Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport which set out the proposed changes to the existing Highways and Transport Capital Programme delivery, including the North and East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road, Section 106 programme and The Parade, Oadby Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (CYCLOPS) scheme.  An update was also provided on the additional £22m highways and transport related funding awarded to the County Council since the current Medium Term Financial Strategy was approved by the Council in February 2025.  Approval was also sought for the development and delivery of  the additional programmes in relation to the latest funding awards, in line with the relevant funding terms and conditions.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes.

As the Lead Member for Highways, Transport and Waste, Mr. C. Whitford CC welcomed the additional investment in Leicestershire’s highways.  The additional Local Transport Grant and maintenance allocation would assist in responding to community concerns and investing in highways assets.  The additional investment in active travel was also welcomed.  The announcement of multi-year funding settlements would enable the Environment and Transport department to develop a pipeline of schemes for delivery.  Members also acknowledged the challenges of delivering the capital programme and it was pleasing to see these being addressed.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the following proposed changes to the 2025/26 Highways and Transportation Capital Programme be approved:

i)               Reallocation of funding from the advanced design programme to the North and East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (NEMMDR), as set out in paragraphs 23-31 of the report;

ii)              Creation of a Market Harborough Programme, in line with the approach set out in paragraphs 10 and 32-35 of the report, making use of the Section 106 monetary contributions collected against the Market Harborough Transport Strategy and Consolidated Active Travel Funding;

iii)            Proposed delay to delivery of the Parade, Oadby Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (CYCLOPS) scheme, to allow for additional work, including redesign, following public consultation and engagement with Active Travel England (ATE) noting the risks that are associated with this approach, as set out in paragraphs 11 and 36-40 of the report;

b)    That the additional funding awarded to the Local Highway Authority (LHA) be noted, including the Local Transport Grant (LTG), the Active Travel Fund 5 (ATF5) and Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF), and the Department for Transport’s additional maintenance grant;

c)    That the associated programmes as detailed in paragraphs 41-61 of the report be approved;

d)    That the Director of Environment and Transport be authorised:

i)               To undertake the necessary work and secure the necessary resources to progress the development and delivery of programmes, as set out in paragraphs 32-61 of the report, in line with the specific funding grant conditions;

ii)              Following consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources, the Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Transport and Waste, and the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources,  to prepare ad submit bids, as appropriate, to secure external funding for the delivery of schemes that are identified in the programmes;

iii)            Following consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources, the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources, to enter such contracts as are necessary to progress schemes in the approved programmes.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The reallocation of funding will allow the Council, as the LHA, to complete the Large Local Majors (LLM) scheme (such as NEMMDR) by reallocating funding provisionally profiled across the four years of the MTFS from the Highways and Transportation Advanced Design Programme.  Activities, such as bid preparation, designing schemes to mitigate growth and smaller active travel and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25