REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Environment

PART II

TRANSPORT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2003/04 AND 2004/05 PROGRESS REPORT AND AMENDMENTS

GROWTH ITEMS IN THE 2004/05 REVENUE BUDGET

Decisions to approve the final Transport Capital Programme for 2003/04 and the revised Transport Capital Programme for 2004/05 were taken on 13 July 2004. A number of revisions to both programmes had been required to reflect latest circumstances in the programme and variations in cost of some schemes. The decisions support the range of Corporate Strategy Aims covered by the Environment service through improved accessibility, by promoting alternatives to the car and managing waste, and by assisting access to employment as well as directly enhancing services, for example, for public transport users.

2003/04 Transport Capital Programme

The 2003/04 Transport Capital Programme spending accounts, with the exception of the A3 Bus Priority Scheme, are now complete. The County Council fully used its Local Transport Plan (LTP) credit approval allocation of £6.3 million. In addition, there was £4.4 million expenditure in respect of the Developer Funded Programme for integrated transport measures which commenced construction during 2003/04; the remaining £1.8 million expenditure will carry forward into 2004/05. In respect of capital (LTP) expenditure committed on incomplete schemes, an estimated £3 million will be carried forward into the 2004/05 spending plan. Full details of changes to this programme since April 2004, and the final 2003/04 Transport Capital Programme are appended to the Executive Member report of 13 July 2004.

In respect of the A3 Bus Priority Scheme, £4.4 million of Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA) was received in October 2004 (full funding of £25.1 million having been granted by the Department for Transport). Estimated costs for 2003/04 and for the remainder of the project are detailed in section 7.2 of the Executive Member report.

2004/05 Transport Capital Programme

A proposed starts programme (the total value of schemes due to commence in that financial year) has identified a 2004/05 capital programme of £16.6 million, with a forecasted expenditure currently assessed at £9 million. In addition to this programme forecast there is late expenditure from the 2003/04 programme and preparatory work for future schemes and land purchase, therefore the total LTP expenditure for 2004/05 will be in the region of £13.4 million against a target spend of £13.9 million. The programme is continually updated to assess the deliverability of schemes within the programme year, and significant risks such as failure to acquire land or gain agreement through consultation are closely monitored as well as cost variations as schemes progress to the detailed design estimate stage.

To ensure that spending on the Capital Programme fully utilises the LTP funding available, some additions to the programme have already been included in the spending plan as below with further proposals likely to be reported in the autumn:-

(i) address identified shortfall in Developer Contribution funded schemes:

- Moorgreen Road, Hedge End traffic calming

- Abshott Road/Huntspond Road and Abshott Road/Warsash Road

(ii) increased funding to the Casualty Reduction Programme:

- to support important new casualty reduction partnerships

- for the inspection and refurbishment of previously installed local capital safety schemes across the network

- to treat route lengths with higher than expected proportions of loss of control accidents

(iii) Bridges Parapets, Road/Rail Interface - as a result of risk analysis, this programme will be accelerated to complete projects on Elvetham Road, Fleet and Wide Lane, Eastleigh

(iv) Longslade Bottom Pedestrian/Cycle Bridges - currently in the 2005/06 programme, however it is proposed that a separate allocation is made within the 2004/05 programme for these bridges to be constructed as part of the Forestry Commission's annual programme.

The full 2004/05 Transport Capital Programme is set out as Appendix 1 to this report.

Growth Items in the 2004/05 Revenue Budget

A decision to approve the release of funding held in the central contingency to the Environment budget was taken on 15 June 2004, to be used for public transport subsidy (£500,000) and local roads in Fareham (£100,000) which was the appropriate share of Council Tax on second homes in that area. In addition to supporting the range of Corporate Strategy Aims covered by the Environment service by enabling disadvantaged groups to access key facilities, providing alternatives to the car and other travel options, supporting access to local businesses, improving services and upgrading the environment, the decisions support three of the Cabinet's key priority areas - transportation, older people and youth.

The additional funding for passenger transport services will be used to maintain the local bus service network in 2004/05, maintain Cango services for which funding from various Government Bus Challenge competitions has come to and end and to maintain community transport schemes and services developed and implemented through the Rural Transport Partnership and the Community Transport Development Plan.

The additional funding for Fareham will be used to improve the safety, convenience and overall appearance of footways and highways in areas of higher usage; the areas to be targeted will be adjacent to, or in the near vicinity of, neighbourhood shopping facilities and other community facilities.

KEITH B. ESTLIN,

Executive Member

for Environment