Issue details

To seek approval to terminate the partnership agreement with Hampshire County Council for the management and implementation of traffic regulation orders (TROs) within the Borough.

Since March 2009, Fareham Borough Council has undertaken traffic management responsibilities on behalf of Hampshire County Council through a formal agency agreement under the Traffic Management Act.

These responsibilities involve the implementation of traffic regulation orders (TROs), which aim to improve road safety, minimise congestion and promote the efficient use of the highway network within Fareham.

Approximately twelve TROs are implemented each year and the costs are mainly funded by Hampshire County Council. Fareham Borough Council currently receives £88,700 a year from the County Council, towards employment costs, line marking, legal fees and advertising costs. Taking into account all other costs associated with delivering this service, (not including internal recharges), the Borough Council currently subsidises the cost of delivering this County Council service by an additional £6,000 per annum. A breakdown of the figures can be found at Appendix A.

As part of a wide ranging efficiency plan, Hampshire County Council has proposed significant changes to the amount of funding it will provide to Fareham Borough Council to deliver this County Council service in the future. This will reduce the County Council funding element by up to 60%, which could result in Fareham Borough Council’s subsidy increasing to approximately £59,200 per annum by 2018/19.

Given the scale of the potential reduction in County Council funding and the implications on Fareham Borough Council’s budget, it is proposed to terminate the agency agreement with Hampshire County Council.