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Matter for
Decision: To approve the
allocation of Minor Highways Improvement budget to the 2022/ 23 programme of
Local Highways Improvements (LHIs) prioritised by Cambridgeshire County
Council.
Why the Decision had to be made (and any alternative options): In previous years City Councillor representatives have participated in
the assessment and prioritisation of the County Council’s LHI scheme programme. However, this did not take place this year
with the Council consequently having no oversight of the programme prioritised
and for which its funding contributions are sought. The County’s prioritised list, including the
City Council contributions needed, are identified in the spreadsheet shown at
the link below.
This item is to
ensure appropriate scrutiny by this Council.
The County Council are progressing the scheme programme they prioritised
earlier this year and require an urgent decision in order to deliver during
2022/ 23.
The Executive
Councillor’s decision:
Approved the allocation of Minor Highways Improvement budget to the 2022/ 23
programme of Local Highways Improvements (LHIs) prioritised by Cambridgeshire
County Council.
Reason for the
decision: As above.
Scrutiny
Consideration: The Chair
and Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted
prior to the action being authorised.
Report: The attached County Council spreadsheet (LHI Panel
Scores 2022-23) identifies the prioritised programme of schemes to be developed
subject to budget availability, the outcome of local consultation, and
processes and approvals needed.
Conflict of
interest: [None].
Comments: The City Council had again this year approved a
budget of up to £30,000 towards the County Council’s LHI scheme programme. There are additional re-phased funds from
previous years, subject to the final costs of schemes still being
delivered. Capital budgets are currently
under review as part of the Council’s Mid Term Financial Strategy (Strategy and
Resources Scrutiny Committee - October 2022).
Subject to approval, funding contributions will be made to individual schemes
as prioritised, developed and implemented in accordance with budget
availability.
The Green and
Independent Opposition Spokes Councillor queried Councillor involvement in the
Minor Highways Improvement Programme. The Executive Councillor confirmed that
there was a cross boundary Cambridge City Joint Area Committee (CJAC) that had
powers to decide on Local Highways Initiatives, and other issues. The County Council disbanded this Committee
about three years ago. The City Council
were working with the County Council to involve City Councillors in this
process going forward.
The Chair of the
Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee stated that he thought the panel had
scored the submitted LHI applications against four criteria. Thirteen schemes,
(shown above the feint dotted line on the spread sheet) were to be developed
and approved (subject to funding) as these schemes received the highest scores
and require, on a cumulative basis, the County Council's budget
allocation of £150k.It would be helpful to make clear whether the City
Council's £30k contribution is required in part or in full and how it will be
allocated.
The Public Realm
Engineering & Project Delivery Team Leader advised that the City Council
contribute up to £30k/ annum to Cambridgeshire County Council’s managed
programme in order for the top prioritised schemes to proceed. In
previous years there had been member involvement in this prioritisation, but
that had not occurred this year regrettably. Further, County had not
required the City Council’s full contribution since their funding cut-line has
been reached before the City Council, who had been able to roll the balance
forward through annual capital re-phasing. This year, and primarily due
to one high value scheme requiring a large contribution, the City Council’s annual
funding ceiling would likely be reached before County’
The Public Realm
Engineering & Project Delivery Team Leader confirmed they were awaiting the
outcome of the current capital finance review and MTFS decision in October to
understand quite where the City Council’s ceiling may come this year. One
caveat that the County were keen to safeguard is that the schemes were not
necessarily delivered in the strict order of priority, instead they commenced
with development of all schemes above the cut line each year, with some being
inevitably more straightforward and quicker to implement than others.
No comments were
received from the Liberal Democratic Opposition Spokes on this matter.