Purpose

The purpose of this report is to provide the
context for a recommendation to accept an additional revenue grant
offer from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), of
£902,769 – on top of the £2,856,916 already
accepted as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport
Settlement (CRSTS) Fund via the Finance and Performance Policy
committee in March 2023. The funding will be used to pay for costs
to start developing new – and continue developing existing -
transport capital schemes for delivery after 2027 as well as some
programme level costs and other complementary activities (such as
data collection, communications, training and publicity) to the
transport projects identified within the original SYMCA CRSTS
business case submission to the Department for Transport.

Content

9.1

The committee considered a report seeking
approval to accept the Tranche Two revenue funding from South
Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) as part of the City
Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the
Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee accepts the
additional revenue grant offer from SYMCA of £902,769 as part
of the CRSTS Fund. This takes the total grant value to
£3,759,685.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

9.3.1

The CRSTS programme is expected to have an
overall beneficial impact on the environment as a driver of this
investment is to create infrastructure to encourage sustainable
forms of travel as well as maximising the benefits of the existing
highway network.

 

 

9.3.2

The Council’s CRSTS programme identified
the wider strategic benefit in developing and delivering a package
of sustainable travel improvements to key routes in the City.
Delivery may require policy to be reviewed to maximise benefits and
will improve connections between the city centre and local centres
by public transport, cycling and walking. This is line with the
Councils transport strategy too.

 

 

9.3.3

Entry to the CRSTS programme requires rigorous
assessment and compliance with established SYMCA processes and
procedures in the assessment of options. The requirements are
understood and are well known to the Council, with previous schemes
having been subject to SYMCA requirements and progressing
successfully. This revenue grant will enable the Council to develop
further schemes to be in a good position to benefit from future
funding announcements.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives
Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

‘Do nothing’ has been considered,
but is not considered appropriate as this is likely to result
in:

·      
Increased congestion and negative impact on journey times and
journey time reliability, as take-up of sustainable travel choices
would be considerably slower than with the project

·      
Reduced facilities for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists,
failing to encourage more active and sustainable travel
choices.

·      
Increased carbon emissions on key routes as traffic levels continue
to grow.

·      
Lack of ability to fund complimentary works to the capital
programme

·      
Wider social and environmental benefits not being realised

·      
A reduced level of project readiness to enable the Council to take
advantage of future funding opportunities, especially post 2027