Agenda item

At the time of writing this report the Department for Transport (DfT) have yet to confirm exact funding values for 2021/22 and beyond and therefore an assumption has been made that the value will remain at least at the level received in 2020/21.

This Cabinet Report for the 2021/22 Local Transport Plan (LTP) Capital Programme has been developed to:

i)             Seek approval for the proposed utilisation of expected LTP 2021/22 Capital grant allocation of £6,803k (£3,078k of Integrated Transport Block (ITB) funding and £3,725k of Highway Maintenance funding), with a recommended split of £3,358k for ITB and £3,445k for Maintenance based on need.

ii)            Seek approval for the indicative 2022/23 and 2023/24 Highways Maintenance Programmes as set out in Appendix B.

iii)           Seek approval upon receipt of the DfT confirmation letter that through delegated authority the Director of Growth & Infrastructure in consultation with Portfolio Holder’s for Transportation and Environment make required LTP Capital Programme amendment to match confirmed DfT levels.

iv)           Note the utilisation of £147k of s106 developer contributions for the final phase of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP): Townside scheme.

v)            Note the allocation of 2021/22 LTP Integrated Transport Block funding (combined total of £530k) as a local contribution towards the SE Dorset City Regions Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme.

vi)           Note the £40.88M of funding in 2021/22 for the delivery of the approved Transforming Cities Fund programme.

vii)          Note the award of £1,062k from the Active Travel Fund, with a local contribution of £200k of LTP funding committed as part of the successful bid.

Note the ongoing delivery of over £3M of highway maintenance schemes (via DfT Challenge Fund award).

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability presented a report and additional addendum, copies of which had been circulated to each Member and copies of which appear as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the 2021/22 Local Transport Plan (LTP) Capital Programme had been developed to:

i)         Seek approval for the proposed utilisation of expected LTP 2021/22 Capital grant allocation of £6,803k (£3,078k of Integrated Transport Block (ITB) funding and £3,725k of Highway Maintenance funding), with a recommended split of £3,358k for ITB and £3,445k for Maintenance based on need.

ii)       Seek approval for the indicative 2022/23 and 2023/24 Highways Maintenance Programmes as set out in Appendix B.

iii)      Seek approval upon receipt of the DfT confirmation letter that through delegated authority the Director of Growth & Infrastructure in consultation with Portfolio Holder’s for Transportation and Environment make required LTP Capital Programme amendment to match confirmed DfT levels.

iv)      Note the utilisation of £147k of s106 developer contributions for the final phase of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP): Townside scheme.

v)       Note the allocation of 2021/22 LTP Integrated Transport Block funding (combined total of £530k) as a local contribution towards the SE Dorset City Regions Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme.

vi)      Note the £40.88M of funding in 2021/22 for the delivery of the approved Transforming Cities Fund programme.

vii)    Note the award of £1,062k from the Active Travel Fund, with a local contribution of £200k of LTP funding committed as part of the successful bid.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that at the time of writing the report the Department for Transport (DfT) had yet to confirm exact funding values for 2021/22 and beyond and therefore an assumption had been made that the value will remain at least at the level received in 2020/21.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the allocation had since been announced and an addendum setting out the changes to the report in light of the allocation and amended appendices had been produced, published and circulated.

Whilst the Overview and Scrutiny Board didn’t consider the item the Chairman of the Board addressed the Cabinet highlighting the massive investment in sustainable travel.

Councillor Hadley addressed the Cabinet praising the report for moving forwards. In addition, Councillor Hadley expressed surprise that there was no reference to pot holes.

The Officer addressed the Cabinet advising that budgets were contained within the highway maintenance fund to deal with potholes.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a)           approve the proposed 2021/22 Local Transport Plan Capital Programme funding as set out in Appendix A; and

(b)           approve the indicative 2022/23 and 2023/24 Highways Maintenance Programmes as set out in Appendix B;

RESOLVED that:-

(c)           authority be delegated to the Director of G&I in consultation with the Portfolio Holder’s for Transportation and Environment to make LTP Capital Programme amendments once actual DfT grant allocations have been confirmed.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Sustainability