Agenda item

The report provides an update on the progress with the delivery of the approved Local Transport Plan programme 2021/22.

The Service Director – Local Services gave an update on progress with the delivery of the approved Local Transport Plan for 2021/22.  He reported that:

·        The actual LTP programme for 2021/22 had increased from the anticipated draft of £19 million to £25.6 million following confirmation from the Department for Transport of actual funding allocated to NCC which had enabled schemes to be extended as well as including reserve schemes within the programme.

·        Additional capital investment of £15 million had been approved by the Council to improve U and C roads, footways and cycleways with a £5 million allocation in the current year.

·        The complex programme included maintenance work, resurfacing and safety schemes as well as significant structural projects including bridge maintenance and repairs and geotechnical investigations for a landslip, which would likely result in a scheme the following year.

·        Work was progressing to enable the provision of a quarterly update report on LTP schemes to Members in the future.

The Local Area Council were provided with an update on schemes in the Tyndale area, some of which had been covered in the Local Services Update earlier in the meeting.  Progress on the LTP Programme included:

·        Integrated Transport: 16 of 57 schemes completed including implementation of 20 mph speed limits near schools and 8 works orders issued on other schemes.  31 schemes were at various stages of design including a further 6 20 mph school schemes.

·        Maintenance: 27 of 47 projects completed including 12 surface dressing schemes, 2 micro surfacing schemes and 13 structural Maintenance and resurfacing schemes completed.

·        U and C Road network improvements.  Works orders had been issued on a number of schemes with 3 further projects at the design stage.  6 schemes were to be programmed of which 3 were pending due to legal issues on way leave agreements to gain access.  1 micro surfacing had been deferred until next year due to being out of the weather window.

Notification had been sent to Town and Parish Councils and County Councillors regarding submission of priorities for 2022/23 by 8 October 2021 deadline.  These would be assessed, ranked and prioritised.  The results would be presented to a workshop to seek Members’ views on priorities.  Discussions would be held with the Portfolio Holder on the draft programme which would be presented to Local Area Councils in February 2022 before being finalised as part of the budget setting process in March 2022.

Councillor Riddle, the Portfolio Holder for Local Services, confirmed that although the introduction of 20 mph speed limits, was a 5-year programme, the remaining schemes would be completed during the current year, where this was possible.  The process was involved and had resulted in some delays during negotiations, review of traffic measures and consultations on schemes.  A member stressed the importance of ensuring that crossings on busy roads needed to be within 20mph section to enable children to walk to school and therefore it had been necessary to extend the 20 mph beyond the frontage of schools.  Clarification would be provided to Councillor Horncastle regarding the Slaley First School scheme.

RESOLVED that the report be received.