(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 6/2017 from the Director for Places (Environment, Planning and Transport) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Mathias, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to consider the allocation of the highway maintenance capital funding for 2017/18 and the indicative allocations for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

During discussion the following points were raised:

      i.        All returns were submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) by the deadline in March 2017.

    ii.        Confirmation was given that no spending would take place until monies had been received.

   iii.        Leicestershire County Council (LCC) had undertaken a full review of the Structures Service Level Agreement following a change in their management staff. This has resulted in an increase to £16,000 per annum for the service; this increase was in line with indexation that LCC should have applied annually. Work had been carried out to ensure that this was cost effective.

DECISION

1)    Cabinet APPROVED:

1.    The highway capital programme for 2017/2018 (attached as Appendix A to Report No. 6/2017).

2.    The use of £378k National Productivity Investment (NPI) funding for design and consultation works to Oakham Town Centre.

3.    The continued use of the Midlands Highway Alliance (MHA) Medium Schemes Framework for procuring schemes over the agreed term maintenance contract threshold as part of an alliance with other Midland authorities.

4.    The continued delegation of the statutory function for the maintenance of all highway related structures to Leicestershire County Council, under Section 101 of the LGA.

2)    Cabinet NOTED the indicative programmes for 2018/19 and 2019/20 (attached as Appendices B and C to Report No. 6/2017).

3)    Cabinet AUTHORISED the Director for Places, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to approve the use of any savings generated from Capital schemes to bring forward schemes from the forward programme (Appendices B and C to Report No. 6/2017), or works as may be required to expedite the delivery of capital maintenance works.

Reason for Decisions

1.    To help deliver the Council’s strategic aim of “sustainable growth” and to fulfil the Council’s statutory duties with regard to highway maintenance and road safety as efficiently as possible.