Contact: Kevin Travers, ext 7763

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That, in consultation and with the agreement of the Executive Member, the Hampshire Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Report be submitted to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on 31 July 2002 and that the format of the document be as detailed in the report.

2. Reason

2.1 To inform how Hampshire's Local Transport Plan is being implemented and the progress being made in working towards the national and local objectives, targets and outputs.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 None. The report is produced to meet Government requirements.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

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

7. Background

7.1 As part of the overall Local Transport Plan (LTP) process the County Council has a statutory obligation, under Section 108 of the Transport Act 2000, to produce an Annual Progress Report (APR) for the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). The APR is the chief mechanism for reporting back to Central Government on how the LTP is being implemented, showing progress made in working towards national and local objectives and targets. The APR also provides an opportunity to show how progress is being monitored and reports on particular achievements in delivering the LTP to residents, interest groups and other stakeholders.

7.2 The County Council's provisional APR was submitted on 31 August 2001, and was considered by Central Government in deciding upon the Local Transport Capital Settlement for 2002-03. The response to the first APR was very positive, with the Council being congratulated on producing a good quality and well-presented document that was considered easy to read, and contained attractive examples of the schemes being developed.

8. Annual Progress Report 2002

8.1 Guidance advising local authorities of the information to be included in the second APR, to be submitted by 31 July 2002, was issued by the Government in April. Much of the guidance is similar to last year. Two key principles highlighted in the guidance are that the APR should:

(i) be the mechanism by which authorities report the progress they are making in implementing their LTP and working towards their local objectives, targets and outcomes; and

(ii) focus on the progress being made on the ground in delivering an authority's integrated transport strategy - identifying the achievements made, including examples of schemes completed, rather than dwelling on future aspirations.

8.2 There is increased emphasis placed on monitoring delivery of the programme and progress towards achieving the objectives and targets included in the LTP, together with the indicators which are used to assess this. To assist this process additional guidance has been issued on how to monitor indicators in LTPs and APRs, which identifies a set of nine core indicators plus a menu of a further 53 recommended indicators that can be used as the authority considers appropriate. These are being considered to identify which are the most applicable and relevant to Hampshire's programme.

8.3 The guidance document also suggested that authorities should consult widely in preparing their APR. Therefore in May, as part of the preparation of the second APR, key stakeholders and the general public were consulted on progress to date and how the transportation strategy will be delivered until the end of the LTP period. In particular, stakeholders' views were sought on both the progress made and Hampshire's approach.

8.4 The consultation period finished on 31 May 2002. An initial assessment of the responses will be reported orally at the meeting.

8.5 The APR is currently being drafted and it is intended to structure the document with the following sections:

(i) the overall transportation strategy and plan to deliver the LTP;

(ii) performance to date in 2001/02;

(iii) progress made towards meeting objectives and targets; and

(iv) the plan for future programmes from 2002/03 to 2005/06.

8.6 A series of appendices will look in detail at performance in each of the area strategies and how the programme is performing against all the indicators identified in the LTP. This will allow a comprehensive report to be produced which will address all the areas identified in Government guidance.

8.7 The proposed APR will include a formal bid for the CIVITAS European project. Last year a bid of £1.2 million was submitted for which £240,000 was awarded, therefore the balance of £960,000 will be sought for 2003/04. The APR will also look at the potential for the funding of transport infrastructure projects identified in the M27 Integrated Transport Strategy and being further considered in the South Coast Corridor Multi-Modal Study which will be concluded in the summer. Specific reference will be made to the need for investment in strengthening bridge parapets and the particular problems associated with the street lighting column stock. A report will be presented to the September meeting containing details of bids to be produced for major schemes.

7172/KT