Decision details

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport seeking acceptance of a funding package from the Department for Transport (DfT) for a Sustainable Travel Programme, adding it to the Council’s revenue and capital programme. A further report will be presented to Cabinet on the Delivery Plan to March 2015 and the options for governance arrangements and delivery mechanisms.

In early July 2011, the DfT announced that Southampton City Council had been successful in its application to deliver a programme of work by March 2015, against the eligibility criteria set out for the Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, under the title ‘Southampton Sustainable Transport City’.

(i)  To accept the £3.96m funding package from the Department for Transport (DfT) and to approve the total match funding commitment of £1.7M over the 4 year funding period, principally from SCC Local Transport Plan grant and strategic ‘Section 106’ developer contributions.

(ii)  To add £230,000 to the 2011/12 revenue estimates and £1,080,000 to the 2012/13 revenue estimates of the Environment and Transport Portfolio funded by the DfT grant (subject to approval of the budget strategy at full Council in February 2012) and to note that further additions of £1,170,000 to the 2013/14 revenue estimates and £1,030,000 to the 2014/15 revenue estimates will be formally made as part of the preparation of those financial years’ budgets.

(iii)  To increase by £450,000 the Smarter Travel Choices Capital Scheme within the Environment and Transport Portfolio capital programme, and approve capital expenditure of £450,000, phased £170,000 in 2012/13, £170,000 in 2013/14 and £110,000 in 2014/15.

(iv)  To instruct officers to bring a further report to cabinet in March 2012 detailing the options for governance arrangements and mechanisms for delivery of the programme.

1. The terms and conditions of the grant set out by the Department for Transport require formal acceptance by the Council.
2. The proposed programme of behaviour change initiatives is designed to simultaneously encourage economic growth and reduce carbon emissions, both key aspirations of the Council.

Not to accept the funding.