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Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/45) providing an update on the Transport Capital Programme and Proposed Allocation for 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, attached.

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(a) that budgets be allocated to the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Block (LTP ITB) schemes in 2022/23 and 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 of the Report, noting the level of overprogramming planned;

 

(b) that the 2022/23 capital programme be increased by £4.576 million, with £2.652 million funded from other external grants, £0.474 million from external contributions and £1.451 million from developer contributions and to decrease the 2022/23 capital programme by £4.738 million due to rephasing of the Tiverton EUE budget. The schemes are listed in Appendix 1 of the Report; (c) that the 2023/24 capital programme be increased by £11.001 million with £3.234 million funded from other external grants, £5.967 million from external contributions and £1.800 million from developer contributions. This includes the rephasing of the Tiverton EUE budget. The schemes are listed in Appendix 1 of the Report;

 

(d) that £1 million LTP ITB from 2023/24 to 2022/23 be rephased; and

 

(e) that delegated authority be given to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport and the Cabinet Member for Highway Management regarding amendments to the Integrated Block allocations.

Minutes:

(Councillors Prowse and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/45) circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

 

The Report provided an update on the capital programme covering the current financial year and sought approval for a two-year transport capital programme covering the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24 (excluding maintenance). The Transport Capital Programme set out the short-term priority for investment in transport infrastructure. It built on long-term commitments as detailed in adopted strategies such as Local Plans, the Local Transport Plan, the Multi-Use Trail and Network Strategy, and the Transport Infrastructure Plan.

 

The Programme continued to build on national policy changes to support transport’s contribution towards addressing the climate emergency, with a range of sustainable transport schemes included.

 

Significant inflationary pressures were continuing to be felt in the construction sector with recent estimates on live projects putting the increase due to inflation at 20-24%, with the situation continuing to be monitored. This could result in scheme costs increasing with shortfalls needing to be covered by the Council’s Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Block. However, this funding was limited.

 

The Integrated Transport Block (ITB) settlement from Government for 2022/23 was £3.628 million. The same value has also been indicatively allocated for 2023/24 and 2024/25.

 

The Council also had a strong track record of successfully levering in external funding sources, often through competitive bidding processes and the Report outlined the extensive list of existing funding sources successfully secured and currently in use (for example the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), Large Local Majors (LLM) Fund, Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), Major Road Network (MRN) Fund, Growth Deal to name but a few).

 

In order to continue delivering transport infrastructure, additional funding opportunities to enhance the capital programme would continue to be sought and there could be opportunities through the Peninsula Transport Sub-National Transport Body, Active Travel Fund 4, Levelling Up Fund and Plymouth and South Devon Freeport.

 

The proposed Transport Capital Programme was detailed in full at Appendix 1 and included a range of schemes across the County covering different transport modes.  The programme was extensive, ambitious and diverse, the scale of which could result in resourcing implications; the level of overprogramming was evidence of this. 

 

Transport was a key mechanism to deliver the Council’s Strategic Plan priorities and actions, with many cross-cutting themes evident in the transport capital programme. The programme sought to prioritise active and sustainable travel investment across the County, whilst also supporting economic growth through the delivery of major schemes.

 

The table within the Report summarised how the proposals would impact achievement of relevant Strategic Plan actions.

 

An Environmental Impact Assessment had been carried out for the overall strategy contained in the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011-2026.  The environmental impacts of individual schemes would be detailed in Cabinet or Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) Reports where relevant. Also, individual Impact Assessments would be carried out on schemes where required and included with Cabinet and HATOC reports.

 

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability (including carbon impact), risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Director’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

 

it was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that budgets be allocated to the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Block (LTP ITB) schemes in 2022/23 and 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 of the Report, noting the level of overprogramming planned;

 

(b) that the 2022/23 capital programme be increased by £4.576 million, with £2.652 million funded from other external grants, £0.474 million from external contributions and £1.451 million from developer contributions and to decrease the 2022/23 capital programme by £4.738 million due to rephasing of the Tiverton EUE budget. The schemes are listed in Appendix 1 of the Report;

 

(c) that the 2023/24 capital programme be increased by £11.001 million with £3.234 million funded from other external grants, £5.967 million from external contributions and £1.800 million from developer contributions. This includes the rephasing of the Tiverton EUE budget. The schemes are listed in Appendix 1 of the Report;

 

(d) that £1 million LTP ITB from 2023/24 to 2022/23 be rephased; and

 

(e) that delegated authority be given to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport and the Cabinet Member for Highway Management regarding amendments to the Integrated Block allocations.

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