Contact: Dave Wootton, ext 6931 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the intended uses of the £600,000 currently held in the central contingency be approved in order to release the funds to the Environment budget.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aims 1 to 5 of the Corporate Strategy by:

(i) enabling disadvantaged groups to access key facilities;

(ii) providing alternatives to the car, together with other travel options;

(iii) supporting access to local businesses;

(iv) improving services; and

(v) upgrading the environment.

2.2 It also supports the four short-term aims of the Cabinet as set out in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the attached report.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Taking no action.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member 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. Introduction

7.1 On 12 February 2004 Cabinet agreed that a number of `growth' items for 2004/05 would be retained in the central contingency pending reports to the appropriate Executive Member. Once the report has been accepted then the funds can be transferred from the contingency to the appropriate programme budget.

7.2 As far as the Environment Portfolio is concerned there are two items that need to be brought to the attention of the Executive Member:

(i) Public Transport Subsidy (£500,000); and

(ii) Local Roads in Fareham (£100,000).

8. Public Transport Subsidy (£500,000)

8.1 The additional £500,000 for passenger transport services will be used to:

(i) maintain the local bus service network in 2004/05, when the full year effect of commercial deregistrations and scheduled retendering of bus services takes place;

(ii) maintain those Cango services which have initially received funding from various Government Bus Challenge competitions as this funding comes to an end by meeting the ongoing costs of these services and the Call Centre; and

(iii) maintain community transport schemes and services developed and implemented through the Rural Transport Partnership and the Community Transport Development Plan.

8.2 In each case the alternative to providing additional resources would have been to withdraw services which would undermine the ability of the County Council to meet its various objectives in these areas.

8.3 Each of the above areas has its part to play in providing a high quality and convenient accessible public transport system which will assist the County Council in achieving the corporate aims as set out in paragraph 2.

8.4 The services maintained through the additional resources will contribute towards three of the Members' key priority areas - transportation, older people and youth.

8.5 The County Council has been developing a Bus Strategy which will set out the authority's approach for supporting and developing public transport services in Hampshire in the future. This will involve reviewing all the forms of public transport which are currently supported as well as considering how sustainability can be best achieved as current Government funding streams come to an end.

9. Local Roads in Fareham (£100,000)

9.1 The additional income from the reduction of the council tax discount on second homes has been held in the contingency. As far as Fareham Borough Council is concerned, the income had been earmarked for the improvements of footway and highway conditions in areas of higher usage to improve the safety, convenience and overall appearance for highway users. The areas to be specifically targeted will be adjacent to or in the near vicinity of neighbourhood shopping facilities and other community facilities. The Borough Council intends to spend some of its local resources in the same locations once these have been agreed.

9.2 The proposal supports Aim 2 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment) by upgrading the environment in areas of economic and community activity. It also supports Aim 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by maintaining a safe highway network and reducing accident levels.

9.3 The proposal also contributes to the key Member priority on Transport and Affordable Housing by upgrading the highway condition in higher visibility areas to contribute towards improving customer perception and satisfaction with the highway condition.

8768/DMW