The meeting of the Portfolio Holder Decisions/Leader Decisions of Warwickshire Council was scheduled to discuss additions to the Capital Programme. This included proposals for enhancing bus stop facilities in Wood End and Rugby, funded by developer contributions.

Additions to the Capital Programme

The meeting was scheduled to consider proposals for three schemes to enhance bus stop facilities, all of which were to be funded by Section 106 developer contributions. These contributions are funds secured by the council from developers as part of planning permission agreements, intended to mitigate the impact of new developments.

The first proposed scheme was for enhancements to the existing bus stop on Tamworth Road in Wood End. This would involve the installation of a bus shelter, extended hardstanding area, vegetation removal, and a contribution towards bus shelter maintenance, with an estimated cost of £19,000. This scheme is linked to a planning application granted in February 2021 for land adjacent to Islington Farm.

The second scheme was to enhance the waiting environment at the bus stop opposite a new care retirement development on Bilton Road in Rugby. This would include the installation of a bus shelter and a contribution towards its maintenance, at an estimated cost of £12,000. This is connected to a planning application granted in November 2020 for an extra care retirement development.

The third proposal was for the provision of a westbound bus stop on Central Park Drive in Rugby, including the installation of a bus shelter, with an estimated cost of £25,000. This relates to a planning application granted in April 2025 for a commercial unit.

The report pack indicated that these works were necessary to fulfil obligations under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990¹. It was noted that if these schemes were not added to the Capital Programme and the works did not proceed, the council could face legal challenges and would need to repay the developer contributions received. The report also stated that the estimated costs would be fully covered by the respective Section 106 developer contributions, with alternative funding available from Warwickshire Bus Service Improvement Delivery Plan 2025-26 Programme funding and Local Authority Bus Grant funding if costs exceeded the Section 106 contributions.

An Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) was included, which considered the potential impacts of these bus stop enhancements on various groups. The assessment suggested positive impacts for age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and individuals experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. The EIA highlighted that bus travel is a key form of transport for elderly people and those with mobility impairments, and that the proposed enhancements would improve accessibility and the waiting environment. It also noted that the Section 106 contributions were insufficient to fund broader improvements to vehicle specifications, ticketing, and fares.

The report also detailed that the new bus shelters would be procured through the council's existing Bus Shelter Maintenance Contract. Furthermore, council officers would liaise with relevant local County Council Members before commencing the design stage for these works. The report stated that these works were considered necessary to enable the planning consents referenced and that highway matters were considered during the planning process.

The financial implications outlined that the total estimated cost of the programme was £56,000, fully funded by developer contributions. It was confirmed that these sums had been received and agreed for use under the terms of the Section 106 Agreements. The addition of these schemes to the Capital Programme was not expected to affect the overall level of capital resources available to the council or involve any additional financial commitment from core budgets.

The environmental implications noted that buses play a crucial role in complementing the council's strategic priorities, including providing environmental benefits, as set out in documents such as Recalibrating Warwickshire – the Council's Council Plan (2026 – 2030) and Warwickshire's fourth Local Transport Plan (LTP4).