The Tidworth Area Board is scheduled to meet to appoint a chair and vice-chair for the forthcoming year. The board will also be asked to appoint a lead councillor to the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG).

Appointment of a Representative to the LHFIG

The Area Board is expected to appoint a lead councillor to the LHFIG. The Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) operates as an informal working group making recommendations to the Area Board for approval.

The report pack includes the group's terms of reference, which state that the LHFIG will normally be made up of:

• Members of the Area Board
• Town and Parish Council representatives
• Community / Stakeholder representatives

The terms of reference also state that representatives should act as a conduit between their organisations and the LHFIGs by putting forward the views of the body they represent and providing feedback to its members regarding the work of the LHFIGs.

The LHFIG's terms of reference are set out in Appendix 1 of the report pack, and include:

1. Small-scale transport schemes – discretionary funding

To make recommendations to the Area Board to determine priorities and levels of expenditure required for small-scale transport schemes in the community area. A discretionary highways budget has been allocated to the board by the Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Street Scene and Flooding. The funding allocation is a mixture of highways and council capital funding and can only be used to provide new and improved highway infrastructure. It is suitable for schemes that improve safety, increase accessibility and sustainability by promoting walking, cycling and public transport and improve traffic management.

The LHFIGs can fund pedestrian improvements, cycle improvements, bus infrastructure, traffic signing, new road markings, speed limits, waiting restrictions, footpath improvements, drainage, street lighting and traffic management measures. They cannot fund routine maintenance, service subsidy, promotional campaigns, SID equipment or improvements for individuals and properties.

Appointment of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The agenda includes the appointment of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year. The procedure for the election of chairs is set out in the council constitution. According to the constitution, the Democratic Services representative will call for nominations for the position of Chairman of the Area Board and preside over the election. A Member’s nomination must be seconded to be valid, and a Member shall not be nominated in their absence without their written consent.