Councillor Heathcoat,
as Chairman for the meeting had agreed that this item be added an item of
urgent business in order to meet the timetable for submission to the
Department of Transport set by central Government.
Cabinet considered
a report that provided an overview of the Department of Transport's Active
Travel Emergency fund and, in particular, set out the requirements and arrangements
for the production and approval of the Tranche 2 submission.
Councillor
Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sue Halliwell, Director of
Planning & Place introduced the contents of the report highlighting the need
for the recommended delegation given the tight timescales involved.
Sue Halliwell,
responding to a query from Councillor Heathcoat, Deputy Leader of the Council,
stated that there was much better information from central government on this
second tranche with much greater clarity on requirements to ensure that the bid
was ticking all the core criteria against the funding.
Councillor John
Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, Hoped that some of the Tranche 2
money could go into the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.
During discussion
Cabinet expressed concern at the process and tight timescales involved. Responding
to questions Sue Halliwell: confirmed that some of the examples of local
schemes on the portal referred to in the introduction came from our own
information but not all; explained the phased approach to the bidding process so
that OCC was in a position to take advantage
of any additional monies that became available.
Responding to
concerns that the measures would be urban centric and short term, Sue Halliwell
and Councillor Constance explained the limitations of the process that meant
that it was likely that city schemes and spade ready projects were likely to be
successful. However, every effort would be made to have a balanced approach to
urban and rural schemes.
RESOLVED: to:
(a)
note the
criteria of Tranche 2 of the Department of Transport Active Travel Emergency
Fund; and
(b)
delegate
to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment
(and Transport), the final sign off of the Oxfordshire County Council’s bid for
the Department of Transport Active Travel Emergency Fund Tranche 2 submission.