Fairer repair funding en route

01 August 2007

A new Department for Transport consultation on the future of local transport plans proposes fairer funding for maintenance work, and greater flexibility for councils to set their own priorities.

Guidance on the 2008 progress reports says that councils should be able to address issues which reflect their own local circumstances, with the DfT saying it will no longer classify or assess LTP2s. However, it does stress the need for discussions on progress with LTPs between councils, regional government offices and other key stakeholders, including transport operators and strategic partners.

And, following recommendations from a working group set up to review maintenance funding for capital schemes, the DfT has agreed to narrow the difference in funding between the authorities with the best and worst roads. As such, the department has proposed halving the differential between the top and bottom performers in future settlements.

Earlier this year, 34 councils received less funding for highway repairs compared with last year – with half seeing allocations slashed by 10% and 11 reporting 20% cuts, while 48 authorities were awarded increases.

Welcoming the proposals, Mathew Lugg, chair of the CSS engineering committee, said: ‘In the past, I have been concerned with the fact that top-performing councils might miss out on funding because it is assumed they don’t need to spend on highways maintenance whereas, quite often, that simply isn’t the case. Some councils are not spending what they say they are, and any incentive to encourage high standards can only be a good thing.’

On the longer-term future, the DfT recognises there is strong support for LTPs, but says that changes should reflect legislation to reform bus regulation and proposals in the Local Government Bill which may lead to changes in the powers of metropolitan areas. It also recognises research by consultant Atkins has revealed that the LTP process should be slimmed down and simplified, with less stress on the comprehensiveness and details of the assessment process.

However, it adds: ‘Authorities themselves need to raise their own competence, ability and confidence to pursue innovative, inclusive and locally-relevant transport planning, funding and delivery in its own terms, rather than seeking to second-guess the next round of DfT guidance, if they are to be trusted with greater freedom from central prescription in future rounds.’ The closing date for responses to the consultation is Friday 19 October.

www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/localtransportplanning

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