Agenda item - HIGHWAYS FORWARD PROGRAMME 2017-18 [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION]

This report seeks approval of the forward programme of highway works in Mole Valley for 2017-18.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed to:

General

(i) Note that the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works has been reduced as set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan, to £272,294 in 2017/18 and to £226,912 in 2018/19, and that it has been assumed that the revenue budget for 2017/18 remains the same as for 2016/17, at £195,303;

And resolved to:

(ii) Authorise delegation of authority to the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, to agree a revised programme of highway works for 2017/18 if there is a change in the Local Committee’s devolved budget;

Capital Improvement Schemes (ITS)

(iii) Agree that the capital improvement schemes allocation for Mole Valley be used to progress the Integrated Transport Schemes programme set out in Annex 1;

(iv) Authorise that the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire money between the schemes agreed in Annex 1, if required;

(v) Agree that the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Area Team Manager, together with the relevant local divisional Member are able to progress any scheme from the Integrated Transport Schemes programme, including consultation and statutory advertisement that may be required under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, for completion of those schemes. Where it is agreed that a scheme will not be progressed, this will be reported back to the next formal meeting of the Local Committee for approval.

And agreed:

(vi) The Area Team Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire money between the capital improvement schemes (ITS) and capital maintenance (LSR) budgets, and vice-versa, if required;

And resolved to:

Capital Maintenance Schemes (LSR)

(vii) Agree that the capital maintenance schemes allocation for Mole Valley be divided equitably between County Councillors to carry out Local Structural Repair, and that the schemes to be progressed be agreed by the Area Maintenance Engineer in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and local divisional Members;

Revenue Maintenance

(viii) Authorise the Area Maintenance Engineer, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and relevant local divisional Member, to use £195,303 of the revenue maintenance budget for 2017/18 as detailed in Table 2 of this report;

And agreed:

(ix) The Area Maintenance Engineer, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire the revenue maintenance budget between the identified work headings in Table 2;

And resolved to:

(x) Agree that £5,000 per County Councillor be allocated from the revenue maintenance budget for Highways Localism Initiative works, and that if bids for this funding have not been received by the end of June 2017, the monies revert to the relevant Member to use to fund Community Enhancement works;

(xi) Agree that Members should contact the Area Maintenance Engineer to discuss their specific requirements with regard to any Community Enhancement allocation and arrange for the work activities to be managed by the Area Maintenance Engineer on their behalf;

(xii) Agree that the revenue maintenance gang be managed on Members’ behalf by the Area Maintenance Engineer.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

To agree a forward programme of highways works in Mole Valley for 2017/18 – 2018/19, funded from the Local Committee’s devolved budget.

No declarations of interest received.

Officers present:

Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager

Anita Guy, Principal Highway Maintenance Engineer

Anne-Marie Hannam, Senior Traffic Engineer

Member discussion:

1. The divisional member for Dorking Hills acknowledged that funding was already committed for two years, but following last year’s petition, would appreciate support for the installation of the pedestrian crossing in Chalkpit Lane.

2. Officers stressed that there was currently no money available to fund this scheme and, although the next year’s budget is yet to be finalised, financial pressures are widely known and the best funding option is likely to be CIL.

3. Members agreed that going forward this would require the county council to work closely with MVDC and replacing the local committee with a joint committee was still an option that could be considered after the election in May.

4. The Chairman suggested that the deadline set in recommendation (x) was too short, and it was agreed to amend this to the end of June 2017.

5. The Vice Chairman stressed again the county council’s financial challenges and that it was likely that the highways budget would be vastly reduced.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed to:

General

(i) Note that the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works has been reduced as set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan, to £272,294 in 2017/18 and to £226,912 in 2018/19, and that it has been assumed that the revenue budget for 2017/18 remains the same as for 2016/17, at £195,303;

And resolved to:

(ii) Authorise delegation of authority to the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, to agree a revised programme of highway works for 2017/18 if there is a change in the Local Committee’s devolved budget;

Capital Improvement Schemes (ITS)

(iii) Agree that the capital improvement schemes allocation for Mole Valley be used to progress the Integrated Transport Schemes programme set out in Annex 1;

(iv) Authorise that the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire money between the schemes agreed in Annex 1, if required;

(v) Agree that the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Area Team Manager, together with the relevant local divisional Member are able to progress any scheme from the Integrated Transport Schemes programme, including consultation and statutory advertisement that may be required under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, for completion of those schemes. Where it is agreed that a scheme will not be progressed, this will be reported back to the next formal meeting of the Local Committee for approval.

And agreed:

(vi) The Area Team Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire money between the capital improvement schemes (ITS) and capital maintenance (LSR) budgets, and vice-versa, if required;

And resolved to:

Capital Maintenance Schemes (LSR)

(vii) Agree that the capital maintenance schemes allocation for Mole Valley be divided equitably between County Councillors to carry out Local Structural Repair, and that the schemes to be progressed be agreed by the Area Maintenance Engineer in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and local divisional Members;

Revenue Maintenance

(viii) Authorise the Area Maintenance Engineer, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and relevant local divisional Member, to use £195,303 of the revenue maintenance budget for 2017/18 as detailed in Table 2 of this report;

And agreed:

(ix) The Area Maintenance Engineer, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire the revenue maintenance budget between the identified work headings in Table 2;

And resolved to:

(x) Agree that £5,000 per County Councillor be allocated from the revenue maintenance budget for Highways Localism Initiative works, and that if bids for this funding have not been received by the end of June 2017, the monies revert to the relevant Member to use to fund Community Enhancement works;

(xi) Agree that Members should contact the Area Maintenance Engineer to discuss their specific requirements with regard to any Community Enhancement allocation and arrange for the work activities to be managed by the Area Maintenance Engineer on their behalf;

(xii) Agree that the revenue maintenance gang be managed on Members’ behalf by the Area Maintenance Engineer.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

To agree a forward programme of highways works in Mole Valley for 2017/18 – 2018/19, funded from the Local Committee’s devolved budget.