Agenda item

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy on the impact of Government funding reductions on the Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership (CSRP) and how these would affect Halton. The CSRP was established in April 2007, comprising representatives from the five highway authorities, (Halton, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington and Highways Agency), Cheshire Police, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Courts’ Services. Its remit not only included the management and development of Cheshire’s speed and red light cameras, but also the delivery of Cheshire wide strategic road safety, education, training and publicity initiatives.

          Since 2007, the four highway authorities had received a Road Safety Grant (RSG) from the Government, with each putting the majority of it into a pooled CSRP budget to fund activities by the Partnership including camera enforcement. The remainder was retained in Halton’s case to fund two temporary members of staff and for the delivery of road safety initiatives locally.

          However, in June 2010, the Coalition Government cut the road safety capital grants completely (i.e. £75k) and reduced revenue funding by 27% (i.e. by £90k). These cuts meant an immediate curtailment of any capital works that had not been committed and revenue supported project work outside of the core revenue area (staff, accommodation and associated costs) in order to protect CSRP establishment.

          It was noted that the RSG had always been due to finish on the 31^st March 2011 but it was hoped that a dedicated replacement fund would be provided. Unfortunately, this had not happened. If the CSRP was to be continued, the local authorities would have to provide funding from other services to pay for it. Due to the severity of cuts it had experienced and the subsequent review of Council services that was now underway, it was not considered prudent for this Council to commit limited funding to an external partnership without determining local priorities in the first instance.

          Discussions were ongoing between officers and members of the CSRP Board as to whether the CSRP could continue and, if so, in what form. Members were advised that officers were conducting a full review of the costs and benefits of CSRP to Halton and camera enforcement in particular, with a view to informing Members how road safety in Halton could be taken forward. It was noted that significant reductions in road casualties were underway before the CSRP was formed and this trend had continued across the Borough.

          Cheshire Police, as main beneficiaries of CSRP funding distribution, had indicated that safety cameras would be switched off in Halton on 1^st January 2011 if this Council was unable to replace the lost RSG contributions. However, the Police should, in theory, still be required to carry out speed limit enforcement. Since the publication of the report Cheshire Police had advised the Council that the safety cameras may not now be switched off on 1^st January 2011.

          It was also noted that not subscribing financially to CSRP would bring a more local focus to RSETP activities and free our remaining staff to concentrate on purely Halton issues, with work that was guided by local accident/casualty analysis as was the case before the RSG supported CSRP was created. Through Road Safety Great Britain and regional contacts the Council would continue to remain abreast of any current issues and developing trends and continue to work with our neighbours on areas of common interest.

          RESOLVED: That the Board

          (1)      notes that because of the withdrawal of the dedicated Road Safety Grants by Government, which had been used to support the CSRP since its inception, and because of the severe cuts to funding for Council services, the Council cannot commit to making a financial contribution to CSRP beyond 31^st March 2011.

          (2)      notes that if the CSRP were to no longer exist in its current form, this could result in camera enforcement reducing or even ceasing altogether on Halton’s roads from January 2011;

          (3)      notes that discussions with partners, regarding the future of the CSRP and camera enforcement, are ongoing and that it may be necessary to bring a more detailed report on this matter to a future meeting of the Board; and

          (4)      endorses the intention of officers to continue to deliver road safety education, training and publicity (RSETP) work locally, in conjunction with neighbouring authorities and the emergency services as resources permit.