Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Executive Decision Record

1. The decision:

a) That final approval be given to implement the South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1 Fareham-Gosport subject to the granting of planning permission, and notwithstanding that the granting of any such planning permission might be subject to call in or an application for judicial review.

b) That the funding strategy as set out in the Confidential Appendix to the report be approved.

c) That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services in consultation with the Director of Environment and the County Treasurer to enter into a funding agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency to secure the allocation of £20 million from the Community Infrastructure Fund 2 in respect of the South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1 Fareham-Gosport.

d) That the financial risks to the County Council as set out in the report be noted.

2. Reasons for the decision:

2.1. Cabinet asked for a report back on the scheme following the funding decision.

2.2. Transport for South Hampshire's "Towards Delivery" Statement sets out a range of schemes that may be suitable for regional support. One of the eight packages highlighted in that report is Access in South East Hampshire including the North Fareham Strategic Development Area (SDA), and this includes a proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme for the area.

2.3. Based on the outcome of tendering and the allocation of £20 million from the Community Infrastructure Fund 2 the implementation of the South East Hampshire BRT Phase 1 Fareham-Gosport is financially deliverable.

2.4. The Executive Member for Environment supports the scheme and the recommendations in this report.

3. Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. That the offer of funding for BRT Phase 1 Fareham-Gosport be refused.

a) Risk Assessment: Refusal of funding would undermine the viability not only of Phase 1 but also the wider South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit Scheme.

3.2. Consideration of other Public Transport Systems.

a) Risk Assessment: A full range of scheme options has been considered over recent years, including heavy rail, trams or light rapid transit, trolley buses, guided buses, off-street bus corridors, on-street bus priority, and improved conventional bus services.

3.3. The viability of these individual options has been discounted in terms of deliverability due to significant cost and risk issues, and also the fact that proposals for the South Hampshire Rapid Transit scheme were formally abandoned in November 2006, following the then Secretary of State's decision not to provide funding.

4. Conflicts of interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker: none.

4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted: none.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee: none.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent: not applicable.

7. Statement from the Decision Maker: