Archived decisions

Contact: Kevin Travers, ext 7763

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides an update on the delivery of the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and the content of Hampshire County Council's first Annual Progress Report (APR) submitted to the Government Office for the South East (GOSE).

2. Background

2.1 The previous report to the Panel on 19 July 2001 set out details of the progress being made on the delivery of the LTP and provided further information on how the County Council intended to report on the implementation of the LTP through the APR.

2.2 The APR provides the chief mechanism for reporting back to Central Government on how the LTP is being implemented, as well as providing an opportunity to show progress made in working the objectives and targets contained in the Plan. The APR also enables a report to be made on particular achievements in delivering the LTP to residents, interest groups and other stakeholders.

3. Annual Progress Report

3.1 The Annual Progress Report was submitted to GOSE on 31 August. Initial indications are that it has been well received, although a formal response will not be given until December. At that time the indicative allocations for funding in 2002/03 will be confirmed, and comments made on the APR document itself and the progress made in delivering the capital programme.

3.2 The APR starts with a summary of the LTP policy context. This is followed by a discussion of the Government's response to the LTP and covers the opportunities arising from the increased Government financial support. The body of the report concentrates on progress with delivery of investment programmes, policy initiatives and the monitoring regime.

3.3 The APR includes a number of supplementary bids which have been put forward for consideration for funding in 2002/03. Supplementary bids have been made for:

(i) CIVITAS (£1.2 million) a European Commission Initiative related to innovation in environmentally acceptable transport and systems;

(ii) Charging Development Partnership (£300,000); and

(iii) schemes emanating from the M27 Integrated Transport Study (£100,000) to cover fees likely to be incurred in contributing to drawing up a programme of works.

3.4 The County Council is also seeking to make up the shortfall in funding between the five year LTP bid and the December 2000 settlement levels, (£52 million) so as to help meet Hampshire's targets and objectives. These bids are in addition to the major scheme bids for the Chickenhall Lane Link Road in Eastleigh, the Botley Bypass and Strategic Park and Ride, detailed in the previous report to the Panel.

3.5 The APR illustrates that significant progress has already been made, both in terms of activity on the ground and in putting in place the systems needed to ensure effective delivery and monitoring. Early indications are that the County Council is on target to meet its LTP objectives.

3.6 Monitoring of the strategy is an integral part of the process, so that the County Council can demonstrate that objectives are being met and targets achieved. An extensive programme has been developed to address a very wide range of issues. These include traditional traffic volume counts, traffic speed, public transport use, cycle usage, walking, air quality, energy consumption, economic activity, modal share, use of interchange facilities, provision of information, travel awareness and overall perceptions and attitudes towards travel.

3.7 Strategy monitoring was last carried out within the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy area in November 2000, and TRANSPOL surveys into public attitudes were last conducted in January 1999. The next round of strategy monitoring is programmed for November 2002, with TRANSPOL due to be undertaken in January 2004, although the programme is currently being revised to a four-year cycle to facilitate closer comparison between the surveys.

Recommendation

That this report on the delivery of the Local Transport Plan be noted.

6748/KT