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

1. Summary

1.1 This report considers progress with the Environment capital programme and proposes amendments, including the addition of a new externally funded Puffin crossing at Chilbolton Avenue, Winchester, substantial changes to the funding for the North Baddesley to Rownhams cycle route, Hayling Billy Cycle route (access to Havant rail station), both LTP funded, and Fontley Road footway, near Fareham (developer funded).

1.2 It is proposed to reallocate part of the Community Safety Initiative (street lighting) allocation to street lighting column replacement.

1.3 There are also proposed protocols for the use of the remaining Knightwood development funds and for the use of small elements of developer funding.

1.4 The report contains:

(i) progress on the transport programme;

(ii) issues with the transport programme with proposed amendments (set out in Appendix 1 to this report);

(iii) proposed ways forward for Knightwood development funding and minor developer funding; and

(iv) details on non-transport programmes.

2. Transport Programme Progress

2.1 The LTP spending plan, described in full to the September meeting, has a target of £12.84 million in 2005/06 for integrated transport, £6.60 million for the A3 major scheme and £14.61 million for structural maintenance of highways and bridges.

2.2 As at 25 October 2005 spending was recorded at 36% for integrated transport and the A3 and at 44% for maintenance and bridges, broadly on course with the targets.

2.3 Within the integrated transport spending, there is some concern that spending on some categories is slipping as schemes have been delayed. Cycling is one such category and two schemes with delays are discussed below.

3. Amendments Within the Transport Programme

North Baddesley to Rownhams Cycle Scheme (LTP)

3.1 This is a 2004/05 programme scheme which had its main implementation delayed because of problems with subsidence and the need to treat Japanese knotweed. It is part of the national cycle network linking the Test Valley, Eastleigh and Southampton networks, and has been many years in development. The total costs of the scheme are now forecast at £490,000 compared with an allocation of £400,000 (LTP funding). These costs include £143,000 in scheme development, reflecting the difficulty in producing an acceptable scheme. There is considerable local support including the local Member and Test Valley Members. As there is a substantial increase in costs above the allocation and project appraisal sums formal approval is sought to proceed with the scheme.

Hayling Billy Cycle Scheme - Havant Station Access (LTP)

3.2 This scheme has a capital programme allocation of £274,000 (£250,000 LTP and £24,000 externally funded. The scheme has been managed by South West Trains on the County Council's behalf. Tenders have been higher than advised by South West Trains and the scheme now requires a further £36,000 LTP funding to proceed. As with the previous scheme the original sums had been substantially preliminary costs. Approval to proceed will help achieve spending targets as well as promoting cycle access to the station. The scheme is supported by local Members and the Member of Parliament.

Community Safety Initiative (LTP)

3.3 There has been limited take-up in the financial year for this matched funding street lighting initiative and it is proposed to transfer £16,000 to the street lighting column replacement programme in 2005/06.

Safer Routes to School Programme (LTP)

3.4 There are proposals to amend this programme through the introduction of new schemes and changes in allocations which have arisen through project development. The details shown in Appendix 3 show the changes in allocation for each scheme, the proposed revised allocation and scheme progress. Appendix 4 identifies schemes within this programme that have altered in cost by more than 25%.

Fontley Road Footway, near Fareham (Winchester district) (EF)

3.5 This scheme has a programme allocation of £100,000 (externally funded). It is possible to produce a more comprehensive scheme for £200,000 for which external funding is available and it is proposed that this allocation is increased.

Chilbolton Avenue Puffin Crossing, Winchester (EF)

3.6 It is proposed to add this scheme to the 2005/06 externally funded programme with an allocation of £60,000. Developer funding is available and the local Member supports the proposal.

Glebe Gardens, Basingstoke (EF)

3.7 Proposed new addition for resurfacing of shared-use cycle/pedestrian path in association with Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA) programme. Developer funding is available and the local Member supports the proposal. For further details see separate item on this agenda.

Schemes Deferred

3.8 The Andover Quality Bus Partnership scheme (LTP) for 2005/06 is reported to be delayed in its development and will not now achieve a start in the year; it is proposed that the scheme be deferred to 2006/07.

3.9 Developer funded:

(i) A27 crossing at Park Gate, near Telford Way, Fareham is also proposed to be withdrawn for more detailed investigation of potential improvements at the nearby roundabout.

(ii) Funtley Footways, Knowle Village scheme is proposed to be deferred to the 2006/07 programme following the landowner's decision to restrict land access essential to construction until summer 2006.

(iii) A335 Wide Lane Cycle Scheme, Eastleigh is to be deferred to accommodate wider transport objectives associated with Southampton Airport and Parkway Station and to be coordinated with the introduction of a new bridge at the station in 2006/07.

Minor Amendments

3.10 There are a number of proposed minor programme amendments which are listed in Appendix 2 to this report.

4. Developer Funding

Knightwood Development, Test Valley/Eastleigh

4.1 Use of the Knightwood development funding was previously guided by a group of Members whose wards included or bordered the development area. While the Knightwood funding is now largely used there are still some issues regarding the best use of the residual sum of £520,000. This will include an examination of the problems associated with the pedestrian and cycle use of Flexford Road.

4.2 It is proposed that a group be reconvened to advise the Executive Member on the best way forward and that the group should look at potential options for Flexford Road as well other relevant issues.

4.3 There is one immediate issue regarding the Knightwood School/ Community bus which has received support from the Knightwood funds and which will fold unless a further £20,000 is made available. It is proposed that this support of £20,000 per annum for the next two years is confirmed.

4.4 This will enable the school to continue to provide transport for non-entitled schoolchildren to travel to and from school without using parental cars for which no parking facilities are available, thus reducing congestion. The minibus currently does 48 passenger trips per day which is a subsidy rate of £2.19 per child.

Use of Developer Funding

4.5 In order to expedite the use of small residual sums of developer funding that where it is an appropriate local use the contribution will be added to the capital programme within the county-wide Minor Works programme. Schemes in this programme normally cost less than £20,000.

5. 2005/06 Capital Highways Maintenance and Bridges

5.1 Appendix 5 updates the programme for structural maintenance of roads and bridges. The overall value of the programme is unchanged, although there have been some movements between the various items since the last progress report.

5.2 Appendix 6 provides a further analysis of the block allocation for bridges structural maintenance. It has become apparent that three of the larger schemes, namely Knights Little, Allington Lane and Redbridge, will not now be completed before the end of 2005/06. Accordingly, actual payments within the current financial year are unlikely to reach the level of the agreed allocation, and approval will need to be sought to carry forward the commitment to 2006/07.

6. 2005/06 Non-Transport Capital Programme

6.1 Details of the non-transport capital 2005/06 programmes covering environment improvements, ROUA, Country Towns Initiative (CTI) and the Hampshire Villages Initiative (HVI), together with the waste management programme are set out in Appendix 7. Schemes are progressing in accordance with the approved programme.

6.2 In the ROUA programme, phase 2 works in Old Totton are progressing following completion of the first phase. Works at Church End Green, Yateley are expected to be implemented in summer 2006, with proposals for The Square, Hamble well advanced.

6.3 CTI schemes at Swanmore and Odiham are expected to start on site in early spring and mid summer respectively.

6.4 HVI improvement works at South Warnborough have been completed, with schemes at Horndean and West Liss due to start early in 2006.

6.5 Appendix 7 provides further details of progress in implementing the non-transport capital programme. This also includes details of schemes started in previous financial years which are incurring expenditure in 2005/06. In total, expenditure of about £3.8 million is expected to be incurred during 2005/06 in order to implement these schemes. In contrast to the transport capital programme, which is heavily supported by Government borrowing approvals and other external sources of finance, the non-transport programme will be mainly funded form the County Council's own internal resources.

Coast Protection

6.6 Under the provisions of the Coast Protection Act 1949, the County Council supports coast protection schemes undertaken by District Councils. This support is underwritten by Government borrowing approvals and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has reserved a total of £166,652 for 2005/06 in respect of six schemes. This compares with a nominal amount of £100,000 which was included in the approved capital programme for contributions to coast protection schemes. Adjustments will be made to the capital programme cash limit to reflect the actual contributions payable in respect of these six schemes. The named schemes are:

(i) Shingle Recycling, Hayling Island (£16,250);

(ii) Eastoke Point Coastal Defence Study (£85,000);

(iii) Solent Dynamic Coast Project (£9,675);

(iv) Western Solent Defence Strategy Study (£4,950);

(v) Strategic Monitoring Programme for the South East - SCOPAC (£46,652); and

(vi) Christchurch Bay Coastal Defence Strategy Study (£4,125).

6.7 It is anticipated that Defra will transfer this support entirely to District Councils in future, in which case it will not be included in future capital programmes or monitoring reports.

7. Impact Assessments

7.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has not been undertaken. Impact Assessments are normally reported in the project appraisal for each scheme during its development. Schemes within the Environment Department Capital Programme are not expected to compromise the County Council's policies for equality and diversity, but to improve access for all users.

Recommendations

1. That the revised Environment Capital Programme set out in the report and appendices be approved.

2. That the proposed protocols for progressing the remaining developer funding from the Knightwood development and for use of small residual sums of developer funding be approved.

677/JWB