The transport scores resulted from an annual assessment of the council’s road safety, highway maintenance and public transport schemes set out in the Local Transport Plan. Achieving a good score is crucial for securing support from government towards the cost of borrowing money for new schemes for next year.
"The council has got this result because of its own efforts to deliver what local people need. It is due to administrative focus, efficient use of money and the skills and dedication of our staff,” said Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport and the Environment, "We are pleased that the government has praised our work, but our number one priority is doing our best for local people within the limited resources that the government grants us.”
The news comes hot on the heels of a two star award and a 'good' rating following a rigorous review of all its transport services by an independent inspector. This put the county council's service into the top flight of councils, nationally.
Councillor Lock continued: "In the last year the way we have developed our transport and travel plans has stepped up a gear and we are providing even better services – despite the disappointing grant settlement for the whole council yet again.
"We have been working on our second Local Transport Plan, which runs from 2006 – 2011 and have consulted with special interest groups, young people and transport providers to make sure that our priorities will meet local needs and can be achieved. We want to open this consultation up to all local people early in 2005 and I hope that people will keep an eye on our website so that they too can have their say."
Last year, more than 400 schemes were put in place including road crossings, maintenance, traffic calming and cycling measures. These schemes have to meet local needs such as better roads and more travel choice, as well as government-set targets including less accidents and increased bus use.
Councillor Lock added that the Local Transport Plan achievement was particularly outstanding because the county continues to suffer from low government grants although the government argues that there has been an overall national increase in council funding.
East Sussex County Council has received the lowest grant increase of any county council in the country for next year. This follows the council receiving the second lowest increase for the current year and the lowest two years ago.
As a matter of policy, the county council is committed to keeping the council tax rise as low as possible, while ensuring maximum efficiency and benefit to the people of East Sussex.
Notes to editors
The Local Transport Plan is a five year plan which acts as a bidding document to gain the cash to develop new schemes.
The money that is awarded based on the travel plan is called borrowing potential and is the total amount the county council could borrow for transport schemes.
The next Local Transport Plan runs from 2006–2011 and we are hoping to consult on it in February 2005
The Audit Commission carried out a stringent two-week inspection of all the council’s transport services and awarded the council two transport stars and a ‘good’ rating. No other council has scored higher.
Reference:
04/430/TH
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