Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment along with the Head of Highways and Transport submitted a joint report seeking approval for the adoption of the Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan for 2020/21 and for the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme budget apportionment for 2020/21.

Councillor Maureen Penny explained to Cabinet that this report set out the allocation of funding that Council had agreed as part of the Annual Budget. Councillor Penny added that she was working with officers to streamline the process by which Ward Members could request funding to address minor repairs.

Resolved –

(1).        That the Local Transport Plan (LTP) Implementation Plan for 2020/21 be approved.

(2).        That the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme budget categories and total spend of £4.104 million for 2020/21, as detailed in Tables 1 to 7 of the Implementation Plan attached as Appendix 3 be approved.

(3).        That the Head of Highways and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment be authorised to:

a.    Prioritise schemes in accordance with Vision for Swindon priorities,

b.    Approve scheme progression in accordance with the updated Protocol (attached as Appendix 2 and originally approved by the Cabinet in July 2010),

c.    Amend the Protocol to reflect changing job titles, organisational restructuring and improved input from and visibility to members

d.    Vary allocations between different budget categories,

e.    Approve variations in scheme costs,

f.     Add/substitute schemes, provided expenditure is contained within the approved total budget,

g.    Add additional schemes to the 2020/21 programme subject to receipt of the Pothole Action Fund allocation for 2020/21, and

h.    Progress delivery of the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund schemes as set out in paragraph 3.18 of the joint report, including match funding of up to £0.97m of existing approvals within the capital programme, subject to a satisfactory review of the grant Terms & Conditions which have not yet been received by the Council.

(4).        That the Head of Highways and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, be authorised to develop and submit a bid / bids during 2020/21 for relevant funding opportunities launched by Government, or other funding agencies, for transport schemes that will benefit Swindon and which are in accordance with Vision for Swindon priorities.

(5).        That it be agreed to continue with the Highways and Transport Minor Works Requests process set out in Appendix 4.

(6).        That the progress on the review and refresh of the Local Transport Plan 3 document be noted.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.