TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT INITIATIVES
Purpose of the Report
The Minister for Transport and Technical Services is asked to approve a request to change the spending profile for the £1m additional 2009 budget approved by the States for recycling and sustainable transport initiatives.
Discussion
The States has approved an additional £1m to fund the first phase of a package of recycling and sustainable transport strategies as part of the 2009 Business Plan Amendment 4 on 22 September 2008. Approval post 2009 to fund further phases of the package of Recycling and Sustainable Transport initiatives was conditional on a new environmental tax being approved by the States in 2009 to fund this expenditure.
The additional £1 million funding was allocated equally between sustainable travel and transport and recycling initiatives.
Sustainable Travel and Transport
The funding was to deliver the following in 2009:
· Additional commuter bus services and real time information at key locations and bus fares will be put on hold;
· Proposals for an eastern cycle route will be investigated and, where feasible, the first stages of implementation will be commenced;
· Following the success of the St Martin’s ‘Safe Route to Schools’ project, a further scheme will be implemented to encourage children and parents to leave the car at home.
Recycling
The funding was to deliver the following in 2009:
· Start up costs of introducing household recycling collection to the remaining parishes. A total of £0.35 million would be required for the supply of kerbside containers and to deliver a high profile and comprehensive launch campaign;
· Handling and exporting the additional material collected and allow the Department to re-commence the recycling of hazardous electrical waste (TVs, batteries and computers) including the backlog stockpiled in 2008.
The above spending proposals were based on the approval of the funding for the years 2009 – 2013. However, as the funding is only secure for 2009 and conditional on the approval and introduction of a new environmental tax thereafter, the Department considers that it is not appropriate to enter into long term commitments where funding is not secure.
The Department has proposed the following one off projects to be funded by the additional monies in 2009. Further longer term initiatives will be proposed once future funding is secure.
Sustainable Travel and Transport
As only one-off projects can be funded from this budget provision, increasing commuter bus services, as originally envisaged, cannot be progressed. The Department will investigate other options for increased bus capacity. The following projects are proposed:
| Project | Cost |
1 | Beaumont Traffic Study – Consultant support to evaluate options for improvements at Beaumont both for private and public transport in order to inform the Island Plan | £20,000 |
2 | Smart Card Ticketing – Feasibility study to assess the costs and benefits of introducing “smart cards” for bus users combined with options to integrate with other transport payments (eg taxis, parking charges) | £40,000 |
3 | Real Time information at bus stops - Electronic ‘next bus’ signs at the Airport and Harbour | £30,000 |
4 | Pedestrian safety improvements – Funding a range of relatively small schemes which will improve safety such as the provision of footpaths and pedestrian crossings | £150,000 |
5 | Eastern Cycle Route - design and construct sections of route where possible | £50,000 |
6 | Cycle stands - Provision of public cycle stands in the town area | £10,000 |
7 | Safer Routes to School schemes – Funding of one scheme to provide safer approaches to a school | £70,000 |
| Total | £370,000 |
| To be allocated | £130,000 |
All these projects/schemes were identified in the draft ITTP considered by the Council of Ministers late 2008 and now being reconsidered by the new Minister. The remaining funds, £130,000, will remain unallocated until appropriate one-off projects or schemes are identified when the approval of the Minister will be sought to allocate the funding.
Recycling
| Project | Cost |
1 | Domestic green waste operational costs – required due to temporary relocation of domestic green waste site. (Note 1) | £170,000 |
2 | Process backlog of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) - accumulated in 2008 due to funding shortfall. | £85,000 |
3 | Extra costs of recycling 2009 WEEE | £70,000 |
4 | Cardboard recycling subsidy shortfall – anticipated continuation of poor market conditions in 2009. | £60,000 |
5 | Packaging wood recycling. | £35,000 |
6 | New Recycling Exhibition Trailer | £20,000 |
7 | Parish kerbside project pump prime – if long term recycling funding is secured in 2009 | £30,000 |
| Total | £470,000 |
| To be allocated | £30,000 |
Note 1 – The proposal is to fund the temporary relocation of domestic green waste in 2009 from recycling funding. The cost of funding the reception facility in the long-term will be met from reprioritising the Department’s 2010 revenue cash limit.
These activities tie in with specific objectives of the Solid Waste Strategy.
Recommendations
The Minister is recommended to approve the proposed £840,000 of initiatives from the £1 million additional revenue funding approved for a package of Recycling and Sustainable transport initiatives The remaining allocation of £160,000 of initiatives to be presented to the Minister for further approval.
Reason (s) for Decision
The States have only approved funding for 2009. Ongoing funding is conditional upon approval by the States of the introduction of a Vehicle Emissions Duty to generate sufficient income to fund this expenditure. As the future funding is uncertain, the Department does not want to enter into long term commitments at this time.
Action Required
To approve the spending proposition for the additional £1m funding received for recycling and sustainable transport initiatives.
Written by: | Finance Director |
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Approved by: | Chief Executive Officer |
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