Agenda item

This report sets out the funding sources for the City Strategy Capital Programme and the proposed schemes to be delivered in 2010/11.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member approves the scheme allocations set out in Annex 1 of the report subject to the following modification:

·                    That the allocation for the purchase of Dial and Ride vehicles be increased from £80k to £97k to enable two vehicles to be purchased. This to be accommodated by increasing the level of overprogramming across the programme by £17k.

REASON:                  To implement the council’s transport strategy identified in York’s second Local Transport Plan and deliver schemes identified in the Council’s Capital Programme.

The Executive Member considered a report, which set out the funding sources for the City Strategy Capital Programme and the proposed schemes to be delivered in 2010/11. The report also covered the Integrated Transport and City Walls restoration allocations.

It was reported that the programme for 2010/11 would comprise of the following, further details of which were outlined in the report together with details of funding:

Officers updated that Yorkshire Forward would match the funding for the purchase of Dial and Ride vehicles. It was therefore proposed to increase the budget allocation from £80k to £97k to enable two vehicles to be purchased in 2010/11. It was reported that a budget had also been included for measures to improve safety for cyclists at the southern end of Beckfield Lane and that this work would be carried out when an acceptable solution had been found.

Representations were then received from Dee Bush of Beckfield Lane. She asked for clarification that the reference in the report to the measures to be undertaken to improve safety for cyclists on Beckfield Lane would be provided on rather than off road. She stated that pedestrians should not be punished for bad driving habits which required the provision of a shared cycle path. Drivers should be required make allowances for cyclists and slow down. She referred to the blind and partially sighted and asked for the use of Department for Transport (DfT) best practice in relation to the extension of this path.

Councillor Merrett referred to this being the final year of the three year Cycling City grant and he queried whether application would be made for a further grant if money became available. He also welcomed the commencement of the low emission strategy for the city and questioned the piloting of additional 20mph schemes in the forth-coming year. In relation to paragraph 13 of the report and the Bus Location and Information Sub-System (BLISS) he supported its roll out onto further vehicles together with additional indicators at bus stops.

Councillor Horton referred to the reference to the Beckfield Lane cycle improvements and requested clarification on the dual use proposals for the southern section.

Officers confirmed that that the budget allocation for the Beckfield Lane works had been based on the original proposals however other measures were now being investigated details of which would be brought back to the Decision Session for the Executive Members approval. He also confirmed that the BLISS works included the upgrade of bus stops and shelters and that, if additional Cycle City funding did become available then an application would be made for this.

The Executive Member also confirmed that Officers were working on a scheme to overcome safety issues on Beckfield Lane, which incorporated an on carriageway cycle route, which may also include some carryovers from the earlier scheme. He also pointed out that an allocation had not specifically been included for additional 20mph zones but that future schemes could include individual streets or groups of streets. He also confirmed that he would examine the extension of the number of routes on which the BLISS system was available.

The Executive Member went onto report that this capital programme represented a further substantial investment in transport infrastructure in the city with the £7million programme providing significant improvements for all road users with benefits being felt by the whole area.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member approves the scheme allocations set out in Annex 1 of the report subject to the following modification:

·                    That the allocation for the purchase of Dial and Ride vehicles be increased from £80k to £97k to enable two vehicles to be purchased. This to be accommodated by increasing the level of overprogramming across the programme by £17k. ^1.

REASON:                  To implement the council’s transport strategy identified in York’s second Local Transport Plan and deliver schemes identified in the Council’s Capital Programme.