Agenda item - HIGHWAYS FORWARD PROGRAMME 2021/22 and 2022/23

This report seeks approval of a programme of highway works for Tandridge funded from the Local Committee’s delegated capital and revenue budgets.

Report and annex attached

Resolution

The Local Committee (Tandridge):

General

(i) NOTED that the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works in 2021/22 is £537,000.

(ii) AGREED that the devolved capital budget for highway works be used to progress both capital improvement schemes and capital maintenance schemes.

(iii) NOTED that should there be any changes to the programme of highway works as set out in this report, a report will be taken to a future meeting of Tandridge Local Committee to inform members of the changes.

(iv) AUTHORISED that the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to allocate any additional funding for schemes, in accordance with any guidance issued surrounding that funding.

Capital Improvement Schemes

(v) AGREED that the capital improvement schemes allocation for Tandridge be used to progress the Integrated Transport Schemes programme set out in Annex 1.

(vi) AUTHORISED 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.

(vii) AGREED that the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Area Highway Team Manager, together with the 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.

Capital Maintenance Schemes (LSR)

(viii) AGREED that the capital maintenance schemes allocation for Tandridge be divided equitably between County Councillors to carry out capital maintenance works in their divisions, and that the schemes to be progressed be agreed by divisional members in consultation with the Area Maintenance Engineer.

Revenue Maintenance

(ix) NOTED that the members will continue to receive a Member Local Highways Fund (revenue) allocation of £7,500 per county member to address highway issues in their division; and

(x) AGREED that the Member Local Highways Fund be managed by the Area Maintenance Engineer on behalf of and in consultation with members.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officer attending: Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

The Area Highways Manager introduced the report and explained that following the Full Council Budget Setting meeting on 9 February 2021, there has been a substantial increase to the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works. For 2021/22 the new budget is £537,000, this includes £296,000 for capital ITS improvement schemes and £241,000 for capital maintenance. This funding will remain the same for three consecutive years. Officers have reviewed the current ITS list and scoring matrix and have recommended schemes that are both feasible and deliverable within the timeframe, in Annex 1. The Area Highways Manager welcomed questions from the Committee.

Members Key Points:

1. David Lee asked if the pedestrian crossing proposed on the A22 Godstone Road, Whyteleafe would be installed or is this for future consideration?

The Area Highways Manager advised that, subject to committee approval, this scheme is for design in year 2 and construction in year 3. She explained that in previous years, the local committee had not had the level of funding required for this type of scheme, however with additional funding over three years, it was now possible for this scheme to be designed and constructed. Mr David Lee expressed his delight and thanked to the Chairman and Officers for the inclusion of this scheme.

2. Mrs Becky Rush was thrilled that SCC are able to provide additional funding to Local and Joint Committee’s delegated budgets across Surrey for highway ITS schemes. It was asked if schemes which had previously been unsuccessful for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding would remain on the ITS ‘wish’ list?

The Area Highways Manager advised that schemes which have scored highly, but unable to be taken forward due to prioritisation for the available funding levels, are now able to added to the forward programme due to additional funding delegated to the committee. Schemes which have been unsuccessful for CIL will remain on the ITS wish list and alternative sources of funding will continue to be sought for all schemes. Subject to committee’s approval of the recommendations, the Area Highways Manager in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman are able to vire funding, so should there be any underspend money on a scheme shown in Annex 1, a smaller scheme may also be implemented this financial year should funding allow.

Cllr Morrow, asked if the additional funding of £40,000 for Members Capital Maintenance scheme allocation, would be enough to resurface an average length side road?

The Area Highways Manager advised that this was a substantial increase on funding from last year and, depending on the road base, this funding could cover the cost for resurfacing a road or be used for pavement resurfacing or a drainage scheme. The Area Highways Manager offered to circulate a document to Members, showing the menu of options for highway works and the approximate costs for works.

Mrs Becky Rush, asked if Cllr Morrow was referring to Farleigh Road as this is on the Horizon programme for resurfacing as is Church Road. Should he be referring to a different road then to let her know.

Cllr Morrow asked in regards to Annex 1, he was previously assured that £70,000 would be enough for a formal pedestrian crossing on Westhall Road, Warlingham. However the other locations for a formal pedestrian crossing seem to cost considerably more.

The Area Highways Manager advised that £70,000 is the amount allocated for a zebra crossing, the other schemes require a push button signalised crossing and therefore have a considerably higher budget.

Cllr Simon Morrow asked if installing a 20mph limit on a road would need to be funded through the ITS funding?

The Area Highways Manager advised that this would be an ITS type scheme, however a speed survey would need to be carried out first to ensure that speeds on the road comply with the SCC Setting Local Speed Limits Policy. The local committee have an allocation under the heading of ‘small safety and improvement schemes’ in Annex 1 and this funding could be allocated throughout the year, in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Divisional Member. There is also additional funding managed by the Road Safety Team who would be able to allocate funds on Road Safety schemes across the county.

Mrs Becky Rush added that she has been in discussion with Area Highways Team regarding the 20mph mitigation for Farleigh Road and this has been added to the list.

Cllr Harry Fitzgerald wished to pass on his thanks to Duncan Knox, Road Safety and Active Travel Team Manager for inviting him to the consultation for the Road Safety Scheme outside Burstow School. Cllr Fitzgerald had not been included in the original invite in error, however was very much looking forward to the event in March.

Mrs Lesley Steeds asked if the costings for schemes included a 20% uplift, as was included in the CIL application for the scheme outside Burstow School?

The Area Highways Manager advised that the whole cost of the project shown is the ‘all in’ cost based on the highways contracting pricing. Should the total cost of the project at final account be less that originally budgeted for, the remaining money would be allocated to a smaller ITS scheme in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Mrs Lesley Steeds asked when the schemes would start and could funding be accrued to the next financial year if work/design had not taken place where there had been an underspend on another scheme?

The Area Highways Manager advised that the budgets are for each financial year, which starts in April. The design work for each scheme is normally carried out in the middle to the end of each financial year. Should the committee agree to the recommendations in the report, dates for construction work for next financial year can be scheduled. The accounts of the Local Committee are reviewed regularly and should there be a valid reason as why a scheme could not be completed in particular financial year, such as a major diversion route, it could be carried over into the next financial year. However this would be dependent on the circumstances and would be decided on a case by case basis.

Resolution

The Local Committee (Tandridge):

General

(i) NOTED that the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works in 2021/22 is £537,000.

(ii) AGREED that the devolved capital budget for highway works be used to progress both capital improvement schemes and capital maintenance schemes.

(iii) NOTED that should there be any changes to the programme of highway works as set out in this report, a report will be taken to a future meeting of Tandridge Local Committee to inform members of the changes.

(iv) AUTHORISED that the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to allocate any additional funding for schemes, in accordance with any guidance issued surrounding that funding.

Capital Improvement Schemes

(v) AGREED that the capital improvement schemes allocation for Tandridge be used to progress the Integrated Transport Schemes programme set out in Annex 1.

(vi) AUTHORISED 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.

(vii) AGREED that the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Area Highway Team Manager, together with the 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.

Capital Maintenance Schemes (LSR)

(viii) AGREED that the capital maintenance schemes allocation for Tandridge be divided equitably between County Councillors to carry out capital maintenance works in their divisions, and that the schemes to be progressed be agreed by divisional members in consultation with the Area Maintenance Engineer.

Revenue Maintenance

(ix) NOTED that the members will continue to receive a Member Local Highways Fund (revenue) allocation of £7,500 per county member to address highway issues in their division; and

(x) AGREED that the Member Local Highways Fund be managed by the Area Maintenance Engineer on behalf of and in consultation with members.

Reason for recommendation

The above decisions were made in order to agree a forward programme of highways works in Tandridge for 2021/22 – 2022/23, funded from the Local Committee’s devolved budget.