Issue - meetings

Caroline Simpson to provide an oral report on proposals to involve LAP’s in Local highways/Transportation arrangements.

Caroline Simpson Head of Regeneration attended the meeting and updated the Committee on developments that had taken place to increase Member engagement in Highways and Public Transportation issues since the Members briefing held in February 2011. The Council had announced that a budget of £350,000 had been allocated from the 2011/12 programme to deliver ward list priorities or ‘minor improvement works’.  The process of identifying the detailed programme would be simplified for the new financial year to ensure that the maximum amount of resource was directed to front-line delivery of projects rather than allocated to officer time, and to reflect a move from ward-based lists to lists based on the LAP (Local Area Partnership) geographical boundaries.

The £350,000 budget would be allocated per LAP area, based upon the length of the highway network in each LAP.

It had been recognised that there was a wider need for Members to be involved at ward level in decisions relating to the overall maintenance programme.

Caroline informed the Committee that each LAP Manager would shortly be arranging meetings of local highways groups involving local ward members to discuss local highways programmes.

In connection with Transportation issues, the Public Transport Forum which had now met twice, had agreed to increase elected Member representation, by inviting a Member from each of the 7 LAP’s to sit on the forum.

RESOLVED – That the report be received.