Issue - meetings

To ensure timely development of the Local Committee’s programmes of work for next Financial Year 2021-22, it is necessary to for Committee to decide high level allocations of its Highways budgets for 2021-22.

It is anticipated that capacity will be available from April 2021 for Committee to commission new feasibility studies, which would feed into future programmes Integrated Transport Schemes (ITS).

The Local Committee (Elmbridge) agreed to:

(i)    Approve the proposed allocation of the 2021-22 Highways budgets as set out in table 3 of the report;

(ii)   Approve the commissioning of nine new feasibility studies in April 2021, as set out in table 4, to be funded from the parking surplus, subject to further discussions with divisional members to agree those of highest priority;

(iii)  Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.

Reasons:

Each Financial Year the Local Committee is allocated budgets for Highway maintenance and improvement schemes – these budgets must be spent within their respective Financial Years.  It takes a number of months to work with Committee as a whole and individual members to prioritise individual schemes, and then to make arrangements for schemes to be delivered as part of a countywide programme of work.  Therefore it is necessary for Committee to decide high level allocations of its budgets well ahead of the start of the following Financial Year, to enable programmes of work to be developed in good time.

Committee has established a funding model whereby feasibility studies for road improvement schemes are funded from the parking surplus, and then those schemes that Committee approves are submitted to Elmbridge Borough Council for CIL funding.  It is anticipated that there will be capacity to commission new feasibility studies from April 2021.  Therefore Committee is asked to approve the next round of prioritised schemes for feasibility studies.

Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver its programmes of work in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Member without the need to revert to the Committee as a whole.  

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Nick Healey, Area Highways Manager

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None

Member discussion –key points

Members commented that they would like to look further at the recommended feasibility studies before they are confirmed. The Area Highways manager commented that there had been little progress on any scheme for an alternative bridge on Blundell Lane when there is little likelihood of appropriate funding.  The number of feasibility studies which can be taken forward is limited by the capacity of the design team and not a lack of funding.

Resolved to:

(i)    Approve the proposed allocation of the 2021-22 Highways budgets as set out in table 3 of the report;

(ii)   Approve the commissioning of nine new feasibility studies in April 2021, as set out in table 4, to be funded from the parking surplus, subject to further discussions with divisional members to agree those of highest priority;

(iii)  Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.

Reasons:

Each Financial Year the Local Committee is allocated budgets for Highway maintenance and improvement schemes – these budgets must be spent within their respective Financial Years.  It takes a number of months to work with Committee as a whole and individual members to prioritise individual schemes, and then to make arrangements for schemes to be delivered as part of a countywide programme of work.  Therefore it is necessary for Committee to decide high level allocations of its budgets well ahead of the start of the following Financial Year, to enable programmes of work to be developed in good time.

Committee has established a funding model whereby feasibility studies for road improvement schemes are funded from the parking surplus, and then those schemes that Committee approves are submitted to Elmbridge Borough Council for CIL funding.  It is anticipated that there will be capacity to commission new feasibility studies from April 2021.  Therefore Committee is asked to approve the next round of prioritised schemes for feasibility studies.

Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver its programmes of work in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Member without the need to revert to the Committee as a whole.