Agenda item

Report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services.

The Cabinet Member with the Leisure and Local Environment Portfolio introduced the report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services (previously circulated) providing Members with the annual update on highways and transport from a national, regional and local perspective; outlining performance, public satisfaction and reports on delivery in 2018/19; providing an update on the development and consultation on the Tees Valley and Darlington Transport Plans; requesting that consideration be given to the 2019/20 programme of schemes (also previously circulated); and to the release of funding for the local and regional transport priorities.

The submitted report stated that Transport for the North (TFN), England’s first Sub-National Transport Body, was formed to transform the transport system across the North of England, providing the infrastructure needed to drive economic growth; TFN had consulted upon a 30-year Strategic Transport Plan, which was due for publication early in 2019; and stated that Darlington Station, Darlington North Link Road and A19 New Tees Crossing, were among the key strategic priorities contained within the plan for Darlington and the Tees Valley.

It was reported that the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) was also developing a Statutory Local Transport Plan, as the Transport Authority for the Tees Valley; the plan would be consulted upon in spring/summer 2019 and would bring together investment to deliver a more effective and efficient integrated transport system across the Tees Valley;  the Tees Valley Investment Plan, which was approved by the TVCA Cabinet in January 2019 had identified £256.7m investment in transport over the next ten years and a £25m contribution had been committed by TVCA to lever national investment in the redevelopment programme relating to Darlington Station; each Tees Valley authority would to continue to have a Local Transport Plan (LTP) (or Local Implementation Plan) to drive local transport priorities and connect to the priorities of the TVCA and TFN; and that the Darlington LTP (Local Implementation Plan) would be drafted and consulted upon following the consultation on the TVCA Strategic Plan.  Particular reference was made to the additional funding that Darlington had secured over and above the LTP formulaic allocations from the Department for Transport of circa £3.830m, which would be used to help facilitate economic growth and improved transport.

Particular reference was made at the meeting to the additional funding received from the Department for Transport; the pothole fund money; and to a number of highway issues on North Road.

RESOLVED – (a) That the progress in delivering the Local Transport Plan, as detailed in the submitted report, be noted, and £0.866m Integrated Transport Block and £1.689m Highway Maintenance Funding (£1.398m plus £0.291m incentive funding), be released, to deliver the 2019/20 transport programme.

(b) That the Pothole Fund monies (amount to be announced) awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT), be released.

(c) That £500,000 for maintenance of unclassified roads and £500,000 for bridge maintenance for each year, in line with the capital programme approved in April 2017, for both 2018/19 and 2019/20, be released.

(d) That the submission of due diligence forms for the next tranche of TVCA Single Pot Sustainable Access to Employment funding for schemes on Allington Way and Victoria Road, be agreed, and if successful, funding be released.

(e) That the delivery of transport schemes in 2018/19 and current performance in relation to road safety, highway maintenance, network management and public satisfaction, as detailed in the submitted report, be noted.

(f) That the timetable for consultation on the TVCA Strategic Transport Plan and the proposed framework for consultation on the Darlington Transport Plan, as detailed in the submitted report, be noted.

(g) That authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with the Leisure and Local Environment Portfolio, to bid on external funding opportunities, the first being the opportunity to submit a bid for £170,000 to the Rural Payments Agency for European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development, to implement the required schemes, and if successful, the funding secured, be released.

REASONS – (a) To continue to deliver Darlington’s Transport Strategy and deliver against the objectives set out in the Third Local Transport Plan. 

(b) To maximise the opportunities to maintain the highway asset for the benefit of road users.

(c) To address the deterioration in the unclassified road network and an increased bridge maintenance programme following a robust inspection regime of all structures. 

(d) To maximise the potential for investment in Darlington and to underpin economic growth priorities, specifically supporting improved access to Darlington Station and sustainable travel to the Eastern Growth Zone.

(e) To evaluate the delivery of schemes and the progress of transport investment against performance.

(f) To ensure that the Strategic Transport plans for the Tees Valley meet the economic aspirations of the Tees Valley Combined Authority and seek to maximise the benefits for Darlington residents, visitors and businesses; and to enable local people, businesses and organisations to shape the Darlington Transport Plan.

(g) To maximise the Council’s opportunity to bid for external funds to deliver the Stockton and Darlington Railway walking and cycling route.