Issue - meetings

Approval to submit as invited by DfT a bid with the WoE for a major scheme within the Local Sustainable Transport Fund

Councillor Charles Gerrish made an ad hoc statement supporting the recommendations and welcoming the inclusion of the proposed cycle route from Batheaston to Bath Spa.

Councillor Roger Symonds, in proposing the item, acknowledged the huge amount of work already done by Councillor Gerrish when he had been the responsible Cabinet member.  He advised Cabinet that the proposals had been adopted, that morning, by the West of England Partnership subject to approval by Cabinet tonight.  He was delighted that the Partnership had already reached the shortlist of 9 applicants for funding.  He emphasised that sustainable economic growth was a crucial part of the bid and referred to paragraph 5.5 of the report in support of this.  He felt that it was this emphasis on growth which would make the bid attractive to government.

Councillor Nathan Hartley seconded the proposal.  He congratulated Councillor Symonds and the authors of the bid for their hard work.  He emphasised that it would be essential to work with local partner authorities in the matter of transport.

Councillor David Bellotti warmly supported the proposals, subject to approval in the budget.  He referred to Appendix 3 of the report, and emphasised that the inclusion by Cabinet of 20mph schemes had made the bid viable.

On a motion from Councillor Roger Symonds, seconded by Councillor Nathan Hartley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ACCEPT the £750,000 awarded through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund Key Component bid;

(2) To APPROVE the West of England joint bid for £25.5 million (WEST) from the DfT Local Sustainable Transport Fund, SUBJECT to approval of the Council’s matched funding elements as part of the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme in February 2012.