Highways & Neighbourhoods Cabinet Member – Minutes – 28 March 2013

43              (40) PUBLIC TRANSPORT CONCESSIONARY FARE SCHEME 2013/14 The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for the council’s draft Concessionary Fare Scheme 2013/14.

The council had a legal duty to provide free travel for pass holders on local buses.  Pass holders within North Lincolnshire enjoyed benefits over the legal minimum.  These included free bus travel before 9.30am on weekdays and concessions on local train services.

The money that operators received should depend on how much they would get if pass holders paid a fare.  It was difficult to estimate this because free travel encouraged more journeys.

The council now operated a “fixed pot” scheme.  The amount to be received by operators was agreed in advance.  Both sides then knew what to expect during the financial year.  Most neighbouring authorities similarly used “fixed pot” systems.

Calculations estimated the number of pass holder journeys in 2013/14, which was based on recent evidence.  An allowance would be included for a fare increase of 3% in 2013.  The scheme statement, giving further details, was appended to the report.

Resolved – That the Public Transport Concessionary Fare Scheme 2013/14 be approved.

44              (41) HIGHWAYS LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN PROGRAMME OF WORKS 2013-14 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for the Highways Local Transport Plan Programme of Works for 2013-14.

Transport capital expenditure was secured through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process.  The council was required to put forward a LTP submission to the Department of Transport.  The plan set out transport priorities for the council.  This year had seen the continuation of the third generation of these plans.  These now covered a 15-year period.

As part of the LTP submission, councils were required to produce a three-year delivery plan.  The plan set out the programme of themes and expected outcomes for the plan.  To reflect this delivery period, the programme of works report now covered the same timeframe.

The report and appendices gave full details of how the budgets were allocated to the service, along with details of proposed schemes and projects.

Resolved – (a) That the Programme of Works 2013-14 be approved; (b) that progress updates be submitted to the Cabinet Member on the delivery of the programme and on the achievement of targets and indicators linked to the LTP process, and (c) that the proposal that any current year LTP under spend from 2012-13 be carried forward and included within the next financial years allocation be approved.

45              (42) HIGHWAYS LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN PROGRAMME UPDATE – The Director of Places submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the progress of delivering the current Local Transport Plan and Capital budget programmes.

Transport capital expenditure was mainly secured through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process.  The council was required to submit a LTP submission for the Department of Transport.  The plan set out transport priorities for the council.  Last year had seen the start of the third generation of the plans.  They now covered a 15-year period.

As part of the LTP submission, council’s were required to produce a three year Delivery Plan.  This plan set out the programme themes and expected outcomes for the plan.

There were two funding streams within the LTP award: Integrated Transport and Highway Maintenance.  The allocations for the current year including carry forwards were as follows:

·         Integrated Transport £1,108,000

·         Highway Maintenance £4,257,330

All funding received through the LTP process was assessed by professionally qualified officers, considering transport priorities and performance targets.  The breakdown into programmes of work was assessed using agreed policies and criteria.

Highway maintenance schemes were prioritised using nationally recognised highway condition assessment criteria within a prioritisation framework.  Where appropriate, maintenance schemes also included measures to improve road safety (particularly for vulnerable road users), increase personal security, reduce crime and enhance the street scene.

Monitoring of the current Drainage and Floodwork capital programme suggested an anticipated end of year underspend of the budget for the Woodland View drainage scheme at Barnetby le Wold.  The current position of the scheme was set out in Appendix 1 to the report.  It was anticipated that the scheme would be delivered in full during 2013-14.  It was therefore essential that the slippage was carried forward to support the scheme funding in that year.

Resolved – (a) That the progress of the delivery of the programme be noted; (b) that the potential start dates for future schemes, in Appendix 2 to the report, be noted and (c) that the proposal to carry forward and include the Drainage and Floodwork slippage within the next financial year’s allocation be approved.

46              (43) DEVELOPMENT OF A TRANSPORT ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking consideration of the implementation of a Transport Asset Management Plan.

The requirement for Highways Authorities to prepare highway asset management plans for their highway assets was reinforced by central government through the Department of Transport.  Highway asset management plans were now more usually referred to as transport asset management plans.  The need for the development of a plan by the council was referenced in the current Local Transport Plan.

The annual submission of the whole government accounts by all councils now included the requirement to include valuations of the highway asset.  The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) had published the Transport Infrastructure Asset Codes.  This provided detailed guidance on valuing the highway asset.  Without an asset based approach to the management of the highway asset, this valuation would not be possible.

The report gave details of the key points included in the CIPFA guidance and outlined what was incorporated in the draft Asset Management Plan.  The draft plan was appended to the report.

Resolved – (a) That the current progress on the development of the asset management planning be noted, and (b) that the draft Transport Asset Management Plan be approved and implemented.

47              (44) ISLE OF AXHOLME FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY – The Director of Places submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on progress of the development of a flood risk management strategy for the Isle of Axholme.

In January 2011, the Environment Agency consulted the council on options for the development of a flood risk management strategy for the Isle of Axholme.  The strategy concentrated on flood risk from the Rivers Torne and Idle where they flowed across the lowland area.  The area contained some 28,000 properties, 30,000 hectares of high grade land, significant infrastructure and many businesses.

At previous discussions the council supported proposals that were designed to safeguard property, infrastructure and farmland with sustainable long-term investment and on going maintenance.  The council also supported an appropriate standard of protection taking into account climate change whilst managing any over-capacity.

In September 2011, the Environment Agency set out its preferred option.  The Agency was committed to provide a high standard of protection for the area in relation to both flooding and tidal defences and maintain terminal pumping stations.  There was also a commitment to work with partners and local communities to develop detailed plans.

The Regional Flood and Costal Committee approved the strategy in March 2012.  However, queries raised by DEFRA had delayed the sign off of the strategy.  The Environment Agency had subsequently responded to these queries and determined a way forward to complete the strategy.  As such, they had now resubmitted the business case to DEFRA.

Resolved – (a) That the current position in relation to the Isle of Axholme Flood Risk Management Strategy be noted; (b) that a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member when the strategy was signed off by DEFRA and the financial commitments were clear in order to achieve a higher standard of protection, and (c) that consideration be given to supporting the strategy, as it developed, with the necessary funding.

 48              (45) TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER 7.5 TONNE WEIGHT LIMIT, AMENDMENT BURRINGHAM – The Director of Places submitted a report considering an objection received by the council to the proposed amendments to the 7.5 tonne weight restrictions on the B1430.

In 2008 an order was created to prevent heavy goods vehicles travelling between the A18 at Gunness and Scotter Road, Scunthorpe.  Currently, vehicles travelling from East Butterwick could travel towards Burringham, into the weight restriction, without seeing a sign for that limit.  This meant that Humberside Police were unable to enforce the weight restriction in Burringham.

The proposed restrictions would allow vehicles travelling from East Butterwick to travel out of the weight restriction without passing through Burringham.  This would allow Humberside Police to enforce within the village of Burringham.

Letters were sent to many consultees during the statutory consultation process.  Notices were also posted on site.  The council only received one objection.  This was from East Butterwick Parish Council.

Resolved – (a) That the introduction of the Traffic Regulation Order, as shown on the plans in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, and (b) that officers write to the objector advising them of the decision, following the normal statutory procedure.

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