To approve a programme of schemes.

Councillor H Smith presented a report by the Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment which informed the Cabinet that in 2011, the Department for Transport (DfT) had set out Integrated Transport Block (ITB) capital allocations for 2011/12 and 2012/13, along with indicative figures for 2013/14 and 2014/15.  On 17 January 2013, the Integrated Transport Authority’s Strategy and Finance Committee had agreed the allocation and distribution of the ITB for 2013/14 and 2014/15, subject to final confirmation from the DfT.  On 30 December 2013, the DfT wrote to the Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) confirming the Merseyside ITB allocation for 2014/15. This confirmed allocation was the same as the ‘indicative’ amount reported to the ITA’s Strategy and Finance Committee in January 2013 and confirmed the allocation to Wirral as £1,653,000.

The Strategic Director’s report sought the Cabinet’s approval to accept the £1,653,000 ITB funding and allocate it as outlined in the report. Schemes and projects within the proposed 2014/15 Capital Programme and the proposed allocation of ITB were prioritised in line with the Council’s Corporate Plan, and specifically supporting the priority for ‘driving growth and aspiration’.  The provision of sustainable transport measures would open up travel choices for people and help them to access employment sites and job opportunities. The schemes and projects identified in the report would help to tackle the negative impacts caused by road casualties and traffic congestion on the economy.

The schemes detailed within the report that formed the ITB Capital Programme directly addressed the Council’s Statutory Duties as set out in the Highways Act 1980, Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, Road Traffic Act 1988, Local Government Act 2000 and the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Attached to the report was:

·  Appendix A - LTP Capital Programme – 2014/15;

·  Appendix B - 2014/15 Walking Strategy – Pedestrian Improvements – Dropped Crossings, New Requests; and

·  Appendix c – Traffic Calming Criteria.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the proposed allocation of the Local Transport Plan Capital programme 2014/15 Integrated Transport Block between the four identified headings of ‘Improving Road Safety’, ‘Promoting Active Travel and Health’, ‘Reducing Congestion & Carbon Emissions’ and ‘General Transportation’ as detailed in this report be approved;

(2)  detailed programmes of schemes and projects under each of the four identified headings of the combined Integrated Transport Block (ITB) Capital Programme for 2014/15 set out in Sections 3 to 6 of the report (and summarised in Appendix A) of this report be approved; and

(3)  authority be delegated to the Head of Service (Environment and Regulation), in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transport Services and Party Spokespersons, to make necessary adjustments to the priorities within the programme should the need arise due to financial conditions or other factors.