Purpose

The Transport Secretary’s “Plan
for Drivers” included an extra £70m of funding for
Traffic Signal Maintenance.

£30 million was allocated for The Traffic Signals
Obsolescence Grant (TSOG), to be funded from the DfT’s wider
Highways Maintenance Block and divided between:

1. £10 million shared between all English local highway and
transport authorities outside of London, and
2. £20 million of targeted funding which will be awarded to
areas with particular obsolescence issues through challenge
processes.

Sandwell should therefore receive a share of the £10m
automatically awarded element of TSOG via revised Section 31 Grant
Determination Letters in March 2024 even if no application is made
for the additional challenge funding. Bids for the £20
million targeted funding needed to be submitted online by 22
December 2023.

In 2021 a similar Traffic Signals Maintenance opportunity was made
available. Sandwell Council where one of thirty-nine authorities
awarded either £250,000 or £500,000 to upgrade traffic
signals.

As in 2021, this application process is being overseen by the
Transport Technology Forum and managed by the Local Council Roads
Innovation Group (LCRIG).

Leadership Team granted approval for a bid to be submitted on 12th
December subject to retrospective reporting.

On 22nd March 2024 Sand received confirmation that £500,000
would be paid from Traffic Signal Obsolesce Grant and Green Light
Fund.

This report authorises acceptance of the funding.

Content

(1) That approval be given for Sandwell
Council to accept the £500,000 funding awarded following
successful bid for funding from the Traffic Signal Obsolescence
Grant and Green Light Fund, noting the associated
conditions.