§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the original side road orders for the Leicester A46/47 link road scheme have been superseded by temporary closure side road orders; and what factors underlay the length of time taken between the posting of the side orders and commencement of work. [38957]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe A46/47 link road is a local road for which Leicester City Council are the local highway authority. Following a public inquiry in 1995 the Side Roads Orders were confirmed in August 1997. Before implementing the authority of a Side Roads Order a local highway authority must ensure that there already exists, or they have provided, a reasonably convenient alternative to highways being stopped up by an authority of that Order. This often entails the making of temporary closure orders under the Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Temporary closure orders under this Act may also be required to enable some construction works to be carried out. I understand that Leicester City Council have recently advertised their intention for some temporary closures to enable construction works. Under the Traffic Regulation Act highway authorities must give not less than 7 days' notice of their intention to make such temporary closures, which includes dates of commencement and duration of the closure.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the supplementary credit approval awarded to Leicester City Council for the construction of the A46/47 link road scheme has been used(a) effectively and (b) within the time period allowed. [38958]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWhen my Department issues supplementary credit approvals (SCA) for a scheme such as the A46/47 link road the certificate that formalises the arrangement makes it clear that the resources are to be used only on the named scheme. It is for the Audit Commission to determine in due course whether an authority has made proper use of all the resources it receives under the Transport Policies and Programme system. The continuation of funding to a participating authority under that system is dependent on my Department' s receipt of satisfactory annual audit certificates. SCA are issued for a specific financial year. Local authorities know that if they are unable to use the resources fully in that year they must surrender the unused portion for reallocation. It is a function of the audit procedure to verify that authorities have fulfilled this requirement.