Decision details

The Cabinet Member approved the 2022/23 Transport Programme of Works, as follows:

·         The 2022/23 Integrated Transport Programme;

·         The 2022/23 Highway Maintenance Programme;

·         The 2022/23 Pothole Funding Programme;

·         The 2022/23 Street Lighting Maintenance Programme; and

·         The 2022/23 Bridge Maintenance Programme.

A Local Transport Plan was prepared by the Combined Authority and was adopted in January 2020. The plan is now in the process of being updated and will be known as Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP). The Combined Authority is undertaking the update because of significant changes and developments in transport locally and nationally. They include the recommendations of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate, new CO2 and electric vehicle targets published by Government, including its Decarbonising Transport document and the changes in travel caused by Covid-19. The LTCP will undergo a consultation in May, with aim of having the plan completed by Autumn 2022.

On an annual basis the Council receives numerous requests for improvements to the transport network from the general public, 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 2022/23 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/

·         Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Local Transport and Connectivity Plan

https://yourltcp.co.uk/

·         Department for Transport - highways maintenance funding formula allocations, 2021 to 2022 forCambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (2022-23 allocations not yet published) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highways-maintenance-funding-allocations/highways-maintenance-funding-formula-allocations-2021-to-2022#combined-authority-amounts