REGIONAL FUNDING ADVICE 2 What’s it all about?

www.gosw.gov.uk • 0117 900 1845 • [email protected]

REGIONAL FUNDING ADVICE 2

What’s it all about?

Tyler Wakeford

16 November 2008



Introduction• The second round of RFA was launched by

Government in July 2008

• Views sought from the ‘Region’ on inter-related and inter- dependent public spending decisions up to 2018/19, including elements of transport, economic development, housing, regeneration and skills

• Submitted to Regional Minister, Ben Bradshaw, by end February 2009


What am I about to sit through?

• The First Regional Funding Advice Exercise.

• RFA2 Transport Requirements and Criteria

• Handling, Process and Format

• Existing schemes from RFA1

• Challenges and Opportunities


Success of RFA1• DfT praised RFA1 SW advice as one of the best

• Strong emphasis on public transport schemes and supporting growth at Strategic Significant Cities and Towns

• Broad consensus on programme

• Regional Infrastructure Fund now established and national example of good practice


Greater Bristol Bus Network (now under construction)


RFA2 Transport Requirements (1)

• As in the first RFA exercise, regions are asked to advise the Government on making decisions on £1.014 billion:– local transport major schemes (including

maintenance schemes) where direct DfT grant is sought by the local authority; and

– Highways Agency investment in major schemes valued at over £5m on roads of regional significance (ie not M4 & M5).


RFA2 Transport Requirements (2)

• Under the RFA2 guidance, regions are also asked to advise the Government on making decisions on £1.778 billion:– local integrated transport and maintenance

block funding (post 2010 – 11) – proposals as to the relative size and distribution of these budgets (including the proportions of funding to be allocated between blocks and major schemes).


Criteria for Advice

• Evidence based

• Realistic

• Value for Money

• Consistent

• Reflect national priorities

• Reflect the priorities in Multi Area Agreements


Handling, Process and Format

• Regions to determine their own approach

• Submitted to Regional Minister, Ben Bradshaw, by end Feb

• Format: evidence base, programmes of investment - 35 pages limit!

• Scenario planning expected +/- 10%


Input and Ownership‘…advice will be more credible if it is based on a wide

consensus and reflects the views of the broadest range of stakeholders, including the business community, social, environmental and economic partners, and the third sector.’ Taken from ‘RFA : Guidance on Preparing

Advice’

• development of component priorities

• overall advice

Hugely important that this is a joined-up, strategic response


‘Yes, there is a Consensus?’


Challenges for RFA2

• Over subscribed – What are the key priorities

• Need to comprise to reach consensus

• Avoid over optimistic assumptions about timescales and costs

• Spending the allocation for major transport schemes in the initial years!!!


Treatment of RFA1 Schemes (1)

• Not expect regions to de-prioritise schemes with full or conditional approval. These include:– Poole Bridge

– Isles of Scilly Sea Link

• Not expect regions to de-prioritise schemes with programme entry unless significant changes in cost, scope or timetable. These include:– Bath Transportation Package

– Weymouth Relief Road

– Camborne/Pool/Redruth Transport Package

– Taunton Third Way and Inner Distributor Road


Treatment of RFA1 Schemes (2)

Schemes not yet approved but with a business case under consideration or due to be delivered to DfT by end 2008 – account should be taken of extent of preparatory work undertaken. These include:

– Truro Transport Package

– South Devon Link Road/Kingskerswell Bypass

– East of Exeter Phase 2

– Westbury Bypass


The prize if the Region gets it right

• the region will further enhance its reputation for innovation and integrated thinking

• the region will have clarity about and commitment to its priorities for investment

• it will provide a real regional voice to Whitehall/Government

• it will make national funding work harder for the region

= optimized outcomes for the South West

REGIONAL FUNDING ADVICE 2 What’s it all about?

Documents

Transcript of REGIONAL FUNDING ADVICE 2 What’s it all about?