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Joint Secretaries Steve Barriff Senior Engineer Corporation of London Department of Technical Services Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ Tel: 020 7332 1572 Fax: 020 7332 1557 E-Mail : steve.barriff@corpoflondon.gov.uk |
Keith O’Brien NRSWA Manager, 24seven Utilities Services Ltd Network Management, Broadway, Bexleyheath, DA6 8ET Tel: 020 8298 8388 Fax: 020 8298 8488 E-Mail: keith.o’brien@24sevenNet.com |
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Quarterly Meeting Held at TFL offices at 25 Eccleston Place, London on the 17th July 2003 |
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Attendees: Peter Loft Thames Water, Chairman Bob Hetherington London Borough of Bromley, Joint Chairman Steve Barriff Corporation of London, Secretary Andy Swift British Telecom, Joint Secretary Ali Ataie Transport for London Barry Lucas London Borough of Islington, (North East London) Bob Bayley Transport for London Harry Pendleton Cable and Wireless Jim McTiernan Metropolitan Police Josephine Hollier London Borough of Bexley, (South London) Julie Ulliott Nation Grid Transco Keith O’Brien Thus Mark Barber EDF Energy Mark Ostheimer NTL Nigel Bennett Transco Vaiti Shanmugalingam London Borough of Ealing, (North West London) Willie Farrelly COLT Telecom |
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1. Apologies Steve Leeks EDF Energy Andy Riches Transco |
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2. Crossrail presentation A presentation was made by Hugh Edwards and Simon Bennett of Crossrail giving the current position of the Crossrail project. The works are estimated to be in the region of 10-15 billion pounds including approximately 150 million pounds of statutory undertaker diversionary works. The proposed programme is as follows: A process of public awareness programmes and consultation will take place during 2003. Further information rounds will take place in 2004 with the Bill being deposited in November 2004, Royal assent in late 2006 and the contract being let in 2007. The construction works are anticipated to be completed by 2013 although a number of advance works are likely to be undertaken between 2005 and 2007. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation giving further details is attached as appendix A. (not included) In order that London HAUC can be kept advised of the progress of the project Hugh Edwards promised to update the committee at 6 monthly intervals. |
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3. Clearview presentation Paul Cullen of TfL made a presentation of the proposed Clearview GIS management system. Paul said that the Clearview programme would be a tool to assist the both the Highway Authorities in Statutory Utilities to co-ordinate their works and assist in the management of all highway works to the benefit of the road user. The aim is for the programme can be accessed through any desktop pc via the Internet. Initially the system will be used by TfL on the TLRN but ultimately be made available to the rest of the London Highway Authorities and the Statutory Utilities. The system will show where works are within the road network in order that their impact can readily assessed. By clicking onto a particular activity the user will be able to ascertain the nature of the works, their duration and contact details. It is hoped to have the initial system running for TfL by November 2003. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation giving further details is attached as appendix B. (Warning This file is 0.5mb. Picture quality has been reduced for web publication) Ali Ataie added the system required a good IT system and depended on receiving high quality data. All London Highway Authorities should have level 3 gazetteers by December 2003 so that provided that the information received was accurate a picture will easily be built up of potential trouble spots within the network. |
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4. Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the previous meeting held on the 24th April 2003 were read for accuracy.
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5. National and Regional HAUC matters Co-ordination Working Party National HAUC were asked to sign off the document but felt that there were still a few items to be clarified that were not on the original draft. It is still hoped that the agreed document will go to the software developers by October 2003 enabling publication for April 2004. Reinstatement Working Party The Reinstatement Working Party are working are working on a simplified and are carrying out restricted consultation on a draft "user friendly" version of the Code of Practice. No date has yet been provided as to when this will be made available to a wider audience. The manufacturers of single drum rollers are expected to come back to Graham Eaton by January 2004 with their performance specifications. There is unlikely to a further review of this Code until September 2004. Diversionary Works Code of Practice The revised code is dependent on the separation of the regulations. There have problems in Welsh HAUC over the C3 and C4 charging. There is an impasse at present. Training and Accreditation There is currently a CD ROM being prepared for revised and supplementary training. Records Code of Practice No known problems to date. This came into effect on 1st May 2003. Inspection Fees Recommendations by the Utilities have been blocked by the Highway Authorities. Mark Ostheimer is unsure at present what is causing the problem but should be able to provide an update on the 4th August. Mark said that it was hoped that the fee could be linked to the retail price index or some similar indexing mechanism. Section 74/74A working party Reports from the DfT for both section 74 and 74A should be out shortly. HAUC Business Plan This continues to be updated and will obviously need revision once again when the Traffic Management Bill is implemented i. HAUC Conference The joint Surveyor / HAUC conference was held on 20 and 21 May 2003 at Nottingham and generally felt to be a success. A new venue is currently being sought for next year’s conference. Safety The Highways Agency is currently looking to revise Chapter 8 with a view to publishing something more practical which hopefully will incorporate the Safety at street Works Code. Forthcoming Seminars West Midlands HAUC is to hold its 5th Annual HAUC RoadshowRoad show on the 24th September at Staffordshire County showground. See Appendix C. |
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6 The London Roads Initiative Tony McNulty, representatives from the Association of Local Government (ALG), Government Office for London (GOL), and Transport for London (TfL), continue to hold fortnightly meetings to monitor the progress of Street works issues. There are a number of other initiatives currently running, primarily led by the Central London Partnership (CLP) that are endeavouring to promote good practice within the street work community. |
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7. Traffic Management Bill There have been delays in publishing the draft legislation resulting from Parliamentary Counsel identifying certain matters to DfT. It is now hoped that something can be put before the House in September or October with a view to having something on the statute books by late 2004. |
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8. Transport for London issues Bob Bayley and his Street work task force team are now ensconced at 25 Ecclestone Place. A family tree is attached as appendix D. TfL are progressing the CLP voluntary co-ordination scheme and have now met with all the affected London Highway Authorities and LJUG. Ali Ataie is confident that progress is now being made with this project. |
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9. Sections 74 and 74A There was concern that the approach to section 74 was not always consistent. Jo Hollier and Keith O’Brien will look at the different ways that Highway Authorities are dealing with this aspect of the legislation are attempt develop a procedure that can be recommended for adoption across London. ACTION: Jo Hollier & Keith O’Brien There are no current outstanding issues with section 74A. Andy Swift said that BT still had some concerns over the gazetteer. It was hoped, however, that once the gazetteer was brought up to level 3 throughout London a number of these problems would disappear. The Leicester County Council / Transco appeal will be held on the 15th/16th October. (Transco claimed that they should not be charged for administrative errors in failing to the notify completion of works that had actually been completed. However, it was accepted by the Court that noticing was essential for s.74 to work satisfactorily and judgement was given to Leicestershire. Transco stated that they would appeal.) |
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10. Metropolitan Police issues No outstanding issues to be raised |
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11. London HAUC web site Concern was expressed that any web site would have to be properly maintained to be of use and that not properly maintaining the site could leave the organisation open to criticism. Andy Swift said that whilst some web designers could be expensive he felt that he could obtain a design at a reasonable cost to London HAUC and would bring his proposals to the next meeting. ACTION: Andy Swift |
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12. Temporary traffic lights (approval form) The new regulations relating to temporary traffic signals came into force in February. A draft approval form prepared by TfL was circulated for comment. See appendix E. In order that as many views as possible can be canvassed it would assist in the preparation of a final draft if any comments could be sent direct to TfL for the attention of Gary Hart at garyhart@streetmanagement.gov.uk by the 22nd August. A co-ordinated and consistent approach to the granting of temporary signal authorisations will undoubtedly help both Highway Authorities and Utilities alike. ACTION: All |
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13. Traffic Management Plans procedure These will be distributed in the future and will be described in more detail by Roger Khanna at the next meeting of London HAUC ACTION: Roger Khanna |
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14. Matters Arising Shoreditch triangle There have been discussion with both the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and TfL over the problems encountered during the above works when concrete was laid below formation and surround utility apparatus. Ali Ataie assured the meeting that the incident was a "one off" and certainly not countenanced by TfL. Peter Loft asked that the standard good practice of not surrounding apparatus with concrete when it was laid beneath the formation level should be adhered to in future. Ali confirmed that it would. HAUC bank account Andy Swift passed the secretary £50 to be deposited into the London HAUC bank account that was the award for the London HAUC presentation to the Gas industry professional body. Steve Barriff confirmed that he would continue to attempt to update the bank account to take into account the present membership. ACTION: Steve Barriff Joint inspections There was still concern and some confusion over non-attendance by some utilities to joint inspections. Jo Hollier promised to look into the problem and report back. ACTION: Jo Hollier |
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15. Any Other Business Core samples Keith O’Brien was concerned over the safety aspects of full depth cores and the lack of method statements. Bob Hetherington and Jo Hollier would investigate and report back. ACTION: Jo Hollier & Bob Hetherington Electronic return path Andy Swift asked how many Highway Authorities in London had a return path facility in ETON. Steve Barriff will investigate and report back ACTION: Steve BarriffEDF Energy Mark Barber said that either he or Steve Leeks would give a short presentation on EDF Energy at the next London HAUC meeting. ACTION: Steve Leeks or Mark Barber Utility subsidiary companies Jo Hollier was concerned that some Utilities were not notifying the Highway Authorities of subsidiary companies who are working for them. Peter Loft offered to prepare a list of such companies operating within the London area although he said that it was unlikely that any such list would be exhaustive. ACTION: Peter Loft Duplicate noticing Barry Lucas was concerned that EDF energy appeared to sending notices in duplicate apparently in order to avoid section 74 charges. Mark Barber said he would look into the matter and advise Barry accordingly. ACTION: Mark Barber Co-ordination meeting attendance Barry Lucas remarked that attendance at some Highway Authority co-ordination meeting was sometimes sparse. Peter Loft volunteered to talk to other members of London JUG and remind them of their responsibilities. ACTION: Peter Loft Valve Covers Peter Loft asked that Highway Authorities could be more diligent with the raising of valve boxes following resurfacing. TWU had approximately 700 covers surfaced over last year. This can cause severe problems when TWU operatives or their contractors need to isolate mains in the case bursts or similar emergencies. The Highway Authorities agreed to take note. ACTION: Highway Authorities Contact Detail Contact details for both the Highway Authorities and Utilities will be sent with these minutes as appendix F and appendix G respectively. Any alterations or correction should be sent to the secretary for updating. ACTION: All |
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15. Next Meeting The next meeting will be held at 10.30 at TFL’s offices at 25 Eccleston Place, London on the 16th October 2003 |
