Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

Executive Member for Environment

PART II

TRANSPORT CONTRIBUTIONS POLICY

In September 2007 the Cabinet adopted a policy for seeking Transport Contributions from new development sites in order to fund improvement schemes to mitigate the impact of development, and particularly to encourage access to and from development sites by means of transport alternatives to the private car.

The Transport Contributions Policy (TCP) sets out a standard methodology for calculating the level of financial contribution to be sought and applies to all new development within the County where an increase in daily multi-modal trips is expected as part of the proposal. A cost per trip is applied to all net additional multi-modal trips per day and the calculated financial contribution is taken towards implementing the Area Transport Strategies, set out in the Local Transport Plan (LTP). The TCP indicates that contributions are sought towards schemes developed through the relevant local Area Transport Strategy.

The TCP was commended to each of Hampshire's districts following its adoption by the Cabinet. Some of the districts adopted the TCP with immediate effect on the basis of their existing Local Plan policies, whilst other districts chose to ratify the use of the TCP and gain political approval through internal decisions and Supplementary Planning Documents. By April 2009 all districts had adopted the TCP apart from East Hampshire District Council.

A number of recent Inspector appeal decisions on small developments in the New Forest and elsewhere have highlighted the need to develop a list of local minor transport improvements and schemes which can be funded by small contributions required under TCP. Concern caused by these decisions has also led to the TCP coming under increased scrutiny, and has highlighted the need to strengthen the Area Transport Strategies of the LTP.

The majority of the appeal decisions have been for single dwelling proposals in small discrete settlements and more recently for a major residential development in Totton. The Inspectors have broadly accepted the principle of a tariff type approach to calculating transport contributions and support the general basis and methodology of TCP. They also appear to accept the principle that the cumulative effect of small developments is such that contributions are necessary and justifiable.

To ensure that the transport impact of development (including small scale development) is properly mitigated, a directory of transport schemes will be produced that will sit within and support the current LTP Area Transport Strategies. This will be a first point of reference for Highways Development Control in negotiating and recommending developer contributions, and will provide confidence to district councils in supporting demands for transport contributions. However this will be caveated by the need to include provision within the Section 106 Agreements which secure contributions to allow the developer to use discretion to spend contributions on "any other such schemes as may reasonably benefit the site".

The first phase of this work will concentrate on collating details of schemes and programmes that have already been identified (which will remedy short term difficulties with TCP). The scheme lists will then be enhanced and developed through consultation with County Members and regular liaison meetings that the Area Transport Teams hold with district authorities. Once the schedule of schemes has been drawn up by officers, approval from the Executive Member will be sought for each list that will be adopted under each of the Area Transport Strategies. The scheme lists will be continually monitored and reviewed with new schemes added as and when they are identified and formally approved by the Executive Member each year.

The Executive Member has approved the methodology for the identification of local transport improvement schemes, which will be rolled out across all districts in the County. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Member on 25 June 2009, which is on Hantsweb at: /decisions/decisions-index/index-docs-7057

RESPONSE TO DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT CONSULTATION - 'A SAFER WAY'

On 21 April 2009 the Department for Transport (DfT) published its consultation document "A Safer Way, Making Britain's Roads the Safest in the World", which describes its assessment of the key road safety issues facing the nation and proposals for casualty reduction targets to the year 2020. Analysis of casualty statistics and other data has identified a number of key areas upon which the proposed targets are based, that the document provides detailed background and reasoning for. While some relate more closely to Hampshire than others, they are all existing areas of concern that are well documented and largely the subject of existing safety programmes.

The DfT proposes a number of actions to support work in these areas which may affect the way the County Council carries out its road safety functions.

It is intended to amend guidance on speed limits, recommending that to reduce accidents if appropriate highway authorities, over time, introduce 20 miles per hour (mph) zones or limits into streets that are primarily residential in nature, rather than through traffic routes, and other areas where pedestrian and cyclist movements are high.

The existing target to reduce the number of children killed and seriously injured (KSI) by 50% covers children under 16. The proposed new target extends that to under 18, taking in riders of mopeds, motorcycles and young car drivers. While there are existing programmes in place for these groups it may be necessary to reassess priorities in this area.

The final proposal aims to address the slower progress that has been made in reducing the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists killed or seriously injured, particularly in urban areas, and the document supports further measures designed to assist these groups. At the same time the document recognises the need to support and encourage these modes of transport for reasons of health and sustainability.

The County Council's reduction in KSI figures has been extremely good in recent years. The 2008 figure was 587, a reduction of 42% from the 1994-98 base level, and already meeting the 2010 target. The 2004-08 average is 640 and if the proposed new targets are adopted it would be challenging to achieve a further 33% reduction by 2020 in Hampshire. As the consultation document shows, Hampshire is in the lowest quartile for fatal and serious casualty rates nationally.

In conclusion, the DfT consultation document is welcomed by the County Council in setting out the issues affecting road safety and proposed casualty reduction targets for the period to 2020. As a high performing authority with road safety as one of its main corporate priorities, Hampshire County Council is committed to giving its road safety programmes and activities a high priority through this period.

However, in the response the Executive Member has drawn the DfT's attention to the need to have differential targets depending on past performance and the crucial importance of continuing to provide funding for local authorities to deliver these services, particularly casualty reduction engineering programmes and improved speed management, together with the enforcement activities of Safer Roads Partnerships.

The other main area where improved overall delivery might be achieved is in the cooperation and sharing best practice between authorities, particularly where smaller authorities might be assisted by forming consortia to pool resources with other authorities for this purpose.

This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Member on 25 June 2009, which is on Hantsweb at: /decisions/decisions-index/index-docs-7057

M. J. KENDAL,

Executive Member for Environment