significant impact as to justify the short-term solution, particularly if the Nelson Road connection is likely to come forward in the foreseeable future. The preferred option remains to move the bus stop to the west to create a natural break in the traffic in Vinces Road.

ii) to refer the matter of other bus station location issues to the next meeting of the agenda.

(Action: Clerk; by 13.10.17) INF1017/11 DISS STATION RAILWAY GROUP

Councillors received an update regarding the reinstatement of the Diss Station Railway Group. It was noted that recent meetings have been held and one of the initiatives is to improve cross-promotion between the town centre and the railway station. Town promotional signs will be located at the railway station and train timetable boards located in the town centre. It was RESOLVED: that Councillors Olander and Mason would identify appropriate sites for two railway

timetable boards in the town centre. (Action: SO/JM; by 30.10.17)

INF1017/12 MARKET TOWN STUDY Councillors noted correspondence from Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development & Transport Committee regarding the inclusion of Diss in the second year of market town studies and to consider an appropriate contribution towards the cost of traffic survey work subject to consideration by the Diss & District Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group. There may still be some options for potential funding towards a traffic study which will be pursued by the Steering Group.

INF1017/13 LOCAL MEMBERS HIGHWAY BUDGET/PARISH PARTNERSHIP SCHEMES

Councillors noted that Norfolk County Council has introduced a new budget of £6,000 for each County Councillor to deliver small schemes in their area to run concurrently with Parish Partnership Schemes and to consider suitable projects for same. It was RESOLVED: to propose removeable bollards in the Market Place for the Parish Partnership Scheme

ensuring sufficient bollards are installed to prevent vehicles parking. (Action: Clerk; by 11.12.17)

Infrastructure Committee 26.04.17 Page 3 of 3

INF1017/14 DISS AND DISTRICT NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Councillors received an update on the Neighbourhood Plan following a final workshop session with representatives of the parishes on the Steering Group, facilitated by the consultants, Tibbalds. The purpose of the session was to agree a vision, objectives and themes following an earlier workshop and public consultation. There were no surprises at the main issues raised at the public consultation. A report will be provided by the end of next week which will be considered by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group at its next meeting.

INF1017/15 A1066/VICTORIA ROAD PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS Councillors considered a request to approve a temporary signal controlled crossing whilst the traffic signal equipment is replaced in the pedestrian crossing on Victoria Road outside the Leisure Centre. However, the suggestion was made that the money would be better spent converting it into a zebra crossing as it is the least used of the traffic signal crossings and often causes unnecessary hold-ups on the A1066. Given the success of the zebra crossing on Park Road, it was

RESOLVED: to propose changing the traffic-signal crossing outside the Leisure Centre on Victoria Road to a zebra crossing to help improve the flow of traffic on the A1066

(Action: Clerk; by 10.11.17) INF1017/16 WALCOT GREEN/SANDY LANE

a) Councillors considered a proposal to amend the existing Traffic Regulation Order for Walcot Green through to Sandy Lane from 40mph to 30mph.

b) Councillors considered a proposal for signage along Walcot Green/Sandy Lane to reduce the speed of traffic in anticipation of the Frenze Hall Lane development. It was

RESOLVED: to put both these items forward to the Parish Partnership Scheme

(Action: Clerk; by 11.12.17)

Post meeting note: Traffic Regulation Orders are not eligible for PPS funding.

INF1017/17 MARKET PLACE/MERE STREET Councillors considered a review of the Traffic Regulation Order for parking in the Market Place and the pedestrianised section of Mere Street. Now that the Heritage Triangle Project is nearly completed, focus needs to be turned to what can be done to improve Mere Street. The first step would be to work towards full pedestrianisation but this will require working closely with Mere Street traders around their deliver requirements. It was

RESOLVED: that the Clerk would discuss the potential pedestrianisation of Mere Street with the Highways Engineer and report back to the next meeting

(Action: Clerk; by 22.11.17) INF1017/18 BROWN TOURISM SIGNS

Councillors received an update on improvements to the brown tourism signs for Diss. It was RESOLVED: to appoint Councillors Bardwell, Mason and Olander to a Task & Finish Group to consider what to include on the signs.

(Action: MB/JM/SO; by 22.11.17) INF1017/19 PROGRESS REPORT

Councillors noted the progress report from the last meeting of the Infrastructure Committee.

INF1017/20 ITEMS FOR NOTING Councillors noted that the Traffic Regulation Order for Denmark Street, Frenze Road and Frenze Hall Lane has now been implemented.

INF1017/21 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Councillors noted that the next meeting of the Infrastructure Committee will be held on 29th November 2017.

Meeting Closed at: 9.16pm

Councillor Olander CHAIRMAN

Amanda

Text Box

Item 12

Infrastructure Committee - Progress Report

Date/Minute Committee/Title Action Assigned to Timescale Comments or further action

03.08.16

16/350 STRATEGY PLAN That all planning enforcement issues will be reported to the

Clerks to determine appropriateness for referral.

Clerk at

appropriate

time

26.10.16

16/461 CCTV SCHEME to agree in principle to the town council taking ownership and

responsibility for the town centre CCTV system and approve

undertaking further investigation to determine the exact

implications and other potential options.

Clerk by 30.11.17 Item deferred pending further information;

Clerk met with Royal Wootton Bassett

CCTV Manager 03.05.17; Installation

contractor contacted, cameras need

servicing; further information awaited

about a possible move date for monitoring

equipment; outstanding invoices need to

be paid by SNC before contractor can

undertake furrher work on the scheme

12.10.17

INF 1017/08 ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS In response to concerns about an increase in on street

parking, it was agreed that installing a path across the park

should be referred to the H&F committee for prioritisation to

better link this long stay car park to the town centre.

DepTC/H&F 31.12.17 Referred to H&F; progressing

INF 1017/09 PLANNING DELEGATION POLICY to approve the planning policy with amendments. Clerk 06.10.17 Done

INF 1017/10 VINCES ROAD JUNCTION

IMPROVEMENTS

a) to write to Tom McCabe, Executive Director Community

and Environmental Services at NCC to promote the Vinces

Road scheme for funding in the next financial year and to

chase the other meeting attendees to follow up on the agreed

actions.

Clerk 31.10.17 Not yet done; awaiting letter from

businesses setting out the economic

impact, which has been chased.

b) i) to respond stating that the Town Council is concerned

the proposal to

move the bus stop east of Station Road will not have such a

significant impact as to justify the short-term solution,

particularly if the Nelson Road connection is likely to come

forward in the foreseeable future. The preferred option

remains to move the bus stop to the west to create a natural

break in the traffic in Vinces Road.

ii) to refer the matter of other bus station location issues to

the next meeting of the agenda.

Clerk 13.10.17 i) response sent; further update chased ii)

on agenda

INF 1017/11 DISS STATION RAILWAY GROUP Councillors Olander and Mason would identify appropriate

sites for two railway timetable boards in the town centre.

SO/JM 30.10.17 Update on agenda

INF 1017/13 LOCAL MEMBERS HIGHWAY

BUDGET/ PARISH PARTNERSHIP

SCHEMES

to propose removeable bollards in the Market Place for the

Parish Partnership Scheme ensuring sufficient bollards are

installed to prevent vehicles parking.

Clerk 11.12.17 Update on agenda

INF 1017/15 A1066 VICTORIA RD PEDESTRIAN

CROSSINGS

to propose changing the traffic-signal crossing outside the

Leisure Centre on

Clerk 10.11.17 Update on agenda/response awaited

INF 1017/16 WALCOT GREEN/SANDY LANE To put both these items forward to the Parish Partnership

Scheme

Clerk 11.12.17 TRO's not eligible for PPS funding; no

other funding available for non-urgent

TRO's; a review of repeater signs for

existing 40mph limit carried out by

Highways Engineer

Victoria Road to a zebra crossing to help improve the flow of traffic on the A1066

INF 1017/17 MARKET PLACE/MERE STREET the Clerk to discuss potential pedestrianisation of Mere

Street with the Highways Engineer and report back to the

next meeting.

Clerk 22.11.17 Update on agenda

INF 1017/18 BROWN TOURISM SIGNS To appoint Councillors Bardwell, Mason and Olander to a

Task & Finish Group to consider what to include on the

signs.

MB/JM/SO 22.11.17 Update on agenda

https://disstowncouncil.sharepoint.com/TeamSite/Committees Admin/Infrastructure/INF Progress Report -22.11.17 23-11-17