Archived decisions

Contact: Brian Millen, tel 01256 764444

1. Summary

1.1 This reports covers the following issues:

(i) Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School programmes;

(ii) Street Lighting; and

(iii) Under £10,000 programme.

2. Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School Programmes

2.1 For the last 10 years the implementation of an annual programme of low cost casualty reduction schemes has been an important element of the County Council's road safety strategy. Each annual programme of at least 50 such schemes, rising to 70 schemes in recent financial years, has produced encouraging accident reductions and financial rates of return.

2.2 These results have been well received by the Department for Transport (DfT) and this programme has attracted increasing levels of funding over this period in the County Council's capital programme settlements. This has enabled a small number of larger single site schemes to be included, treating particularly problematic locations, usually where previously implemented low cost measures have not given a satisfactory solution.

2.3 The 2002/03 programme totals £1.6 million which will include some 90 low cost schemes and three large schemes. These are prioritised strictly on the basis of police injury accident records to give the best value for money in terms of casualties saved. Where there are savings in fatal and serious casualties, this will help meet the road safety target which has been agreed with the Government as part of the County Council's Public Service Agreement. This target is to achieve a reduction in casualties to 780 fatal and seriously injured in 2004 from the average of 1,055 for the 1994-98 period.

2.4 The casualty reduction schemes provisionally included in Rushmoor at this stage in the 2002/03 programme are shown in Appendix 1.

2.5 The Safer Routes to School programme is a related and complementary programme which has been established in recent years with increasing emphasis being placed on both the safety of children and the need to encourage non-car modes for the journey to school. Some schemes under this heading have been included in Area Strategy programmes and are covered elsewhere on the agenda.

2.6 Schools are being encouraged to participate and to develop School Travel Plans which will generate proposals to be considered for inclusion in the programme. For the first time in 2002/03 an additional countywide allocation of £0.5 million has been made and the currently proposed schemes in Rushmoor are shown in Appendix 2. Borough Council officers are working with the Fernhill Schools, St Joseph's and St Marks Primary Schools, and South Farnborough and Southwood Infant Schools to help develop School Travel Plans which will generate proposals for future programmes.

3. Street Lighting

3.1 April 2002 was the start date for two new major contracts associated with the procurement of the street lighting service within Hampshire. The contract for the supply of unmetered electricity for street lighting, signs and traffic lights was awarded to Scottish and Southern Energy. The contract, which reflects a 95% brown/5% green energy mix, began on 1 April 2002. The annual cost of this contract is very close to the price which was paid for 100% brown energy during 2001/02. This contract, which is at a fixed price for two years, represents good value and achieves progress towards the County Council's target of achieving a 90% brown/10% green energy mix by 2010.

3.2 The previous contract for the maintenance of street lighting equipment by David Webster Limited ended in March 2002. A new contract, based on price, quality and added value, has been awarded to Southern Electric Contracting and began on 1 April 2002. The contract will now also include the supply of labour and materials for the column replacement programme. An assessment of the cost of the new contract compared to the previous arrangements has been carried out. This indicates that the cost of the new contract, which is fixed in price for the first year, is lower by 0.8%, in comparison with the cost of the previous contract during 2001/02.

3.3 These contracts are now getting established and the normal percentage of lights `on' is now being maintained at or about the 99% mark. The following paragraphs provide a brief outline of the work.

Maintenance

3.4 There are currently 9,735 items of illuminated street furniture being maintained in the Rushmoor area. The percentage of lights on is now over 99%. However, the time taken to make repairs is not as good as it needs to be and staff are working with the contractor (Southern Electric Contracting) to improve performance in this area. In addition, there is a high level of waste recycling included within the contract, with an expectation of over 80% being reprocessed.

Column Replacement

3.5 The column replacement programme continues with a budget of some £850,000 for the present year. This will replace and improve lighting to those streets in Hampshire where the greatest need arises. It is hoped that Local Transport Plan (LTP) funding may be made available in future to deal with corroding columns. However, funding will need to increase significantly to provide for the 50 year replacement cycle currently required. The programme for 2002/03 in Rushmoor includes:

(i) Worcester Close;

(ii) Highfield Road;

(iii) Sedgemoor;

(iv) Maston Drive;

(v) Blunden Road; and

(vi) Cranmore Gardens.

Community Safety Initiative

3.6 For 2002/03 this popular dual funded local safety related initiative has a total budget of £120,000. This provides local councils with the facility to improve lighting locally by joining with the County Council to improve safety in certain areas. It is initiated by local residents making known specific problems to their respective Councils, these could include such issues as road safety, personal safety, fear of crime. The programme for Rushmoor includes:

(i) Brockenhurst Road, Aldershot - under construction;

(ii) Alma Close, Aldershot - complete; and

(iii) Yeomans Close, Farnborough - complete.

4. Under £10,000 Programme

4.1 The Minor Works programme is funded from the capital programme allocation based on the LTP submission to the DfT. The total budget available for the Minor Works programme countywide is £300,000 and this is divided on a pro-rata mileage basis.

4.2 Whilst Minor Works are defined as those which cost below £10,000 and therefore have only a limited impact on the strategic transport issues, they provide a considerable benefit by improving local highway infrastructure for communities to assist with mobility and safety on the highway.

4.3 The demand for schemes greatly exceeds the funds available and it is therefore necessary to prioritise the schemes put forward for funding. A ranking criteria based on the benefits of the scheme is used and each Highway office, following Member consultation, prepares an agreed list of schemes in priority order.

4.4 The allocation for minor works in Rushmoor for 2002/03 is £20,000. From the priority assessment the following schemes have been identified for the 2002/03 programme:

(i) Summit Roundabout - pedestrian refuge; and

(ii) A325 Farnborough Road - Church Road to Aircraft Esplanade -pedestrian refuges.

4.5 A rolling programme of schemes is maintained for future consideration and currently includes the following schemes:

(i) High Street, Aldershot - near Princes Way;

(ii) Hawley Lane - Ley Road to Prince Charles Crescent;

(iii) Southwood Road;

(iv) Sand Hill;

(v) Alexandra Road, Farnborough - junction with Queens Road;

(vi) Farnborough Road - between Lynchford Road and Netley Street;

(vii) Weybourne Road - near junction with Ayling Lane; and

(viii) Church Lane West - near junction with Ayling Hill.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

7666/BGM