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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 second Annual Progress Report (APR) submitted to the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) and the Department for Transport (DfT) on 31 July 2002.

2. Background

2.1 As part of the overall LTP process the County Council has a statutory obligation under Section 108 of the Transport Act 2000 to produce an APR for the DfT. The APR is the chief mechanism for reporting back to Central Government on how the LTP is being implemented, showing progress 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.

3. Annual Progress Report 2002

3.1 The APR document highlights the substantial progress which has been made during 2001/02, focussing on:

(i) increased investment in integrated transport (public transport, safety, cycling, walking);

(ii) increased investment in roads maintenance and bridges;

(iii) progress towards headline targets, particularly with casualty reduction and travel plans;

(iv) advances in partnership working, public participation and consultation;

(v) workplace and school travel plans; and

(vi) dissemination of good practice as a Centre of Excellence and learning from others.

3.2 The format of the document has been strongly influenced by guidance produced by Central Government, advising local authorities of the information to be included in the second APRs. Much of the guidance was similar to last year, with two key principles being highlighted, 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.

3.3 Greater importance has been 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. This year's APR document was therefore written to reflect this change of emphasis, including the identification of a set of nine core indicators in addition to the extensive county-wide and individual area strategy targets. These are being considered to identify which are the most applicable and relevant to each area's programme of schemes.

3.4 In addition to a comprehensive assessment of progress being made towards the county-wide objectives and targets, a similar approach was adopted for the Andover and Western Hampshire Area Transport Strategies. All indicators have been measured where possible and the opportunity taken to rationalise the information collected. The objectives are consistent across each strategy area as far as practicable. However, recognition of the diverse nature of Hampshire's urban and rural areas is acknowledged and therefore the actual targets and objectives vary from area to area to reflect this. Although it is still early in delivering the projects in the LTP, the majority of indicators are on target and monitoring will continue throughout the LTP period.

3.5 Appendices produced to support the APR also include a significant amount of detail on the progress and impact of schemes in each of the strategy areas and an indication of how each one contributes to the County Council's corporate objectives and the LTP policy areas. Details on the progress of many of these schemes is also included in the item elsewhere on the agenda on progress in delivery of the capital programme. This helps to demonstrate the extensive and diverse programmes being delivered within each area and provides an assessment of their impact. The close links each project has with the County Council's corporate objectives and overall policy aims is clearly demonstrated. The benefits of each scheme often go far wider than their immediate impact and, added together, the extensive programme has a positive benefit over a wide range of areas.

3.6 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, and these were incorporated into the APR where appropriate.

3.7 The APR also includes three bids for supplementary funding for the CIVITAS European project, bridge parapets and safety fences, and street lighting. In addition, a separate document was submitted for one major scheme seeking funding for the Integrated A3 Bus Priority Corridor.

3.8 GOSE and the DfT are now considering the APR, with a formal response expected in December. At that time the indicative allocations for funding in 2003/04 will be confirmed and comments made on the APR document itself and the progress made in delivering the capital programme.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

7411/KT