Agenda item

To ensure timely development of the Joint 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 (Epsom & Ewell) agreed to:

(i)       (on a proposal from Cllr Kington, seconded by Cllr Dallen)
Express its concern that the Local Committee Highway allocation is facing a proposed cut from £254,500 in 2020/2021 to £193,100 in 2021/2022.  The funding is already inadequate, and the lowest in Surrey, and a budget cut of £61,400 equates to nearly 25%.   In addition the current formula for allocating local funding does not reflect road usage, which penalises Epsom and Ewell with its high road usage compared to much of Surrey.  The Local Committee therefore calls upon the Cabinet Member for Highways

·         To review this proposed cut and restore the funding to at least the allocation figure for 2020/2021

·         To amend the formulae for allocating Local Highway funding so that it reflects road usage and not the length of road or geographical area.

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

(iii)       Defer a scheme to improve pedestrian crossing facilities on Cheam Road at its junction with Bramley Road;

(iv)       Approve the commissioning of three new feasibility studies to start in April 2021, as set out in table 4, to be funded from Committee’s 2021-22 capital allocation;

(v)       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 for decisions

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.  The Committee wished to draw the attention of the Cabinet Member to the level of funding provided for this area and the criteria used.  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.

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 (AHM)

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None.

Member discussion – key points

Members thanked the AHM for his report.

Cllr Eber Kingston tabled a motion as follows, which was seconded by Cllr Dallen:

The Epsom and Ewell Local Committee expresses its concern that the Local Committee Highway allocation is facing a proposed cut from £254,500 in 2019/2020 to £193,100 in 2020/2021.  The funding is already inadequate, and the lowest in Surrey, and a budget cut of £61,400 equates to nearly 25%.   In addition the current formula for allocating local funding does not reflect road usage, which penalises Epsom and Ewell with its high road usage compared to much of Surrey.

The Local Committee therefore calls upon the Cabinet Member for Highways

To review this proposed cut and restore the funding to at least the allocation figure for 2019/2020

To amend the formulae for allocating Local Highway funding so that it reflects road usage and not the length of road or geographical area.

Some Members commented that this was not a cut to the budget, as this had been the base figure for the budget in the current financial year, but there had been a later addition to the budget which had not been made for next year. 

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Cllr Mountain and seconded by Cllr Muir that the word “cut” be replaced with “reduction”.   On a vote this amendment was LOST by 3 votes FOR to 6 AGAINST

Resolved: to:

(i)       [by 8 votes FOR and 1 ABSTENTION] Express its concern that the Local Committee Highway allocation is facing a proposed cut from £254,500 in 2020/2021 to £193,100 in 2021/2022.  The funding is already inadequate, and the lowest in Surrey, and a budget cut of £61,400 equates to nearly 25%.   In addition the current formula for allocating local funding does not reflect road usage, which penalises Epsom and Ewell with its high road usage compared to much of Surrey.  The Local Committee therefore calls upon the Cabinet Member for Highways

·         To review this proposed cut and restore the funding to at least the allocation figure for 2020/2021

·         To amend the formulae for allocating Local Highway funding so that it reflects road usage and not the length of road or geographical area.

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

(iii)       Defer a scheme to improve pedestrian crossing facilities on Cheam Road at its junction with Bramley Road;

(iv)       Approve the commissioning of three new feasibility studies to start in April 2021, as set out in table 4, to be funded from Committee’s 2021-22 capital allocation;

(v)       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 for decisions

The Committee wished to draw the attention of the Cabinet member to the level of funding for highways allocated to the Local Committee.

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.  The Committee wished to draw the attention of the Cabinet Member to the level of funding provided for this area and the criteria used.  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.

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.