Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Local Development Framework Members’ Steering Group held on 16^th July, 2010.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

Tom Finnegan-Smith, Transportation Unit Manager, to report.

-           to outline the Council’s revised proposed LTP capital programme for 2010/11 following the Government’s announcements of in-year cuts to the LTP Integrated Transport and Strategic Pot funding.

Further to Minute No. 132 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation held on 26 March, 2010, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, seeking approval for changes to be made to the delivery of schemes in the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme for the remainder of the current financial year.

It was explained that following the General Election in June, the new Government examined their current Departmental spending plans and announced a 25% cut in the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport funding for the current financial year. At the same time the Government announced a cut of 50% in the virement from the Yorkshire and Humber’s Regional Funding Allocation for major schemes, which for South Yorkshire had been redistributed to the Strategic Fund to deliver key schemes. This represented an overall cut of 37% in the funding within the South Yorkshire Strategic Fund.

It was confirmed that the allocations for Structural Maintenance of Carriageways and Footways, Bridge Assessment and Strengthening and Street Lighting were currently unaffected. 

A table within the submitted report detailed how the in-year cuts announced by the new Government had reduced the LTP Integrated Transport Settlement.

It was explained that this reduction in allocations had necessitated a re-prioritisation of schemes within the Integrated Transport Block and the Strategic Pot.  The suggested revised programme was detailed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

It was noted that alongside each scheme that had been changed, a comment had been included about whether it is suggested that the scheme be continued, considered for inclusion in next financial year’s or deferred for consideration in future programmes, or abandoned.

In recommending the schemes which would continue to be prioritised for funding in 2010/11 consideration had been given to those schemes that were:-

a)      deliverable and had lower risks associated with them so that the expenditure of this year’s budget was maximised, and

b)      those schemes that produced the greatest LTP benefits

The opportunity had also been taken to update estimates following further design and development work and those changes were also detailed in Appendix 1.   It was confirmed that schemes listed would be delivered up until March, 2011.

It was expected that the Strategic Funding would be confirmed on 10^th August, 2010. 

However, it was also reported that the Comprehensive Spending Review to be announced on 17^th October would give an indication about future years funding, with next year’s funding being confirmed in December, 2010.  At this time it was considered that future allocations were likely to be cut by around 40% and that this would have a significant impact on future Integrated Transport Programmes.

Resolved:-  That the revised allocations for Integrated Transport be noted and approval be given to the revised Integrated Transport and Strategic Pot programmes for 2010/11, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report now submitted.

Allan Lewis, Principal Lighting Engineer, to report.

-           to outline the proposals for introducing the dimming of street lighting units.

Further to Minute No. 29 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Streetpride held on 5^th January, 2009, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Principal Lighting Engineer, detailing the outcome of the trials to dim street lighting units on Wortley Road, Kimberworth; Wath Road, West Melton and Ryton Road, North Anston.

It was reported that the trials involving 175 units were implemented in early 2009.  Consultation with residents indicated that there was no detriment to the lighting and there were no concerns over the reduced lighting levels.

It was therefore proposed to extend the dimming of units installed from 1^st September, 2010.

It was also intended to expand on these trial sites as part of the asset replacement programme where the wattage of the street lighting lamps was sufficiently high to allow dimming of a further 300 lamps per annum to be undertaken.

It was explained that this would generally be possible on, for example, the classified network and bus routes, where the reduction in flow of traffic at certain times allowed reduced lighting levels to be utilised. The dimming would be introduced as the lighting units were replaced and again adjacent residents informed.

Details of the anticipated reduced energy consumption and financial savings from this initiative were set out in the submitted report.

It was also pointed out that the majority of new lamps, being introduced as part of the asset replacement programme across our residential neighbourhoods, were very low energy usage and as such it would not be cost effective to try to dim these. This was also applicable to higher wattage lamps that are not due for renewal, as the capital investment required to install dimming equipment was not considered economically viable due to a 4-5 year payback period.

A press release would be issued shortly regarding these energy saving proposals and to give reassurance to the public that the levels of lighting would continue to be in accordance with current guidance (TR27 The use of variable lighting levels ILE publication).

Resolved:-  That the dimming of street lighting be implemented, as set out in the report now submitted, in order to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of street lighting.

Consideration was given to nominations to outside bodies and to appointments to the Council’s sub-groups, panels, working parties etc for the remainder of the 2010/2011 Municipal Year.

Resolved:  (1)  That nominations to outside bodies be made as follows:-

ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE EXCELLENCE (APSE)

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development – Councillor Smith

CHESTERFIELD CANAL PARTNERSHIP

 Councillor Whysall

CYCLING ENGLAND

No appointment made

DEARNE AND DOVE INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD

Councillor Hodgkiss

HERITAGE CHAMPION

Councillor Pickering

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH MARKET AUTHORITIES – to be referred to the Cabinet Member for Town Centres

PLANNING AID COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Vice-Chair, Planning Board - Councillor Dodson

ROBIN HOOD AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

Councillor Walker, Senior Adviser to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment;

Substitute:  Councillor Swift, Vice-Chair, Regeneration Scrutiny Panel

TRANS-PENNINE TRAIL

Councillor Pickering, Chair, Planning Board (Substitute:  Councillor Walker)

(2)                  That the composition of sub-groups, panels, working parties in relation to the Cabinet Member’s portfolio be as follows:-

MEMBERS’ SustainabLE Development ADVISORY Group:-

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment – Councillor Smith (Chair)

Senior Adviser, Regeneration and Environment– Councillor Walker

Senior Adviser, Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues - Councillor Burton

Chair, Planning Board – Councillor Pickering

Vice-Chair, Planning Board – Councillor Dodson

A member from each of the Scrutiny Panels

Parish Liaison Committee:- (Planning and Transportation issues & Ad Hoc Meetings):-

Cabinet Member, Regeneration and Environment (Chair), Councillor Smith

Senior Adviser, Regeneration and Environment - Councillor Walker

Chair, Planning Board, Councillor Pickering

Vice-Chair, Planning Board, Councillor Dodson

and as required:-

Cabinet Member for Culture, Lifestyle, Sport and Tourism - Councillor St. John

Cabinet Member for Town Centres - Councillor R. S. Russell

Transport Liaison Panel:-

The Leader, Councillor Stone

Deputy Leader, Councillor Sharman

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment & SYITA Representative - Councillor Smith (Chair),

SYITA Representative, Councillor R. S. Russell

And one member from each Ward as follows:-