Agenda item

(a)  That the offer of the Berkshire Local Transport Body to provide £5.6million towards the cost of the SMaRT major transport scheme be welcomed;

(b)  That the terms of the offer, including the need for the remainder of the scheme cost to be met by local funding contributions, be noted;

(c)  That the local funding contribution outlined in paras 4.4 and 4.5 required from Council revenue and capital resources, supplemented by S106 developer contributions where available, be agreed in principle subject to further consideration of scheme costs;

(d)  That  the design of the scheme as outlined in paras 5.6 to 5.17 and Figure 1, be agreed in principle subject to a positive outcome to the public consultation now underway;

(e)  That negotiations be proceeded with to secure land on the frontage of A4 Bath Road required for highway purposes as set out in paras 4.15 and 4.16 and steps be taken, if necessary, to initiate compulsory purchase;

(f)  That funding for the improvements to three additional junctions on the A4 Bath Road west of Dover Road and improvements around Burnham Station and Burnham Lane as described in paras 4.6 and 5.18 to 5.20 be agreed;

(g)  That the tendering process be progressed in due course in line with the procurement strategy set out in para 4.7 of the report;

(h)  That the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources be authorised to take all necessary steps to secure the making, submission, confirmation and implementation of the CPO of the third party land required to deliver the SMaRT Scheme and the land required to deliver an efficient scheme on the land remaining at 150 – 160 Bath Road (following statutory process set down in the Highway Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.);

(i)  That the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources be authorised to appropriate to planning purposes the land in the ownership of Slough Borough Council which is no longer required for the purpose for which it was previously used,  for use in connection with the SMaRT Scheme and associated residential development under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972.

(j)  That the Cabinet receive a further report on progress and detailed design of the scheme prior to the commencement of the tendering process.

The Acting Head of Transport introduced a report seeking approval to progress implementation of Phase 1 of the Slough Mass Rapid Transit (SMaRT) scheme which aimed to enhance public transport services and reduce congestion in the A4 corridor.

The scheme comprised of a range of highway infrastructure measures to enhance bus journey time and reliability performance, which would facilitate both improved bus services and wider benefits to the highway network.  SMaRT would initially extend from the Slough Trading Estate to the M4 Junction 5 via the town centre in Phase 1.  The estimated cost was £8.09m of which £5.6m had been committed by central Government via the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Growth Deal.  Phase 2 would extend the improvements east of Junction 5 to Heathrow.

Members discussed a number of detailed aspects of the design and issues relating to the operation of the scheme including the improvements required at busy junctions; the increased frequency of services to a bus every 10 minutes at peak time; the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers; and the need to work closely with businesses on the trading estate to reduce current reliance on shuttle services and private car use.  This engagement with the private sector would be important in ensuring the new rapid bus services were commercially viable.  Detailed work on design and planning issues would take place prior to the consultation and procurement processes, and the Cabinet agreed to receive a further report prior to the tender being issued.  Phase 1 was due to be completed by August 2016.

The Cabinet welcomed the scheme and congratulated officers for securing the major investment from the Berkshire Local Transport Body in view of the significant competition for funds across Berkshire.  They also noted the funding position as detailed in the report; gave permission to use CPO powers; and agreed funding for improvements to three additional junctions on the A4 Bath Road as part of the scheme.

Resolved –

(a)  That the offer of the Berkshire Local Transport Body to provide £5.6million towards the cost of the SMaRT major transport scheme be welcomed;

(b)  That the terms of the offer, including the need for the remainder of the scheme cost to be met by local funding contributions, be noted;

(c)  That the local funding contribution outlined in paras 4.4 and 4.5 required from Council revenue and capital resources, supplemented by S106 developer contributions where available, be agreed in principle subject to further consideration of scheme costs;

(d)  That  the design of the scheme as outlined in paras 5.6 to 5.17 and Figure 1, be agreed in principle subject to a positive outcome to the public consultation now underway;

(e)  That negotiations be proceeded with to secure land on the frontage of A4 Bath Road required for highway purposes as set out in paras 4.15 and 4.16 and steps be taken, if necessary, to initiate compulsory purchase;

(f)  That funding for the improvements to three additional junctions on the A4 Bath Road west of Dover Road and improvements around Burnham Station and Burnham Lane as described in paras 4.6 and 5.18 to 5.20 be agreed;

(g)  That the tendering process be progressed in due course in line with the procurement strategy set out in para 4.7 of the report;

(h)  That the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources be authorised to take all necessary steps to secure the making, submission, confirmation and implementation of the CPO of the third party land required to deliver the SMaRT Scheme and the land required to deliver an efficient scheme on the land remaining at 150 – 160 Bath Road (following statutory process set down in the Highway Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.);

(i)  That the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources be authorised to appropriate to planning purposes the land in the ownership of Slough Borough Council which is no longer required for the purpose for which it was previously used,  for use in connection with the SMaRT Scheme and associated residential development under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972.

(j)  That the Cabinet receive a further report on progress and detailed design of the scheme prior to the commencement of the tendering process.