Decision details

Proposed decision

As Leader, I propose to:

1. Endorse the Strategic Investment Plan prepared by Transport for the South East (TfSE) and support TfSE with its implementation.

2. Delegate to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport to take, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, the actions necessary to implement the decision.

Background

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 amended the Local Transport Act 2008 to allow the creation of Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs). There are now several shadow STBs in England, with Transport for the North becoming the only statutory STB since April 2018.

Transport for the South East (TfSE) is a partnership of 16 Local Transport Authorities and five Local Enterprise Partnerships. In July 2020, TfSE’s Shadow Board adopted a Transport Strategy. TfSE then embarked on a series of Area Studies and Thematic Strategies (Freight, Future Mobility and Decarbonisation) in August 2020, completing these in summer 2022. These studies collectively provided the evidence base for a Strategic Investment Plan that TfSE published in draft in July 2022 and undertook a public consultation on. At the TfSE Partnership Board on 14 November 2022, the Board membership endorsed changes that had been made to the Strategic Investment Plan given consultation feedback. This included consultation feedback made by Kent County Council. TfSE constituent member authorities are now tasked with endorsing the Strategic Investment Plan. Following this, TfSE will then submit the Plan in Spring 2023 to central Government for their consideration.

Data Protection Implications

A Data Protection Impact Assessment is not required as this project does not require the processing of personal data.

As Leader, I agree to:

1.    Endorse the Strategic Investment Plan prepared by Transport for the South East (TfSE) and support TfSE with its implementation.

2.    Delegate to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport to take, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, the actions necessary to implement the decision.