Archived decisions

Contact: Stuart Jarvis, ext 6124 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report invites Cabinet to consider and recommend to the County Council the establishment of a formal joint committee with the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton to formulate and implement strategic transport policies, proposals and improvements to the transport systems and networks of South Hampshire in association with the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH). Over recent months the Solent Transport Executive (which comprises the three Executive Members for Transport from Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire) has been considering a restructuring of the partnership to increase its effectiveness and ability to develop a "delivery agency" capability to maximise transport investment and coordination in South Hampshire. The report seeks confirmation that the Cabinet is content for the proposed arrangements to be recommended to the County Council in May.

1.2 The agency, to be known as Transport for South Hampshire, would be charged with providing enhanced transport delivery arrangements locally for the South Hampshire area, and maximising investment and infrastructure provision in accordance with the South Hampshire Sub-Regional strategy, and build upon the success of the Solent Transport Partnership.

2. Recommendation

That the Cabinet commend to the County Council for consideration and approval the establishment of a formal Joint Committee (Transport for South Hampshire) involving Hampshire County, Southampton City and Portsmouth City Councils, to replace the existing voluntary, informal Solent Transport Executive; based on the broad structure and functions described in Section 3 of the report, with approval of the detailed Memorandum of Understanding to be delegated to the Leader and Executive Member for Environment.

3. Background

3.1 In March 2003 an informal partnership, Solent Transport, was established to address strategic transport solutions across the administrative boundaries of South Hampshire and across the different transport sectors. This followed the recognition that there is no single authority within South Hampshire able to deal with the challenges imposed by pressures on the local and strategic road networks, the rail network, and the bus, ferry and aviation sectors. With the enthusiastic involvement of 24 partner organisations, representing a wide range of transport responsibilities, the partnership is managed by the Executive Members for Environment and Transport of Hampshire County, Portsmouth City and Southampton City Councils. The Local Transport Plans of the three authorities contained an identical Solent Transport Strategy, to underline their closely integrated approach.

3.2 The partnership has contributed to the formulation of transport proposals for the South East Plan and in particular the South Hampshire Sub-Region, and its value is recognised by PUSH, as well as Government agencies. With the need to move towards the implementation of the South East Plan, it is timely to review the role of the established voluntary partnership. There is considered to be merit in establishing local delivery arrangements to take forward the implementation of the sub-regional strategies, as an alternative to regional bodies assuming this role. A workshop for PUSH Leaders and Transport Executive Members took place at Fareham on 6 November 2006. This workshop explored key issues and options for the development of Solent Transport.

3.3 At a meeting of PUSH Leaders and Chief Executives in December 2006, the establishment of a joint committee was proposed as a way of formalising the existing Solent Transport partnership, whilst equipping the new body with the authority to commission studies, make recommendations on a sub-regional basis and collect and disburse funds for strategic transport infrastructure. A number of delivery agencies are being set up in other areas of growth and the pre-existence of a working transport partnership in South Hampshire is particularly beneficial.

3.4 In discussions at recent meetings of the Solent Transport Executive, Solent Transport stakeholders, PUSH Leaders and Chief Executives, it was agreed that there is a strong case to strengthen and reform Solent Transport to ensure that it is well placed to meet the challenges of delivering the sub-regional transport strategy. This is driven particularly by the following factors:

(i) the current Executive is not authorised to take decisions, requiring the formal agreement of each authority to commit any funding;

(ii) Government and possibly the Regional Assembly are more likely in future to make allocations of transport funding (through various funding streams) to sub-regions where appropriate delivery arrangements are in place;

(iii) Planning Gain Supplement or a tariff system for developer contributions will require sub-regional arrangements for pooling and distribution if regional management is to be avoided;

(iv) many of the transport projects proposed for South Hampshire are sub-regional in nature and require closer sub-regional working; and

(v) stakeholders are keen to be associated with an organisation with the power to take decisions.

3.5 The broad structure of the proposed delivery agency is as follows:

(i) A strengthened Executive:

(a) constituted as a formal joint committee of the three transport authorities (operating on the basis of unanimity and only quorate if all three are represented);

(b) with non-voting representation from the region and other infrastructure providers; and

(c) with a right for all other stakeholders, including districts, to attend and join the debate (without voting rights) for items of interest to them.

This will ensure greater efficiency and accountability of decision-making (no need to refer back to each transport authority for formal decisions) and enable greater access for all stakeholders to the decision-making process. Only the three transport authorities have voting rights because they hold the functions and funding in question and so are accountable for the discharge of those functions.

(ii) Five core working groups (with sub-groups as required) covering:

(a) public transport (bus, rail, coach and ferry);

(b) strategic transport corridors and packages;

(c) South Hampshire transport strategy;

(d) strategic traffic management and travel information; and

(e) funding, bidding and disbursement.

The working groups are the engine room of the new arrangements, and would be administered by the local transport authorities and report to the new Executive. These groups will have strong representation and involvement by stakeholders.

(iii) A dedicated coordination and administration secretariat, which will be provided by the County Council, with contributions from the three authorities.

(iv) A "dotted reporting line" to PUSH Leaders and Chief Executives to maintain the close connection with the sub-regional spatial strategy and economic development work - formal accountability remains to the three transport authorities.

3.6 The functions of the Executive would be linked only to those matters to be dealt with sub-regionally, including:

(i) delivery of a seamless and coordinated public transport operation across the sub-region and securing infrastructure to support that;

(ii) delivery of sub-regional schemes and innovations and implementation of sub-regional transport policies (including strategic traffic management);

(iii) pursuing and securing funding for sub-regional transport schemes (and supporting each transport authority in doing so for local schemes);

(iv) holding developer contributions for sub-regional schemes;

(v) monitoring and reviewing delivery at sub-regional level; and

(vi) pursuing representation on the Regional Transport Board.

3.7 The functions of the Executive would, therefore, not include:

(i) acting as local highway authority;

(ii) delivering local schemes or local traffic management;

(iii) administering tendered bus routes, concessionary fares (although some coordination is necessary for both of these), home to school or community transport;

(iv) seeking to take over operational functions of operators; or

(v) doing anything that is better delivered locally or county-wide.

3.8 It is considered to be important that a prompt start be made on the joint work to maximise the opportunities to secure external funding for transport in South Hampshire and to establish a reputation for Delivery in these areas. This is particularly important in respect of preparing a full submission to the Regional Transport Board for the impending review of the Regional Funding Allocation, and the development of credible bids for the next round of the New Growth Point and Transport Innovation Fund bidding rounds in 2007/08.

4. Next Steps

Working Groups

4.1 Work on reconstituting the working groups into the new structure can begin immediately, although full implementation of the new structure will benefit from detailed agreement of the functions of the new Executive and a work programme agreed by the Executive and communicated to PUSH.

4.2 It is proposed that, subject to the agreement of the constituent authorities, work starts on drawing up draft terms of reference, membership and work programmes for the new working groups alongside the stakeholders, for consideration at the next meeting of the Executive Members.

Executive/Joint Committee

4.3 Before a formal joint committee can be established, a resolution is required from each Council delegating specific functions to the committee and approving the terms of reference for the committee in the form of a memorandum of agreement. The memorandum will cover the following areas:

(i) Constitution of the Joint Committee - proposed to be one Executive Member from each of the three transport authorities, normally to be the transport portfolio holder.

(ii) Name of the Joint Committee - proposed to be Transport for South Hampshire, retaining the right to trade under the well-established Solent Transport brand name.

(iii) Membership of the Joint Committee - proposed to be the appointed Executive Members plus one (non-voting) representative each from the Highways Agency and Network Rail, plus rights for each of an agreed list of stakeholders (including district councils and transport operators, etc) to send one representative to attend and speak (but not vote) on items of relevance to them. There will also be provisions dealing with terms of office, vacancies, etc. In addition the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) and the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) will have a standing invitation to attend as observers.

(iv) Powers of the Committee - setting out the functions as per those outlined above.

(v) Meetings and Proceedings - quorum to require all three Authorities' representatives to be present; decisions made on the basis of unanimity; power to make standing orders for procedures at meetings (including access to meetings and information); appointing the Chair, etc.

(vi) Support staff - appointment, remuneration, etc to be quantified.

(vii) Financial and Land Related Matters.

(viii) Local Transport Plan and Local Area Agreement Related Issues.

(ix) Apportionment of deficits and surpluses.

(x) Scrutiny of decisions - it is not proposed that a joint scrutiny committee be established but instead that this role should remain with the relevant scrutiny committee of each transport authority, with provisions for call-in of key decisions and definition of key decisions.

(xi) Review and determination of the agreement.

(xii) Arbitration.

4.4 It is recommended that officers draw up the proposed memorandum (and associated report) for consideration in draft by the next Solent Transport Executive meeting and for consideration, adoption and appointment of Members no later than each authority's 2007 annual council meeting. In the meantime it has been agreed that a report based on this one will be presented to the appropriate Member forum in each transport authority to secure support for the proposed way forward.

4.5 Under normal circumstances this proposal would be considered by the Governance Committee prior to Cabinet and Council decisions. However, there is no scheduled meeting of the Governance Committee between early April and June. In view of the desire to establish the formal Joint Committee at the annual Council Meetings of the three authorities, to enable an early start on delivery work and preparation of funding bids and submissions, it is proposed to report straight to Full Council from Cabinet and to offer a briefing to Governance Committee Members.

Secretariat

4.6 It is proposed that, initially at least, officers from each transport authority agree the level of resource that each authority will contribute to the coordination and administration of the joint committee and working groups, likely to be through secondment of staff (full or part-time) into a secretariat. The County Council will host and lead this secretariat. At this stage it is anticipated that these arrangements can be delivered largely within existing resources dedicated to Solent Transport, although this may require review as the work programme expands into project delivery functions. A dedicated lead officer will be identified from within the County Council Transport Group to work full time on this work area initially, which will require additional capacity to backfill the post holder's previous work.

5. Impact Assessments

5.1 Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of this proposal. No adverse impact has been identified in terms of race, creed or gender.

6. Conclusions

6.1 The establishment of a new Joint Committee, Transport for South Hampshire, will equip the County Council, together with the two city councils, to address the considerable challenges facing future transport provision for South Hampshire during the implementation of the South East Plan. This delivery arrangement will build upon and complement the good reputation enjoyed by PUSH and the current Solent Transport partnership at national and regional level and provide an exemplar for other areas.

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