The Cabinet Member considered a report that sought approval for the Sustainable Transport Works Plan for 2016/17, which set out the Council’s approach to managing highways infrastructure and delivering Corporate Plan priorities and programmes. It was noted that there may be changes to the funding available arising from Transport for London decisions and the Council’s forthcoming Capital Strategy.
No declarations of interest were declared, and there were no conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Members consulted.
Invited by the Cabinet Member to ask questions, Councillors Engert and Newton made the following requests:
1. That local ward councillors be advised by the Head of Traffic Management of significant or substantial objections or concerns raised in response to statutory consultation on schemes, in addition to the Cabinet Member;
2. That the report reflect the importance of clearing gullies to prevent flooding;
3. That charging points for electric vehicles constructed under the Plan should be sufficiently robust;
4. That the issue of air quality be reflected as a priority in the Plan; and
5. That the resurfacing of the carriageway of Fortis Green Road not be limited to the section in the Muswell Hill Ward.
Councillor McNamara accepted the requests made, undertook to ensure all councillors were informed of how schemes were prioritised, and asked that Councillors Engert and Newton engage with officers for operational responses to the specific matters raised.
The Council has a statutory obligation to maintain the public highway network. This year’s work plan had been determined through objective highway condition surveys, visual highways inspections, feedback from consultation with Ward Councillors and key stakeholders.
The programme also includes transport schemes previously agreed by Cabinet (September 2013) and funded as part of the borough’s 3 year Local Implementation Delivery (LIP) Plan (2014-17) together with the annual funding submission to Transport for London (TfL).
Based on the reasons given in the report, the Cabinet Member:
RESOLVED
1. That the Sustainable Works Plan for 2016/17 be approved;
2. That the Head of Traffic Management be authorised to consider any objections and representations to statutory consultation on schemes and report back to the Cabinet Member and local ward councillor if there are significant or substantial objections or concerns raised; and
3. That decisions relating to detailed scheme design be delegated to the Head of Traffic Management.