Agenda item

(a)  That the Council’s support for the A4 Cycle Lane and agree the allocated grant funds of £10.4m to the proposed approach set out in the report be confirmed.

(b)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Place & Communities, in consultation with the Lead Member for transport, housing, highways, the environment and environmental services, to approve the undertaking of a statutory and public consultation and following consultation, make the necessary traffic regulation orders;

(c)  Where procurement is above officer delegation thresholds and is fully covered by the allocated grant, that delegated authority be given to the Director of Place & Communities, in consultation with the Lead Member for transport, housing, highways, the environment and environmental services, to approve the procurement and award of contract for traffic signals and design works. 

The Cabinet considered a report on the proposals for an off-road cycleway along the A4.  Concept designs had been presented to Cabinet in November 2020 and the Council had subsequently been awarded a capital grant of £10.4m from the Department for Transport to fully fund the project.

The scheme would provide an important facility to encourage cycling and walking which would contribute to a wide range of positive outcomes including addressing health and obesity problems, improvements to air quality, sustainable travel and safety.  The report set out preliminary designs for the proposed route to extend from Huntercombe crossroads to the Uxbridge Road junction.  The Cabinet was asked to confirm support for the scheme and give delegated authority to undertake public and statutory consultations and make the necessary traffic regulation orders.

The Lead Member for transport summarised the scheme and highlighted the steps being taken to ensure it was delivered within the £10.4m capital grant that had been secured so there would be no impact on the Council budget.  The costs had been carefully assessed and approximately £2.1m contingency was in place to mitigate the risks associated with any such highway construction scheme.  A project board was in place to identify and mitigate risks through a value engineering process to ensure there was no budget overspend.

The Cabinet welcomed the potential benefits of the cycleway and discussed a number of issues including the public consultation process and steps to minimise any disruption to residents during construction.  It was noted that the majority of the works were off the highway which would mean minimal disruption.  Lead Members commented on a number of specific design issues such as at the Huntercombe roundabout.  Officers commented that the designs in the appendices were preliminary and issues raised through the consultation could be properly considered.  The Cabinet encouraged good and regular communication with Members and residents on both the consultation arrangements and the progress of the scheme.

At the conclusion of the discussion the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Council’s support for the A4 Cycle Lane and agreement that the allocated grant funds of £10.4m to the proposed approach set out in the report be confirmed.

(b)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Place & Communities, in consultation with the Lead Member for transport, housing, highways, the environment and environmental services, to approve the undertaking of a statutory and public consultation and following consultation, make the necessary traffic regulation orders;

(c)  Where procurement is above officer delegation thresholds and is fully covered by the allocated grant, that delegated authority be given to the Director of Place & Communities, in consultation with the Lead Member for transport, housing, highways, the environment and environmental services, to approve the procurement and award of contract for traffic signals and design works.