Purpose

To note the receipt of additional capital funding from the Department of Transport and agree the approach for spending the money.

Decision

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

a)        Noted the capital funding allocations for highways and transport already included in the General Fund Capital Programme agreed by Full Council on 20 February 2025.

b)        Noted the request contained in the Capital Update Report elsewhere on the agenda for expenditure budget approval in total of £55.287m, and accept receipt of the additional Government grants to fund this expenditure, made up of the following:

·       Active Travel Fund 5 - £0.191m

·       Consolidated Active Travel Fund - £0.508m

·       Local Transport Grant - £54.588m

c)        Noted that the Local Transport Grant funding partially supersedes and replaces the £4.092m Integrated Transport Block funding currently included in the General Fund Capital Programme for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29.

d)        Agreed to spend the Active Travel Fund 5 and Consolidated Active Travel Fund grants on implementing priority schemes from the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans as set out in section 5.5 of the report.

e)        Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place & Economy in consultation with the Executive Member for Highways and Travel to determine the schemes to be delivered from the Local Transport Grant, together with update reports to Strategic Capital Board.

Reason for Recommendations - Utilisation of Government grant to support and maintain the Council’s Highways infrastructure and transport network.

Alternative Options Considered – Options would have included not spending the money and allowing DfT to recoup it.  Alternatively, the Council could have chosen to spend the money on schemes that are not a priority in line with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans or deliverable within the funding timescales.  Neither option is recommended.