Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services requesting the views of the Cabinet on Cambridgeshire’s third Local Transport Plan prior to its submission to Council.

Recommended to Council approval of the District Statement for Huntingdonshire for inclusion in the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan and requested the Head of Planning Services to inform the County Council of the District Council’s concerns with regard to the impact of reduced funding for the proposed Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan on the County’s ability to deliver an improved transport infrastructure and of the need to pursue all possible alternative sources of funding including the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which described the key elements of Cambridgeshire County Council’s proposed Local Transport Plan (LTP) for the period April 2011 onwards together with a statement specific to Huntingdonshire.

In discussing the contents of the report, Members have expressed concern over the County Council’s ability to deliver and maintain the transport and highways infrastructure given the major reductions in integrated transport funding. Members’ attention was drawn to the conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being).  In that respect, the Cabinet shared the concerns of the Panel that investment in highway improvements was crucial to accommodate the anticipated growth in the District and to promote transport options in rural areas.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that Council be recommended to approve the District Statement for Huntingdonshire, as set out in the report now submitted, for inclusion in the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan; and

(b)  that the Head of Planning Services be requested to inform the County Council of the District Council’s concern with regard to the impact of reduced funding for the proposed LTP on the County’s ability to deliver an improved transport infrastructure and of the need to pursue all possible alternative sources of funding including the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

To Consider a report by the Head of Planning Services seeking Members comments on the draft Local Transport Plan 2011 prior to its consideration by Cabinet – to follow.

(Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport was in attendance for this Item).

(See Members’ Interests)

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Planning Services on the adoption of a new Local Transport Plan (LTP3) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).

Members were informed that the current LTP a County-wide document containing transport policies and programmes for the period 2006 -2011 would expire in March. The County Council was therefore required to produce a third LTP for the period from April 2011 until 2016 after consultation with District Councils and other stakeholders.

The Panel was acquainted with the policies and strategy of LTP3 contained in an executive summary to the LTP3 document (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) attached to the report now submitted.

In terms of the implications for Huntingdonshire, attention was drawn to a reduction of funding by 25% compared to the previous Plan period.  Although the maintenance funding had fallen by 9%, the reduction in funding for integrated transport was being cut by 48% which would have a significant impact on the transport infrastructure.

Also attached to the report was the District Council’s statement which would form part of the LTP3.  It was pointed out that although the District Council had spent in excess of £2 million on transport related projects during the Plan period 2006/11, the reductions in the Council’s own budget meant that little funding would be available for 2011/16 and expenditure would be wholly dependent on funding from external sources such as Government grant and development related income.

Under the circumstances, the Panel endorsed the recommendations to Cabinet in the report expressing regret at the greatly reduced level of integrated transport funding and encouraging the County Council to pursue all possible alternative sources of funding including the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.  In a predominantly rural area such as Huntingdonshire, the Panel particularly was concerned over the impact on rural transport and the need for adequate bus services to ensure accessibility and social inclusion.

In answer to questions the Panel was assured that there was evidence that cycling and walking had increased in the District following expenditure on cycleways and footpaths.  Additionally the Panel was made aware that as a growth area pressure would continue for trunk road improvements and that funding would become available from the new community infrastructure levy and Section 106 agreements for highways and transportation schemes.  With regard to the latter, the Transportation Team Leader confirmed that the County Council had now made information available linking the receipt of S106 contributions to highway schemes.

  RESOLVED

   that the report and recommendations be endorsed for submission to Cabinet.