Report Title: Highways and Transport Investment Programme 2020-21 Contains Confidential or NO - Part I Exempt Information? Lead Member: Councillor Clark – Lead Member for Transport and Infrastructure Meeting and Date: 28 May 2020 Responsible Officer(s): Hilary Hall – Director of Adults, Health and Commissioning Wards affected: All REPORT SUMMARY 1. The budget for 2020/21 was approved by Council on 25th February 2020 and included a significant investment of £5.5m to maintain and improve highways infrastructure including roads, bridges, street lighting and road safety. 2. Within the overall allocation, £3.773m is approved for annual works programmes (for example: road resurfacing). This report seeks approval to the detailed schemes which make up the overall works programmes - Appendix A (road maintenance) and Appendix B (remaining highway programmes) refer. 3. In addition, on the 14th May the Government announced the intention to provide an additional £1.5m funding to tackle potholes in our area. The Royal Borough is currently awaiting written confirmation of these funds and once received, works will be prioritised, based on technical assessments. 4. This report recommends implementation of the capital works programme with authority delegated to the Director of Adults, Health and Commissioning (in consultation with the Lead Member for transport and Infrastructure) to agree amendments to the approved schemes (within approved budgets) and to implement reserve or alternative schemes should this become necessary. 1. DETAILS OF RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATION: That Cabinet notes the report and i. Endorses the implementation of the programme of work set out in Appendix A and Appendix B ii. Delegates authority to the Director of Adults, Health and Commissioning, (in consultation with the Lead Member for Transport and Infrastructure) to agree amendments to the approved schemes (within approved budgets) and to implement reserve or alternative schemes should this become necessary. 2. REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION(S) AND OPTIONS CONSIDERED 1 2.1 The Local Transport Plan (LTP) offers the high-level transport policy for the Royal Borough setting out how we will improve transport between 2012 and 2026. The plan aims to: improve access to local services and facilities. improve road safety and personal security. support economic growth. improve quality of life and minimise the negative impacts of transport. tackle climate change. Improve air quality. improve bus journeys and times. improve the quality of our road networks. 2.2 The recommended works programmes have been developed to support these policy aims whilst recognising and seeking to positively support the aims from the declared climate change emergency. Schemes has been recommended which contribute to meeting performance targets. 2.3 In addition, the proposals aim to respond to reports and requests from residents, businesses and Parish Councils which fall within the overall policy framework. 2.4 On 25th February 2020, Council approved the budget for 2020/21, which includes investment of approximately £5.5m in highways and transport infrastructure. This report seeks approval of work programmes (2020-21) for the following activities: Roads programme (extended maintenance and resurfacing) Road markings - safety programme Bridge maintenance Footway resurfacing Local safety schemes Reducing congestion and improving air quality Traffic Management schemes Drainage programme Street lighting Traffic signal upgrades 2.5 Individual one-off schemes (for example: Elizabeth Bridge strengthening) and operational pieces of work (for example: highway tree surgery works) that comprise the remainder of the overall programme and form part of the core approved budget are not included in this report. 2.6 Delivery of the recommended works programme (Appendix A and B) will directly benefit residents, business and visitors by maintaining and improving highway and transport infrastructure. The programmes focus on improving safety, accessibility and encouraging walking and cycling which contribute to improving air quality and broader climate change benefits. Table 1: Options Option Comments 1. Approve the This will enable timely delivery and will directly benefit programmes residents, business and visitors by maintaining and recommended in improving highway and transport infrastructure. The 2 Appendix A and programmes focus on improving safety, accessibility and Appendix B encouraging walking and cycling which contribute to improving air quality and broader climate change benefits. This is the recommended option 2. Develop and This is not recommended as the programme is based on approve an robust technical evaluation and supports delivery of alternative adopted policy. programme In addition, there is direct benefits to residents, business and visitors in a cost effective and timely manner. 3. Do not approve This is not recommended as safety risks would be any programme for increased; environmental benefits would not be realised implementation and policy commitments would be delayed. In addition, costs of infrastructure repairs and essential maintenance will increase if interventions are delayed and does not align with the adopted asset management strategy 3 KEY IMPLICATIONS 3.1 The key implications are set out in table 2. Table 2: Key implications Defined Unmet Met Exceeded Significantly Date they Outcomes Exceeded should be delivered by Delivery of Below 85% 85-90% 91-95% Greater 31 March highways than 96% 2020 and transport schemes 4. FINANCIAL DETAILS / VALUE MONEY Financial impact on the budget 4.1 The Highways & Transport Works Programme forms a major part of the Council’s capital programme approved by Council in February 2020. In order to ensure that the approved programme remains affordable and that the original business case for each programme remains valid and proportionate in the current climate, each programme budget has been critically reviewed prior to recommending to Cabinet for endorsement. 4.2 In terms of affordability, this report recommends endorsement of a capital investment programme of £3.773m. Department of Transport grant funding (Local Transport Plan – Maintenance and Transport Blocks)* of £2.697 m has been 3 secured and allocate to the programme covered in this report, therefore the corporate commitment is £1.076 m. (Note: * In December 2014, the Department for Transport introduced an incentive fund to reward councils who demonstrate they are delivering value for money in carrying out cost effective improvements. Each local highway authority in England (excluding London) was invited to complete a self-assessment questionnaire based on asset management; resilience; customers and operational delivery to establish eligibility for incentive funding. In April 2020, the Royal Borough was awarded Band 3 status (highest level possible), which enabled the maximum level of incentive funding (£2.97m) to be secured. £2.697m has been allocated to programmes included in this report. The remainder has been allocated to fund other elements of the approved capital programme). 4.3 An additional £1.5m is anticipated to be awarded to the Royal Borough to tackle potholes and poor road surfaces. Confirmation is awaited but once received this will be allocated to schemes based on technical need. 4.4 In addition to affordability, the business case for each programme has been revisited to ensure validity and robustness in the current climate. Each programme has been re-evaluated against original business case criteria: Aligns with asset management plan- investment at optimum investment point to minimise future financial exposure (for example: road resurfacing)) Health and Safety obligation (for example: bridge assessments and street lighting column replacements) Secures external grant funding (for example: footway resurfacing) Reduces risk and potential insurance claims (for example: drainage and flood programme) Reduces revenue spend (for example: road markings and traffic signal programme) Delivers against strategic objectives (for example: improving road safety and air quality) Following the re-evaluation of each programme, the business case remains sound and proportionate and are recommended for endorsement by Cabinet. 4.5 A summary of the approved budget for programmes included in this report is set out in table 3. Table 3: Approved budget Work 2020-21 Description Programme Budget (£) Extended This is a list of roads prioritised by maintenance and technical assessment that require a 2,000,000 resurfacing more significant treatment beyond programme basic maintenance. Road Markings This programme supplements the Safety basic road safety maintenance Programme budget for road markings and lining 50,000 across the Borough. It includes the replacement and upgrading of coloured safety surfaces; anti-skid surfaces and pedestrian crossings. Bridge This programme focuses on major £275,000 Assessments detailed assessment of bridges and 4 Work 2020-21 Description Programme Budget (£) key structures, works are identified, prioritised and carried out. Joint assessments of Network Rail bridges are also carried out as part of this programme. Local Safety This programme is prioritised Schemes based on accident data analysis to identify proposals focused on reducing the likelihood of road £175,000 accidents where sites have a pre- existing poor accident record which could be improved by engineering measures Traffic The programme is focussed on Management improving conditions for Schemes £225,000 pedestrians;