Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

The Panel received a report of the Corporate Director, Community which set out the proposed programme of traffic schemes to be implemented with the £100k local transport fund allocated to Harrow by Transport for London (TfL) in 2017/18.

Councillor Hall left the room during consideration of this item.

Following a brief overview of the report, officers responded to Panel Members comments and questions as follows:

·                     with regard to the plans to relocate the bus stop on Northolt Road, officers would assess both the north and south bound bus stops and the current parking arrangements would be re-configured to ensure improved traffic flow.  This project could be topped up from monies from the Bus Priority Schemes programme and  the final plans would be forwarded to the Public Transport Advisor to the Panel, as per his request;

·                     officers had written to the Mayor of London requesting additional monies for cycling.  Over the next five years the council plans to invest £1m of the Local Implementation Plan works programme towards improving cycle infrastructure.  There were plans to improve and extend the cycling infrastructure in the borough using Kodak S.106. monies;

·                     officers would be willing to consider an exemption for cyclists in relation to the proposed no entry scheme on Grange Avenue.

The Chair stated that he would like those proposals which tackled pollution to be prioritised.  He proposed a motion that the officer Recommendation as set out in Appendix A of the officer report be amended to the following:

That:

1.            Schemes 2, 3 and 6 (as numbered in Appendix A of the officer report)  approved for a start in 2017-2018;

2.            Scheme 1 be allocated £7,500, that Scheme 4 be allocated £10,000 and the Minor Road Safety Measures Fund be allocated £2,500;

3.            work and costs on Schemes 1 & 4 be deferred until 1st October 2017 and that the schemes  be completed in 2018-2019; 

4.            the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety explore with Highways, Planning and Finance officers if any of these projects could be financed from alternative capital funding and that The Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel review progress on this at its first  meeting  of the 2017-2018 Municipal Year;

5.            Scheme 5 be deferred until 2018-2019 unless extra Capital money is made available.

The motion was seconded, put to the vote and won. 

Councillors Jeff Anderson, Barry Kendler, Jerry Miles and Anne Whitehead voted for the motion.  Councillors Ameet Jogia and Mrs Vina Mithani voted against the motion.

An officer advised that deferring schemes to the 2017/18 Municipal Year would introduce an element of risk.  He could not guarantee that there would be a budget to cover the costs of any deferred schemes due to the likely changes in funding following a new London Mayor’s Transport Strategy and a new borough Local Implementation Plan in 2017.

The Chair responded that he would be discussing the matter in detail with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety and would request the Portfolio Holder to seek additional monies to fund those schemes which were being deferred until 2018/19.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety)

That the following Schemes be prioritised for implementation:

1.            schemes 2, 3 and 6 (as numbered in Appendix A) be approved for a start in 2017-2018;

2.            scheme 1 be allocated £7,500, that Scheme 4 be allocated £10,000 and the Minor Road Safety Measures Fund be allocated £2,500;

3.            work and costs on Schemes 1 & 4 be deferred until 1st October 2017 and that the schemes  be completed in 2018-2019; 

4.            the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety explore with Highways, Planning and Finance officers if any of these projects could be financed from alternative capital funding and that TARSAP review progress on this at its 1st meeting of the 2017-2018 Municipal Year;

5.            scheme 5 be deferred until 2018-2019 unless extra Capital money is made available.

Reason for Decision:  In order for the Council to agree a programme of prioritised local schemes funded by the local transport fund (£100k) and allocated by Transport for London to the London Borough of Harrow within the 2017/18 financial year.