Archived decisions

Contact: Sheila Henley, ext 5089

1. Summary

1.1 The County Council's Environment Capital Programme was approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 24 January 2003. The report included a revised integrated transport programme for 2002/03 and a new programme for 2003/04, and proposed that all other integrated transport schemes be reassessed for possible inclusion in the 2004/05 programme (see attached appendix for the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy (SEHTS)).

2. Background

2.1 Hampshire County Council's first full Local Transport Plan (LTP) was produced in July 2000. It set out county-wide and area strategy objectives and targets, and a proposed five year plan for transport investment. In December 2000 the Government settlement letter acknowledged Hampshire's LTP as one of the best in the country. The settlement letter allocated funding levels, definite for 2001/02 and indicative for the other four years of the programme.

2.2 The funding allocated under the new LTP system is at a much higher level than previously for integrated transport, and is no longer ring-fenced for certain topics or areas. For 2001/02 two years were available to spend the allocated funding money, but from 2002/03 the Government has moved to a one year spending regime.

2.3 The combination of the above factors has led to integrated transport spending as set out in the table below. Integrated transport spending includes investment in area transport strategies, casualty reduction and county-wide programmes.

Government-Funded County Council Capital Expenditure on Integrated Transport

2.4 The above table does not include expenditure on accepted major transport schemes (over £5 million) as these are separately allocated. The South Hampshire Rapid Transit-1 Light Rapid Transit project, for instance, has credit approvals of £2.8 million in 2002/03. A total of £750,000 is coming from separately-named Supplementary Credit Approval, the remainder being met from the County Council's overall credit approvals, with £2.2 million being allocated from the County Council's discretionary element of the single capital pot.

2.5 The 2002/03 figure is particularly high because funding was carried forward from 2001/02. Such a carry forward is no longer allowed and from 2003/04 onwards funding is expected to be in line with the LTP settlement awards.

2.6 In order to keep transport spending within limits in 2002/03 and 2003/04 it has been necessary to re-evaluate the programme in both years. The 2002/03 programme now comprises essentially schemes already contractually committed by January 2003 some of which are more expensive than forecast. There is a large spending commitment in 2003/04 from the 2002/03 programme and so only a limited programme of "new starts " can go forward in 2003/04. In 2003/04 priority has been given firstly to casualty reduction schemes and safer routes to school (£1.9 million) and the MIRACLES project in Winchester, specifically identified for support by the Government (£880,000). Within Area Transport Strategies priority has been given to ongoing projects which potentially will give a good return in terms of progress towards policy objectives. It has been possible to include at least one LTP funded scheme in each strategy area and these are all projects deferred from 2002/03 except Decriminalised Parking Enforcement in Eastleigh (£175,000), a reduced first year investment of £50,000 in Romsey Road, Winchester and the making permanent of a scheme in Bishop's Waltham (£40,000). Unfortunately it has not been possible to accommodate all the deferred schemes in the new 2003/04 programme. The Executive Member for Environment has asked for all the schemes not included in the 2002/03 or 2003/04 programmes to be reviewed so that a new 2004/05 programme can be prepared. Panel Members' views will form part of the review process.

3. 2002/03 Programmes

3.1 The initial 2002/03 programmes for area transport strategies were set at a high level so that there was certainty in achieving the spending target even if, for any reason, schemes were delayed. This is because Government rules now require allocations to be spent in a 12 month period rather than 24 months as was the previous situation. The County Council also wanted to be in a position to take advantage of any additional funding that might become available in 2002/03 or 2003/04 by having schemes prepared. It was also proposed that the A3 bus priority scheme in Havant would be taken up by the Government as a major scheme from 2003/04. It was important therefore to have enough schemes ready to take advantage of any funding released, should the A3 costs be covered elsewhere.

3.2 In the event, progress in 2002/03 has been such (together with increased consultation and construction costs of ongoing schemes) that by December 2002 the County Council had committed sufficient projects to cover the £18.6 million available for 2002/03 spending. It has therefore been necessary to limit the 2002/03 programme to a 2003/04 or later start year. The implications for the timing of the SEHTS schemes are set out in the attached appendix.

4. 2003/04 Resources and Programme

4.1 The County Council has been allocated £14.39 million for integrated transport, but as yet the A3 scheme has not been accepted for major scheme funding. Unless extra funding is found, it will be necessary to accommodate any new A3 work from the £14.39 million, as well as an expected £8 million of commitments carried forward from 2002/03, the new 2003/04 programme spend and the preparation costs of future schemes.

4.2 The consequence is that the funding available for schemes programmed to start in 2003/04 has been set at £9.39 million. Some of these schemes will be put on hold to start late in the year so that spending within 2003/04 is kept within the allocation level pending a decision of the A3 scheme. The 2003/04 programmes for SEHTS, which include developer and other externally-funded schemes, are set out in the attached appendix.

5. Scheme Preparation and Design 2003/04

5.1 It is proposed that preparation work, including consultation and feasibility design, on the schemes below be continued. Where schemes that are subject to project appraisal these will be reported more fully to the individual district Highway Management Panel, and Members are asked to note the continuance of these projects.

5.2 Fareham

(i) Common Lane:

This is a traffic calming and cycle lane scheme that has been deferred from 2002/03. Design and public consultation are now complete. The scheme was to be reported to Fareham Borough Council Executive in February 2003 and is coming to the County Council for Project Appraisal in March 2003.

(ii) Coach Hill:

As for Common Lane.

(iii) Newgate Lane/Tukes Avenue:

Externally-funded scheme to provide a cycle link between these two roads. Fareham Borough Council is awaiting planning permission. Once planning permission has been given the scheme will come to the County Council for Project Appraisal.

(iv) Stubbington north-south cycle route:

An externally funded scheme forming part of Crofton Safer Routes to School.

(v) Hill Road/Portchester Road:

An externally-funded traffic calming scheme to include priority working under the railway bridge. Construction has started, with the Hill Road element being completed by the end of March 2003. However, the safety audit requires a trial period for the priority working, and this should not be started until after the clocks go forward in late March 2003.

5.3 Havant

(i) Havant Bus Station:

This scheme has been deferred from 2002/03 for a major upgrading of the bus station. A brief and concept plan are currently being prepared for consultation in March 2003. The project is jointly funded with Havant Borough Council.

(ii) Hayling Billy Route - access to Havant Railway Station:

Deferred from 2002/03. Consultation with residents and discussions with South West Trains for early implementation in 2003/04 are ongoing. Further cost changes are anticipated to accommodate additional lighting and closed circuit television in the car park.

(iii) West Lane, Hayling Island:

An externally-funded scheme for provision of a 1.8 metre-wide footway at various points on the western side of West Lane. The design is complete and construction is expected in May 2003.

(iv) Horndean School, Hayling Island:

An externally-funded scheme for pedestrian improvement measures. The design is currently underway and construction is expected in May 2003.

6. 2004/05 and Beyond

6.1 No programme has yet been prepared for 2004/05. It should be noted that scheme costs are purely indicative and will be subject to detailed estimation as they are progressed and funding becomes available. The Executive Member for Environment has requested that all schemes in the previous four year capital programme (but not now programmed in 2003/04 or before) are assessed in terms of their likely contribution towards LTP and corporate objectives. A programme of potential schemes is to be identified based on the priorities identified in the SEHTS. Following this assessment a report on a draft programme will be reported to the Executive Member in May 2003, then to the Environment Policy Review Committee on 9 July 2003, before inclusion in the 2003 LTP Annual Progress Report. Further reviews will take place in the autumn round of Area Transport Strategy Panels and after the LTP settlement in December 2003.

7. Setting Priorities

7.1 The draft programme has been drawn up, giving priority to prepared schemes supporting the LTP objectives of safety, widening travel choice, making best use of transport networks and developing partnerships with the community. Within SEHTS, there are a number of identified schemes for which an assessment and prioritisation will be required, not only for the purposes of the current LTP period but also for the next LTP 2006-2011. These include schemes deferred from 2002/03 and 2003/04 and those not previously allocated within the programme, and are indicated in the attached appendix.

8. Review of the Area Transportation Strategy Panels

8.1 There is to be a review of the way transport planning and investment is organised in the county to take account of developments with the regional transport strategy and sub-regional transport, economic and development planning approaches. It is proposed that this review is carried out later in 2003, including consultation with district councils, and proposals presented to the Area Transportation Strategy Panels in the autumn, with any new arrangements being introduced in 2004.

8.2 The South East England Regional Assembly Draft Regional Transport Strategy has indicated that South Hampshire should become a sub-region. It is likely therefore that strategy issues will be discussed at a combined South West Hampshire Transportation/South East Hampshire Transportation Panel, including the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton. Work in the more immediate future would be presented to the individual district Highway Management Panels.

9. Summary of Position

9.1 Government-funded support for integrated transport, ie area transport strategy schemes, safety and county-wide programmes, remains high (£14 million per year). However, the over-commitment in 2002/03, resulting from the need to reach the spending target, and the fact that the A3 has not yet been accepted as a major scheme mean that the new 2003/04 programme is much less than originally proposed. Resources are expected to continue at about £14 million per year and a new programme for 2004/05 will be produced following a reassessment of all schemes in the early part of 2003. Future programmes are likely to be affected by the County Council's review of its approach in the light of developments at the regional and sub-regional level, and the Area Transportation Strategy Panels.

Recommendations

1. That this report be noted.

2. That the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy schemes for 2004/05 and beyond be considered as part of the county-wide review of Transportation Strategy Areas to be presented to the Environment Policy Review Committee on 9 July 2003.

7886/SH