HC Deb 16 November 1992 vol 214 cc13-4W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the terms of reference for the national annual consultative meetings held jointly with the local authority associations; and if he will make a statement as to progress made on the issues raised at the 1992 meeting.

8. Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 13 November 1992]: There are no specific terms of reference, but the meeting is held each year following the series of regional annual consultative committee meetings. The national annual consultative meeting is seen as a valuable forum for discussion between the Government and the local authority associations (LAAs) on road and traffic matters of mutual interest. The LAAs are free to raise any relevant issues at the meeting.

The following points remain to be dealt with following the meeting in July:

Bridge assessment and strengthening The local authority associations (LAAs) requested a meeting at official level. Some matters have been resolved by correspondence. If necessary a meeting to deal with any remaining points will be arranged after the announcement of the TSG settlement in December.

Legislation to curb pavement parking I wrote to the LAAs, as promised, on 12 August setting out the current position.

Balance of funding between trunk roads and motorways, local roads and public transport

Increase in local capital allocation not directly tied to specific schemes ("headroom")

Capitalisation of highway maintenance I wrote to the LAAs on 25 September setting out the current position on these three topics. The balance of spending between trunk roads and motorways, local roads and public transport is constantly under review. Allocations of "headroom" for 1993–94 will be announced as part of the Transport Supplementary Grant settlement in December. The views of the LAAs will be taken into account. Further work on the capitalisation of highway maintenance is being undertaken in conjunction with the LAAs by a sub-committee of the Standing Committee on Highway Maintenance.

Schemes supported by developers The matter is still under consideration.

EC Green paper on Transport and the Environment Officials had a useful discussion with the LAAs in the light of this green paper.

Voluntary property acquisition The issue is still under consideration. The LAAs have proposed an official level meeting. It will be arranged after the announcement of the TSG settlement in December.