Decision details

The Cabinet Member approved the 2021/22 Transport Programme of Works, as follows:

-       The 2021/22 Integrated Transport Programme;

-       The 2021/22 Highway Maintenance Programme;

-       The 2021/22 Pothole Funding Programme;

-       The 2021/22 Street Lighting Maintenance Programme; and

-       The 2021/22 Bridge Maintenance Programme.

A new Local Transport Plan has been prepared by the Combined Authority and was adopted by their Board at their January 2020 meeting. This document was developed over many months and the CPCA worked in partnership with Peterborough City Council. A full public consultation occurred and a range of transport interventions to best address local problems, meet the growth aspirations of the City and integrate the Government’s transport priorities agreed nationally by the Local Government Association and the DfT. The assessment and appraisal of options involved:

-       Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

-       Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

-       Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA)

On an annual basis the Council receives numerous requests for improvements to the transport network from the general public, Council Members and other stakeholders. These potential schemes are assessed against recognised assessment methodologies and prioritised for consideration in future years programmes. In some areas like highways and street lighting, scheme prioritisation is based on inspection processes, which assess condition and target spending where it is needed most. As budget allocations are finite it is inevitable that some alternative schemes, which broadly meet objectives, will not be included in the proposed programme. These schemes will remain on the Request Database and be considered for the following year’s programme. Other schemes that have been assessed, and which do not meet objectives, would be rejected and not be considered again in the immediate future. The Programme of Works shown in Appendices 1-4 is considered to be the best programme to meet the Council’s objectives.

LTP capital funding is awarded in the form of a single capital pot and as last financial year it is provided as a direct capital grant to the CPCA. An early mandate for the proposed Transport Programme of Works is essential in order to provide sufficient timeframe for consultation, design and implementation of identified schemes within allocated budgets.

As previously mentioned in section 4.4, the allocation for 2021/22 is to be presented at the CPCA Board Meeting in June and funding is expected to be released shortly after. Due to the timescales involved, waiting to commence after June would have a significant impact on successful delivery of the programme and likely to result in not all of the budget being fully spent within the financial year. Therefore, it is recommended the programme of work begins in April following approval of this decision notice.

Not to deliver a programme of works: The £5,740k (annual allocation) expected transport settlement is grant funding - non delivery of a transport programme of works would mean that the funding could be lost. Successful delivery of the proposed programme of works will provide significant benefits to the residents of Peterborough and the wider travelling public, resulting in improvements to; condition of roads and pavements; street lighting; public transport; road safety; accessibility and the environment. These benefits will be lost if the programme is not delivered.

Agree an alternative scheme/works programme: The schemes put forward have been developed in consultation with a wide range of key stakeholders and assessed to ensure they meet objectives and provide value for money.

None.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Interim Local Transport Plan

https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/about-us/programmes/transport/ltp/

Department for Transport - highways maintenance funding formula allocations, 2021 to 2022 for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highways-maintenance-funding-allocations/highways-maintenance-funding-formula-allocations-2021-to-2022#combined-authority-amounts