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

1. Summary

1.1 This report identifies the need to prioritise schemes within the indicative Transport Capital Programme for 2005/06 because a large spending commitment is being carried forward from 2004/05, which is likely to restrict the funding available for new schemes in 2005/06.

1.2 A guideline programme level is presented and a draft programme for each strategy area is put forward for comment by the Transport Strategy Panels.

2. Background

2.1 The Executive Member for Environment approved an indicative 2005/06 Capital Programme in January 2004, which was subsequently reported to the spring Panel meetings. This programme has since been amended. In September 2004 the Executive Member for Environment approved three schemes to be brought forward from the indicative 2005/06 programme to maximise Local Transport Plan (LTP) expenditure in 2004/05. These were:

(i) A33, Ringway roundabout to Popley Way, Basingstoke - £2,850,000 North Hampshire Transport Strategy + £650,000 externally funded;

(ii) Yateley to Blackwater cycleway - £80,000 North Hampshire Transport Strategy; and

(iii) North Baddesley to Rownhams cycleway - £370,000 Solent Transport Strategy.

2.2 This decision, together with other programme changes and the continuation of county-wide programmes such as Safer Routes to Schools, means that much of the available funding for 2005/06 is already committed.

2.3 Much of the 2004/05 programme is starting late in the financial year and this means that a high proportion of the spending from this programme will occur in 2005/06. This in turn means that the new 2005/06 starts programme will need to be reduced, although spending on integrated transport is expected to remain at about £15 million.

2.4 The revised programmes will be considered by the County Council's Environment Policy Review Committee and the Executive Member for Environment in January, after the County Council's allocation for capital transport works is announced by the Department for Transport in December 2004.

2.5 It would greatly assist both the Environment Policy Review Committee and the Executive Member if Transport Strategy Panels could prioritise schemes within their respective Area Strategies for inclusion in the new 2005/06 programme.

3. Area Strategy Programmes - Prioritisation

3.1 Appendix 1 shows the officers' recommendations for this Area Strategy, as well as recommendations for county-wide programmes. Appendix 2 lists all potential schemes for inclusion in the 2005/06 programme for this Area Strategy.

3.2 In this exercise, priority has been given to schemes which contribute significantly to LTP and Corporate Objectives, are good value for money and are assessed as being sufficiently well advanced to be able to achieve a start on site within 2005/06, or are otherwise committed (eg through development agreements). The exercise also balances the proposed programme across geographical areas and different types of transport initiatives.

3.3 Each Transport Strategy Panel is being asked to comment on the proposed draft programmes and advise the Environment Policy Review Committee and Executive Member of suggested changes.

4. Local Transport Plan 2006/2011

4.1 Any schemes not included in the final 2005/06 programme will be considered, along with schemes currently in the preparation pool, for inclusion in the new LTP programme. Proposals for this programme will be presented to the Panels early in 2005.

Recommendation

That the Panel notes the proposed draft Capital Programme and indicates its priorities for schemes to be included in the 2005/06 programme.

9034/JWB