Issue - meetings

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 54 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 4 August 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director on the recent reduction in Area Based Grant funding, which was currently used to fund the operation of the Merseyside Camera Partnership.  The report highlighted the reduced contribution on 2010/11 used to fund Child Pedestrian training across Merseyside, and the subsequent impact on staff resources in the Planning and Economic Development Department.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       it be noted that the Child Pedestrian Training Programme has a significant impact on improving road safety awareness in key stage 1 children, that this provides the foundation for all road safety education in Sefton and contributes greatly to the on-going reduction in child pedestrian casualty rates in the Borough;

(2)       the cessation of the Area Based Grant funding of Child Pedestrian Training to a total of £21k in 2010/11 be noted;

(3)       the Cabinet Member - Technical Services be requested to review the Local Transport Plan Capital Programmes to determine priorities for funding Child Safety, School and Workplace Travel Plan Programmes for 2010/11 and 2011/12 onwards; and

(4)       a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member - Technical Services and Cabinet detailing the review.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director that appraised the recent reduction in Area Based Grant funding, which was currently used to fund the operation of the Merseyside Camera Partnership.  The report highlighted the reduced contribution on 2010/11 used to fund Child Pedestrian training across Merseyside, and the subsequent impact on staff resources in the Planning and Economic Development Department.

A decision on this matter was required because the Department for Transport had indicated that the funding to Merseyside Road Safety Camera Partnership would be reduced by £400,000 during the current financial year.  This equated to 27% of the current revenue budget, and would have a major effect on operational plans to manage the Camera Partnership on Merseyside.  This would severely reduce the training resources in each of the five Merseyside Districts, and there would be insufficient funding in 2010/11 to fund current staff resources.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be recommended to:

(1)       note the significant impact that the Child Pedestrian Training Programme has on improving road safety awareness in key stage 1 children, that this provides the foundation for all road safety education in Sefton and contributes greatly to the on-going reduction in child pedestrian casualty rates in the Borough;

(2)       note the cessation of the Area Based Grant funding of Child Pedestrian Training to a total of £21k in 2010/11;

(3)            request the Cabinet Member - Technical Services to review the Local Transport Plan Capital Programmes to determine priorities for funding Child Safety, School and Workplace Travel Plan Programmes for 2010/11 and 2011/12 onwards; and

(4)       a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member - Technical Services and Cabinet detailing the review.