Archived decisions

Contact: John Buckett, ext 6599 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

That the funding of the following schemes in the 2002/03 and 2003/04 Transport Capital Programmes be amended as follows:

(i) Chandlers Ford Station - transfer £500,000 from external funding to Local Transport Plan funding;

(ii) Winchester Park-and-Ride - transfer £450,000 from external funding to Local Transport Plan funding;

(iii) Whiteley Bus infrastructure - transfer the scheme at £93,000 to the Local Transport Plan programme;

(iv) A325/A30 Route 1 Corridor - add £384,000 to the scheme to be met from Local Transport Plan funding; and

(v) A27 Portchester Road, Fareham - add £281,000 to the scheme from Local Transport Plan funding.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aims 1 to 5 of the Corporate Strategy (Maximising life opportunities, Stewardship of the environment, Achieving economic prosperity, Building strong and safe communities and Improving services) by best using the capital resources available to promote the County Council's Local Transport Plan policies.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Failing to use the capital funding would result in losing the resource while transferring the funding to non-integrated transport uses would be likely to jeopardise future transport allocations from Government.

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 The December 2002 Local Transport Settlement by the Department for Transport (DfT) allocated £14.4 million to the County Council for Integrated Transport. While this funding is not ring-fenced, it is likely that if it is not spent on transport, that future allocations may be jeopardised. The funding has to be spent in the financial year 2003/04.

7.2 The A3 Bus Priority Corridor was not accepted by the DfT for separate funding as a major scheme at that time, so spending on the A3 had to be accommodated within the £14.4 million block allocation.

7.3 In late October 2003 the A3 scheme was finally accepted as a major scheme which meant that the expected £4 million spending on this scheme no longer needed to be accommodated within the integrated transport block allocation.

7.4 In December 2003 the programme was amended to accommodate additional casualty reduction schemes as there were now additional resources available for schemes that could be delivered before the end of March 2004.

7.5 A review of spending forecasts in January 2004 has revealed that integrated transport spending in 2003/04 is now expected to fall short of the £14.4 million target (excluding the A3 scheme).

7.6 It is possible to increase this spending, and avoid needing to transfer significant sums to other spending areas, by transferring expenditure from external funding sources (developers' contributions) to the Local Transport Plan (LTP) (Government funded) programme. A further advantage of this action is that it allows developer funding to be carried forward into 2004/05 to be used on other projects (within the terms of the respective agreements).The proposals are described below.

7.7 Chandlers Ford Station (£500,000). The transfer of expenditure would restore funding to the Knightwood programme of externally funded schemes (previously reported to the Executive Member). In particular it would allow the western part of the Knightwood to Hiltingbury Cycle/Safer routes to School scheme to progress as a matter of priority. This scheme includes a new pedestrian/cycle bridge to be constructed on Flexford Road across the Chandlers Ford- Romsey rail line.

7.8 Winchester Park-and-Ride (£450,000). Use of more LTP funding for this project allows developer funding identified for the Winchester city area to be released. This funding will allow an enhanced programme to be delivered in Winchester in the next two years (programme details to be developed).

7.9 Whiteley Bus Infrastructure (£93,000). Should LTP funding to be used for this project the released developer funding could be allocated towards other projects being developed in the Whiteley area.

7.10 The Route 1 A325/A30 Bus priority project requires additional funding of £384,000. It is proposed that, given the current funding position, this extra sum is best met from the LTP.

7.11 The A27 Portchester Road, Fareham project requires additional funding of £281,000. It is proposed that, given the current funding position, this extra sum is best met from the LTP.

7.12 It is likely that with these adjustments there will still be some transfer of maintenance/bridges expenditure between the locally funded and LTP programmes at year end, allowing some carry forward of local resources into 2004/05.

7.13 The proposals from paragraph 7.7 will, of course, mean that additional residual expenditure from the 2002/03 and earlier programmes will now fall in 2004/05. The impact of this carry forward will be taken into account when the 2004/05 programme is reviewed later in the year.

8591/JWB