The Department for Transport (DfT) has released guidance to local transport bodies (LTBs) on the devolution of major local transport scheme funding.
From April 2015, local transport bodies primarily made up of councillors and Local Enterprise Partnership members will prioritise how devolved, per capita, transport funding is spent.
Around £1bn is expected to be devolved in total for the first four years up until 2019.
The DfT guidance sets out ‘appropriate safeguards’ for ensuring taxpayer value for money on how the cash is prioritised. LTBs will be required to arrange for an annual, independent local audit and submit the results to the department.
Periodic assessments will also be conducted by the DfT, which will reserve the right to determine future funding levels based on ‘performance on delivery, value for money, evaluation and effectiveness’.
‘The Department will consider any concerns or complaints raised from third parties about the operation of LTBs, although we would expect such issues to be dealt with locally in the first instance,’ the guidance states.
Transport minister Norman Baker told Surveyor: ‘While it is right for the Government to look at the big picture and co-ordinate schemes with a national impact, there is no substitute for local knowledge.’
The process behind establishing local transport bodies and their boundaries, and drawing up their assurance frameworks has suffered running delays. All prospective local transport bodies should now submit their assurance frameworks by February 2013, the DfT said, delaying the procedure by two months.
The department will aim to sign off the frameworks within two months and alert any LTBs earlier if there are any ‘fundamental issues’ that need to be addressed.
For more information please see this link.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/15176/guidance-local-transport-bodies.pdf
