Committee Report NSC

                                                     Item 6.1

North Somerset Council

 

REPORT TO THE STRATEgic planning and economic development policy and Scrutiny Panel

 

Date of Meeting:          5 FEBRUARY 2007

 

Subject of Report:   Local Transport plan implementation programme 2007/08

 

Town or parish:           all North Somerset

 

officer presenting: director of development and environment

 

Key Decision:      YES

 

 

recommendation

 

That the Panel consider the 2007/08 Local Transport Plan implementation programme and send its conclusions for consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 6 March.

 

 

            Summary of Report

 

The report seeks consideration of the 2007/08 Local Transport Plan Implementation Programme. Significant S106 funds to support           the objectives of the LTP are also available and support for their use is also sought.

 

            Policy

 

The implementation programme arises from the priorities and policies of the Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP) that was submitted to the Government in March 2006. Following the enactment of the Transport Act (2000), it is now a statutory document that the authority has a duty to implement.

 

            Background

           

Government guidance on the preparation of Local Transport Plans (LTP) requires Local Authorities to present a five-year plan of works and improvements to the transportation network of their district. The Joint Local Transport Plan for the Greater Bristol Area (comprising the four former-Avon authorities) was submitted to the Government Office South West (GOSW) in March 2006. This now covers the period from 2006/07 to 2010/11.

 

In December 2006, GOSW announced that the JLTP had been assessed as “good” – this from a possible assessment of ‘excellent, good, fair or weak’. GOSW also announced that the Joint Delivery Report, covering the years 2001/02 to 2005/06, had been assessed as “very good” - this from a possible assessment of ‘excellent, very good, good or satisfactory’.

 

Because of the “good” JLTP and our “very good” delivery of the 1st LTP, GOSW awarded the four authorities an additional 3% above the previously indicated settlement. For North Somerset, this amounts to a total of £3.823m and is broken down into £2.3m for maintenance and £1.523m for integrated transport. 

 

This report sets out the JLTP implementation programme for 2007/8 for schemes in North Somerset.  Details are shown in Appendix 1.

 

The programme does not include schemes that would be funded by the Greater Bristol Bus Network Major Scheme, which amounts to £68m investment across the Greater Bristol Area over the next four financial years. For North Somerset this would amount to ~5m of capital investment on the A369 and A370 corridors, including bus priority measures, bus stop improvements and Real Time Information; more modern buses would be provided by First Group. Programme Entry was achieved in July 2006 and a bid for Final Approval (to the DfT) is anticipated in March2007; a bespoke report on this bid will be presented at that time. Once Final Approval is granted by DfT, implementation would start thereafter; it is currently assumed this would be in Autumn 2007.

 

Additional funding has also been received for road safety. Discussions are underway with our partners on how this funding might be allocated. This will be subject to a further report in due course.

 

The suggested programme has been prepared in accordance with the priorities of the JLTP. It also takes account of progress reported in the Joint Delivery Report, comments received by GOSW and the most recent review of the on-going implementation programme. This is so that our programme of works can make a real contribution to the targets set out in the JLTP, thus improve the performance of the four councils against the transport indicators and in turn to the council’s CPA assessment. This is important because, as this year we have received an increased allocation, in future years a failing in delivery could result in a reduced capital settlement from DfT.

 

To ensure continued improvement, the programme for 2007/08 has again been focused on delivering the Core Targets, with funding apportioned according to an evaluation of performance, and future need in order to meet defined trajectories. The Core Targets in the JLTP to which progress must be       made are:

 

                        Target Description                                                 Known As          

·                     Road condition, principal roads                              BV223

·                     Road condition, non-principal roads                       BV224a

·                     Road condition, unclassified roads                        BV224b

·                     Footway condition                                                     BV187

·                     Road safety (KSI)                                                      BV99x

·                     Road safety (KSI) under 16                         BV99y

·                     Road safety, slights                                                  BV99z

·                     Bus journeys (patronage)                                         BV102

·                     Bus satisfaction                                                         BV104

·                     Accessibility                                                              LTP1

·                     Reducing traffic mileage                                          LTP2

·                     Cycling trips                                                               LTP3

·                     Mode share of journeys to school                           LTP4

·                     Bus punctuality                                                          LTP5

·                     Peak flow to urban centres                                      LTP6

·                     Congestion                                                                LTP7

·                     Air quality, (AQMAs)                                     LTP8

 

 

            Consultation

 

The JLTP was subject to a substantial consultation with all partners, public and interested parties. This took place in April/May 2005 to inform the provisional JTLP, with further rounds of consultation taking place in November 2005 to inform the final JLTP. TheJLTP came into effect from 6th April 2006. Further consultation with interested parties took place in December 2006 at the JLTP Forum (which is repeated annually).

 

 

            Financial Implications

           

The approved budgets are indicated in the table below.  Further detail on how the approved budgets are divided between particular schemes is included in appendix 1.

 

 

Approved Budget

 

Capital

£3.823M LTP

£          S106 [to be confirmed]

£          Civic Pride [to be confirmed]

£          NSC [to be confirmed]

 

 

To ensure that we maintain the predicted expenditure it may be necessary to amend            the programme throughout the year to reflect changes or delays to individual       schemes. Where scheme changes are required, Executive Member approval will be          sought for the changes at such time as is necessary.

 

The programme also highlights the planned spend of S106 contributions and other sources of funding on transport-related schemes.

 

 

            Risk Assessment

To follow

           

            Equality Implications

 

The programme includes improvements that address mobility issues and assist people with disabilities, for example the programme of raised kerbs to improve access to public transport. The programme includes improvements to public transport, the walking and cycling networks, that aid travel to jobs and services for those who do not, or choose not to, have access to a private car.

 

 

            Corporate Implications

 

Many of the schemes in the JLTP implementation programme contribute to corporate priorities.  Examples are indicated in the table below:

 

Corporate Aim

LTP contribution from schemes implemented in 06/07

1.      Protecting and Improving the Environment

Encourage increased use of sustainable modes of transport; improving quality of transport infrastructure

2.      Enhancing Health and Well-Being

Increase physical activity by encouraging walking and cycling and increasing accessibility to health and other facilities

3.      Maximising Learning Throughout Life

Promoting school travel plans; providing road safety training to children and adults

4.      Increasing Prosperity

Tackling congestion; supporting access to key facilities; addressing social exclusion

5.      Building Safer Communities

Reducing traffic accidents; safe access to schools

6.      Managing the Organisation Efficiently and Effectively

Management and use of staff and consultants to deliver schemes and ensure value for money

 

 

            Options considered

 

An indicative programme for 2007/08 was submitted with the JLTP in March 2006; this has been adjusted to accommodate;

·        Further guidance from GOSW received in the settlement letter, December 2006; and

·        schemes not implemented in 2006/07.

 

 

Author

 

            Colin Medus, Transport Planning Manager

            Frank Cox, New Works Manager

 

 

Background Papers

 

            Final Joint Local Transport Plan – March 2006

            Joint Delivery Report – July 2006

            GOSW Settlement Letter - December 2006.

 

 

Appendices

 

            Appendix 1 – Capital Programme for 2007/08