Contact: John Buckett, ext 6599

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That, in order to ensure full and appropriate use is made of Local Transport Plan funding a 'stock pile' of transport schemes is prepared to ensure that unforeseen events do not jeopardise the spend performance and delivery of the capital programme, it is requested that approval be given to the following proposed amendments to the 2002/03 capital programme:

- Blackwater Valley Bus Service 1 Priority Route in North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (£1,000,000)

- A27 Cycleway and Safer Routes to School scheme in South East Hampshire Transport Strategy (£165,000)

- Fordingbridge High Street in New Forest Transport Strategy (£40,000)

- pedestrian crossings (£300,000)

- intelligent transport systems (£500,000)

- bridges (£450,000)

- Jacobs Gutter Lane (£350,000)

- rural partnership schemes (£200,000)

- Weyhill Road traffic management in Andover Transport Strategy (£300,000)

- Hamble Lane/Portsmouth Road junction in South West Hampshire Transport Strategy (£150,000)

- Winchester rail station interchange/City Road junction in Winchester Movement and Access Plan (£75,000)

- reserve allocation to cover possible cost increases (£500,000).

(ii) That the report for the Blackwater Valley Bus Service 1 Priority Route (increased costs) be approved as a project appraisal (attached as Appendix 1), subject to the approval of the Executive Member for Policy and Resources.

(iii) That the Project Appraisal for the A27 Portchester, Fareham (attached as Appendix 2), together with the powers contained in Sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 which allow the sections of footway identified within the proposal as `shared use' to be converted to cycle track to permit use by cyclists and pedestrians, be submitted to a future meeting subject to the report being considered by the County Highway Management Advisory Panel - Fareham.

(iv) That approval be given to the casualty reduction and pedestrian crossings programmes.

(v) That the proposed programme for major schemes be noted.

(vi) That £50,000 be funded from Environment's share of 2000/01 capital receipts for new plan printing equipment and a further £60,000 for private street works. The remainder of the 2000/01 capital receipts (£188,000) and any allocation in future years be reserved for South Hampshire Rapid Transit and other priority projects.

2. Reason

Local Transport Plan Programme

2.1 The proposed changes follow a comprehensive review of the programme and the likely phasing of payments. They will help ensure that the Local Transport Plan (LTP) spending targets are achieved in the approved policy areas of integrated transport, eg public transport improvements, safety, cycling and walking facilities, etc. In order to achieve programme delivery, key projects, such as the Blackwater Valley Bus Service 1 Priority Route, Weyhill Road traffic management and A27 Portchester Road, Fareham cycleway and Safer Routes to School, need early project appraisal approval so that the contracts procedure can be completed to allow works to start no later than the autumn.

2.2 The details of the proposed casualty reduction and pedestrian crossing programmes need to be approved so that individual schemes can be progressed.

2.3 A major schemes programme is required in the 2002 Annual Progress Report (APR). A provisional programme is put forward for approval so that the APR can be prepared.

Capital Receipts

2.4 The new printing equipment within the County Planning Department is required to meet increased demand for plans. It will be able to handle requests directly from the web and provide collating and folding, which is currently being done manually. The service recovers its costs through recharges which can increase as the capacity is also enhanced.

2.5 The contribution for private street works, primarily for Hook Park Road, Warsash, is required to bring private roads up to an adoptable standard.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The principal alternative is to stop some or all of the schemes and replace the LTP integrated transport spending with other expenditure. This would mean moving away from the programme which has been accepted by the Government and resulted in Hampshire receiving the highest rating in the country for integrated transport. Such a departure would certainly affect the County Council's credibility in this area and probably adversely affect future levels of Government support.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7127A/JWB