Agenda item

Resolved

            That Cabinet:

i)        notes and approves the proposed detailed revised 2022-23 Transport Programme funded by TfL grant, Parking Revenue Account and S106 contributions set out in Appendix A of the report.

ii)       notes and approves the proposed 2022-23 budget changes to the existing Highways capital specific scheme’s budget as detailed in Section 4 of the report, which increases the budget by £8.375M and which consists of:

a)   TfL grant funded budget                                      £4.999M

b)   Parking Revenue Account                                    £2.127M

c)   Other Capital Grants                                            £0.030M

d)   S106 funded budget                                             £1.219M

iii)     approves £1.787M increase in the revenue expenditure budget for Place Transport Planning projects in 2022-23 as detailed in Section 4 of the report, which consists of:

a)  TfL grant                                      £1.315M

b)  Fee Income from transport operators                                      £0.065M

c)   Parking Revenue Account                                     £0.402M

d)  S106 funded budget                                      £0.005M

iv)     delegates authority to the Director of Housing to take the necessary steps to implement the schemes identified in the Transport Programme (which includes those schemes funded through S106 monies) as set out in Appendix A of the report, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Climate Action and Healthy Lives, subject to relevant detailed design and approvals and the outcome of any statutory consultation that may be required.

v) delegates authority to the Director of Housing to approve a revised Transport Programme for 2022-23 should the level of confirmed TfL grant for the Council be lower than expected, following consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Portfolio Holders for Climate Action and Healthy Lives (see section 3 of the report).

vi)      authorises the Director of Housing, following consultation with the Portfolio holder for Climate Action, to authorise the Council enter into agreements with new operators to expand dockless cycles within the borough. 

Reason for Decision and OptionsConsidered

The proposed Ealing Transport Programme 2022/23 set out in Appendix A of the report, had been devised to meet the Council’s transport priorities.  The Ealing Transport Strategy and the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) 2019-22 also set out the transport strategy for Ealing Council and provided the rationale for the Council’s spending decisions.  The Council’s transport priorities were to encourage sustainable travel for social (including health), environmental (including air quality) and economic (regeneration) reasons and the Transport Strategy and LIP reflect this.

The LIP covered several of the statutory duties that the Council was required to fulfil, including improving road safety and road network management (covering asset liability), plus responsibilities such as planning, public health, equality, crime and disorder. 

The proposed Transport Programme 2022-23 also played an important role in contributing to the Ealing Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy.  The Transport Programme would help the Council reach the net zero carbon target by 2030 by satisfying the three Travel Objectives of the Strategy:

·       Reduce number of vehicles travelling in and through Ealing,

·       Increase active travel (mode shift) and,

·       Encourage Cleaner motor vehicles

The LIP was required to be consistent with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) together with other emerging strategic transport initiatives across London and would implement these at the local level. 

The Programme also allowed further development and delivery of the Northolt Levelling Up scheme / Programme to build on the design and experimentation phases already completed.  This significant programme would bring substantial, new grant investment to Northolt and seeks to improve the quality of life in the area with improvements including in streetscape/greening, parks and to encourage active travel.