Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which advised on a number of external funding opportunities that had become available or would soon become available to the Council for transportation projects, advised on progress to date in developing proposals for these and sought approval for formally submitting funding applications and where these were successful to commence spending on any funds obtained.

The report also provided an update on progress on developing a programme of expenditure for the net surplus income from BLE in 2016/17.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

In relation to Community Links PLUS -

(a)       note that Aberdeen City Council has submitted an application to the Community Links PLUS design competition and is one of 10 shortlisted entrants to proceed to Stage 2 of the competition;

(b)       approve Aberdeen City Council’s participation in Community Links PLUS, formally endorse the project to improve active travel connections between Westhill and Aberdeen and agree to the concept that any scheme ultimately realised will incorporate an element of roadspace reallocation in favour of walking and cycling;

(c)        approve expenditure of the £10,000 grant awarded by Sustrans Scotland to further develop proposals for submission to Stage 2; and

(d)       should the Council be successful in proceeding beyond Stage 2, approve the expenditure of up to £50,000 in grant funding to further develop proposals for submission to Stage 3.

In relation to Community Links Fund 2016/17 and 2017/18 -

(e)       note the award from Sustrans Scotland for improvements to pedestrian and cycle facilities on Dyce Drive and approve the expenditure of approximately £285,071 in grant funding;

(f)        note the award from Sustrans Scotland for the implementation of a pedestrian and cycle link from Grandholm Drive to Balgownie Drive and approve the expenditure of £150,000 in grant funding;

(g)       note the award from Sustrans Scotland to Aberdeen Harbour Board to enable an enhanced National Cycle Network Route 1 facility to be provided as part of the Nigg Bay development; and

(h)       authorise officers to submit a series of applications to the 2017/18 Community Links fund, based on the short-term priorities identified in the Aberdeen Active Travel Action Plan, authorise the expenditure of any grant funding successfully obtained from 1st April 2017 and instruct officers to report back to this Committee in May 2017 (via the Strategic and Local Transport Projects Update bulletin) with details of the full 2017/18 Community Links programme in Aberdeen.

In relation to Nestrans Capital and Revenue Programmes 2017/18 -

(i)         authorise officers to submit applications to the 2017/18 Nestrans capital and revenue programmes to deliver a series of transport projects in Aberdeen and, subject to the final programme being approved by the Nestrans Board, authorise expenditure of any funds successfully obtained by the Council from 1st April 2017; and

(j)         instruct officers to report back to this Committee in May 2017 (via the Strategic and Local Transport Projects Update bulletin) with full details of the Nestrans Capital and Revenue programmes of expenditure In Aberdeen in 2017/18.

In relation to Smarter Choices Smarter Places (SCSP)

(k)        authorise officers to submit a proposed SCSP programme for 2017/18 to Paths for All for consideration; and

(l)         authorise expenditure of any funds successfully obtained from 1st April 2017 and instruct officers to report back to this Committee in May 2017 (via the Strategic and Local Transport Projects Update bulletin) with full details of the proposed SCSP programme in Aberdeen City in 2017/18.

In relation to Cycling Development Officer Fund

(m)      approve the expenditure of approximately £50,000 available to the Council from the Nestrans / Sustrans Cycling Development Officer Fund during 2017/18 and keep this Committee up to date with progress of expenditure via the regular Strategic and Local Transportation Projects Update Bulletin.

In relation to Cycle Friendly Employer Workplace Grants Fund 2016/17

(n)       note the submission made to Cycling Scotland’s Cycle Friendly Employer Workplace Grants Fund 2016/17 and approve the expenditure of any funds successfully obtained.

In relation to BLE

(o)       authorise officers in the Transport Strategy and Programmes team to finalise a prioritised list of projects seeking funding from the remaining net surplus BLE money in 2017/18 and instruct officers to submit this to the May 2017 meeting of this Committee for approval by members.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.