Agenda Item No 13

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Cabinet Meeting: 21 May, 2018

 

Report of the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services & Transport

 

Transport Grant Awards 2018/19

Purpose of the Report

1. To advise Cabinet of the funding awarded for Transport Grant and related Schemes for 2018/19.

Recommendations

1. That the transport schemes that have been awarded funding for 2018/19 are approved.
2. That Cabinet notes that the Head of Neighbourhood Services & Transport used delegated powers to accept the funding awarded by the deadline of 1st May 2018 in order for the award not to be withdrawn.
3. That Cabinet notes that an Emergency Power has been approved to include the Capital grant funding of £959,000 and s106 funding of £30k into the 2018/19 Capital Programme.

Reasons for the Recommendations

1. To advise Cabinet of the procedures, terms and conditions of the grant funding.
2. To endorse the acceptance of the funding.
3. To enable schemes to be started as early as possible in the new financial year.

Background

2. Welsh Government (WG) invites local authorities to submit bids for Local Transport Fund (LTF), Road Safety and Safe Routes in Communities (formally Safe Routes to Schools) (SRiC) funding annually, to enable the delivery of transport and local road projects that enhance road safety and encourage sustainable travel to various key locations. A further Grant was introduced for this financial year which is a Local Transport Network Fund (LTNF) and was offered to progress schemes that encourage the use of the bus as a form of transport. There is an emphasis around access to schools and key locations for these grants.
3. WG invited bids on 12th December 2017 with a deadline for submission of 26th January 2018 for LTF, LTNF and Active Travel. They also invited bids on 20th December 2017 with a deadline of 2nd February 2018 for Road Safety Revenue and Capital and Safe Routes in Communities Grants.

Relevant Issues and Options

4. WG offered an indicative allocation for Road Safety Revenue Funding of £67,800 for 2018/19 and schemes must include kerbcraft, Pass Plus Cymru, National Standards cycle training and motorbike interventions. The funding awarded is £63,160 which is less than the indicative allocation. This is due to the funding for the Motorbike Course being withheld until such a time that the specific scheme is evaluated. The motorbike scheme is currently being evaluated by Cardiff Council, and it is hoped that once completed, the WG will release the difference in Grant to enable the scheme to be delivered.
5. Within the Active Travel indicative allocation of £214,000, 100% funding has been awarded for scheme design, including investigating environmental constraints on the following route:

Biglis Roundabout to Dinas Powys (Vale-Prop-DP-C060)

Scheme feasibility on the following routes that have been identified within the Active Travel Integrated Network Map and which are all within the Dinas Powys village:

Dinas Powys Vale-Prop-DP-C020 The Square Dinas Powys to Cardiff Road via Elmgrove Road

Dinas Powys Vale-Prop-DP-C030 The Square Dinas Powys to Turnpike Close

Dinas Powys Vale-Prop-DP-C050 Eastbrook Train Station to the Merrie Harrier.

Dinas Powys Vale-Prop-DP-C080 Dinas Powys County Infant School to Garage

Dinas Powys Vale-Prop-DP-C090 Eastbrook Train Station to Raglan Close via Murch

Dinas Powys Vale-Prop-DP-C100Murch Road to Relands Road alongside Railway.

Dinas Powys Vale-Prop-DP-C120Dinas Powys Primary School to Sully Road via Murch Road

6. Of the three schemes submitted for funding through the LTF Grant process, the Cardiff - Vale Coastal Transport Network has been funded at 100%, to the value of £600,000.
7. The works include developing a Full Business Case for providing transport network improvements on the Cardiff - Vale Coastal corridor. This will include a WelTAG Stage 3 appraisal for the proposed Penarth Headland Link, as well as a WelTAG Stage 1 & 2 appraisal of a bus Park & Ride site at Cosmeston, and the bus priority measures required on an identified route to access the Barrage. The proposals will address the road based congestion at the key road junctions of this corridor and should include multi-modal solutions, including a fully compliant Active Travel corridor from Barry to Cardiff.
8. Local Transport Network Funding of £145k for 18/19 and an indicative allocation of £105k for 2019/20 has been awarded.  This has been 90% funded with match funding of £30k been approved from the Culverhouse Cross residential development.  The funding has been allocated to provide improvements to bus stops along the A48 corridor and identified bus stops within key locations within Barry, Llantwit Major and Penarth.
9. No funding has been offered to further progress the Junction 34 to A48 and Weycock Cross to Cardiff Airport Corridor WelTAG Stage 3 Appraisal works and the Dinas Powys Transport Network WelTAG Stage 2 works at this time, although correspondence has been issued to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport ascertaining why these funding applications were unsuccessful and to seek assurance that funding can be obtained from other Welsh Government sources.  
10. No funding has been offered in relation to SRiC or Road Safety Capital Grant.
11. Appendix 1 contains the Grant Award Letter from WG.
12. The terms and conditions of the Grants mean that the works identified for the year will need to be completed by 31st March 2019.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

13. The table below shows the list and value of bids for LTF, LTNF, Active Travel, Road Safety Capital, SRIC and Road Safety Revenue and whether they were successful. 

Scheme	Source of Funding	Bid amount	Match Funding	Successful/ Unsuccessful
Active Travel	LTF	£214,000		Successful
Junction 34 to A48 & Weycock Cross to Cardiff Airport Cycle scheme	LTF	£1,500,000		Unsuccessful
Dinas Powys Transport Network and Land Options for Biglis Roundabout to Dinas Powys	LTF	£1,000,000		Unsuccessful
Cardiff - Vale Coastal Transport Network	LTF	£600,000		Successful
A48 Strategic Corridor and other Primary Bus Stops	LTNF	£250,000	£30,000	Successful £145,000 (2018/19) £105,000 indicative allocation (2019/20)
Redlands Road Penarth	RS Capital	£197,000		Unsuccessful
Merthyr Dyfan Road Barry	RS Capital	£232,463		Unsuccessful
Colcot Roundabout Barry	RS Capital	£255,000		Unsuccessful
Weycock Cross to Cardiff Airport Active Travel Scheme	SRIC	£1,500,000		Unsuccessful
St Athan Active Travel Scheme	SRIC	£448,000	£115,000	Unsuccessful
Porthkerry Road / Romilly Road / Windsor Road Active Travel Scheme	SRIC	£114,000		Unsuccessful
Road Safety Revenue	RS Revenue	£67,800		Partly successful £63,160 awarded

14. Road Safety Revenue funding can be amended to meet demand, subject to advising the WG.
15. The measures contained within this report will be fully funded from the Grants.
16. The road safety department priorities will need to change in accordance with the amount and type of grant available.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

17. Measures to improve road safety, walking and cycling will all aid sustainable accessibility and the reduction of single occupancy car movements, therefore having a positive impact on sustainability and climate change.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

18. If local authorities do not provide a road safety service as statutorily required under Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 action could be taken for a breach of statutory duty.  Providing a road safety service involves (amongst other things) education, training and publicity which benefits road safety and enables the upholding of laws in relation to the safe use of the highway.

Crime and Disorder Implications

19. It is anticipated that the number of road traffic accidents in the Vale, particularly those involving children, young people and vulnerable road users, will be reduced as a consequence of these initiatives.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

20. The concept of equal opportunities is a fundamental principle that underlies all of this Council's policies.  Improvements to pedestrian and cycling routes in the Vale will benefit all members of the community including some of the most vulnerable road user groups. 
21. There are no particular Welsh Language issues associated with these grants and all promotional material produced in association with the supported schemes will be bilingual in accordance with Council Policy.

Corporate/Service Objectives

22. The delivery of the schemes funded, will assist the Council in delivering its objectives within the Corporate Plan including specific objectives within an inclusive and safe Vale, an environmentally responsible Vale and an active and healthy Vale.
23. Delivery of Schemes will also contribute to the following Well-being Goals for Wales, introduced by the Well-Being of Future Generations Act (2015)  including:

Supporting People and businesses to drive prosperity,

Tackling regional inequality and promote fair work,

Driving sustainable growth and combat climate change,

Delivering quality health and care services fit for the future,

Promoting good health and well-being for everyone,

Building healthier communities and better environments,

Supporting young people to make the most of their potential,

Building ambition and encourage learning for life,

Equipping everyone with the right skills for a changing world,

Building resilient communities, culture and language,

Delivering modern and connected infrastructure,

Promoting and protect Wales' place in the world.

Policy Framework and Budget

24. This report is a matter for Executive decision by Cabinet.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

25. This report affects all areas of the Council and therefore no specific ward consultation has been undertaken.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

26. Environment & Regeneration

Background Papers

Appendix 1 - Grant Award Letter from Welsh Government

Contact Officer

Clare Cameron, Principal Transport & Road Safety Officer - Tel: 01446 704768

Officers Consulted

Operational Manager - Engineering

Finance - Senior Accountant

Legal - Committee Reports

Operational Manager Accountancy

Director of Learning & Skills

Responsible Officer:

Miles Punter - Director of Environment &Housing Services