At its meeting on 13 January 2011 a report by the Director of Technical Services had been presented to the Cabinet advising of the Government’s Local Transport Capital Settlement letter, dated 13 December 2010.  (Minute No. 285 refers.)  This letter had announced the level of transport funding that the Merseyside authorities were to receive for 2011/12 and 2012/13, along with indicative figures for 2013/14 and 2014/15.  The report had also presented the background to the development of the third Local Transport Plan (LTP3), which commenced in April 2011, and set out the LTP budget for 2011/12.  The report had presented the budget for 2012/13 in accordance with the 2010 settlement letter, and sought the Cabinet’s approval for the Integrated Transport Block (ITB) programme that was anticipated to be in the region of £1,185,000 (subject to the finalisation of ongoing discussions with the Merseyside Transport Partnership).

The Director, in a further report, now informed that the determination of suitable schemes and projects within the proposed 2012/13 Capital programme and outlined the budget allocation for the ITB which were prioritised in line with the Council’s Corporate Goal to “have a safe and well maintained highway network for all users” and continue to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads in the Borough.  Schemes and projects identified in the report would contribute to the objectives and priorities contained in the current LTP3.

The Cabinet was then advised that the schemes detailed within the report that form the ITB 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.

Members were made aware that the Department for Transport (DfT) had significantly reduced the amount of transport funding it had made available since 2010.  Over the last couple of years, Wirral’s allocation of the Merseyside annual ITB equated to a reduction of nearly 50%, from £2,365,000 in 2010/11 to £1,185,000 in 2012/13. This reduction in the Integrated Transport Block funding from the Government was likely to have significant impact on the ability of the Council to continue its recent improvements in road safety.

The Director explained that to compensate for this reduction the Council had approved an additional £650,000 Capital allocation specifically for road safety improvements and transport schemes as part of a Capital Investment Programme.  This additional funding was crucial and also welcomed in light of the reductions in funding by the DfT and would enable schemes to be developed that would make a significant contribution in reducing the number and severity of casualties on Wirral’s roads and improve the existing infrastructure to support safer, sustainable travel for vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.  The funding would be invested using a prioritisation process to ensure the greatest benefit in road safety casualty reduction specific schemes were incorporated within the appropriate ITB allocations detailed in the report.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the proposed allocation of the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme 2012/13 Integrated Transport Block between the five identified headings of ‘Improving Road Safety’, ‘Promoting Active Travel and Health’, ‘Promoting Economy and Accessibility’, ‘Reducing Congestion and Carbon Emissions’ and ;General Transportation’ as detailed in the report, be approved;

(2)  the detailed programmes of schemes and projects under each of the five identified headings of the combined Integrated Transport Block (ITB) Capital Programme for 2012/13 set out in Sections 5 to 9 (and summarised in Appendix A) to the report, be approved; and

(3)  the Director of Technical Services be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transport Services and Group Spokespersons, to make necessary adjustments to the priorities within the programme should the need arise due to financial conditions or other factors.