Issue - meetings

(The Leader agreed to the consideration of this item as a matter of urgency as a decision was required thereon prior to the next meeting of the Cabinet)

It was reported that the Department for Transport (DfT) had recently published the results of a consultation on “Devolving Local Major Transport Schemes” which proposed a new system for prioritising and funding local transport schemes costing over £5,000,000. The process involved the establishment of Local Transport Bodies which would consist of Local Transport Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and others with a key interest. 

The Cabinet considered a proposed response to a request from the Department for Transport (DfT) for partners to confirm their Local Transport Body boundaries by 28th September 2012. There was some doubt regarding whether Authorities such as Bromsgrove, which was a member of more than one Local Enterprise Partnership, could be in more than one Local Transport Body.

Members considered the position and it was felt that in view of Bromsgrove’s geographic position and its strong links to both Birmingham and South Worcestershire it was appropriate that Bromsgrove should be within the two Transport Bodies reflecting its Local Enterprise Partnership membership.

Following discussion it was

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that the Council responds to the Department for Transport stating that, despite the guidance and for the reasons outlined in the report, Bromsgrove District Council should be allowed to sit within two Local Transport Bodies with their respective geography based upon the existing Local Enterprise Partnership boundaries and with funding to be divided equally between the two Local Transport Bodies; and

(b)       that following receipt of the response to the Council’s view from the Department of Transport, authority be delegated to the Executive Director Planning and regeneration, regulatory and Housing Services in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder, to make the final arrangements relating to the Local Transport Body.