A report was received from the Managing Director.  The Mayor introduced the report and explained there would be a new emphasis on transport which was one of his key themes as Mayor.

The Managing Director explained that the key priorities from the Mayor’s manifesto would be linked into the Council’s Corporate Plan.  A number of the initiatives were already reflected in capital and revenue commitments in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and also in the corporate plan, for example, the clean-up and improved access to the River Colne.  The council were also working to support West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust through the development of the Riverwell scheme and multi-storey car park.  The new initiatives would be the transport infrastructure enhancements; such as the hop on and hop off bus and the bike hire scheme.  Officers would develop the proposals through Leadership Team and then take financial implications, risk and governance decisions through Cabinet and Budget Panel.  Any additional budget may require Full Council approval.  If there was a need to enhance or change the Corporate Plan before work commenced on the next draft in September, then this would also go through Council.

Councillor Sharpe commented that emphasis had been on strengthening the local economy, which the council had a good record on.  Refocusing on transport was now important particularly in light of the Metropolitan Line Extension not going ahead.  Under the government’s new methodology there was a large amount of housing to be provided but the support for infrastructure and transport were minimal.  This was a void that the council needed to step into.  The council was already working with other local authorities on a strategic plan about creating new homes, however, the government had also indicated that councils needed to work together in order to access support for transport initiatives.

The Mayor emphasised the need for a coherent transport strategy to avoid a piecemeal approach of different transport schemes.

RESOLVED:

            That Cabinet:

1.         Notes that the new Mayoral priorities and initiatives will be developed further to assess delivery options, costs and how best to integrate them into the Corporate Plan to 2020 and beyond.

2.         Notes that the development of the detailed projects will be reported through Cabinet with any financial and resource implications identified and subsequently a revised corporate plan will be presented to Council.