Purpose

The report confirms the outcome
of a bid to Transport for London (TfL) known as the LIP Delivery
Plan.  The plan illustrated a commitment
to making Croydon a borough where sustainable and reliable travel,
safer streets and healthier lifestyles were the norm. This included
the implementation of plans to support the regeneration of the town
centre, support for businesses, reduced carbon emissions and
improved transport options for residents.
 
The plan was aligned with the
Mayor’s Business Plan and the Mayor of London’s
Transport Strategy together with other Council initiatives
including the Town Centre Regeneration Strategy.
 

Content

For the reasons set out in the
report and its appendices, Corporate Director of Sustainable
Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery (in consultation
with the Executive Mayor and the Cabinet Member for Streets &
Environment) AGREED to:
 
2.1       Note the Comparison
between Croydon’s funding bid to TfL and the proposed funding
award by Transport for London, Appendix A. 
 
2.2       Agree the amended
2025/26 to 2027/28 (three year) Local Implementation Plan Delivery
Plan including programmes and schemes as attached as Appendix B, to
be submitted to Transport for London to grant Local Implementation
Plan (LIP) funding.
 
2.3       Note that the
implementation of the various individual projects which comprise
the Delivery Plan will need to be progressed in accordance with the
parameters which govern the applicable functions including all
legal and constitutional requirements, statutory consultation and
consideration of the outcome of those consultations, as
applicable.  As these proposals are
further developed and sought to be implemented, compliance with the
relevant decision making process for the specific projects will be
required.
 

Reasons for the decision

The amended LIP Delivery Plan
is recommended for approval to provide the programme of investment
in transport improvements which supports the Council’s
priorities. This includes the Mayor of Croydon’s Business
Plan (particularly Outcome 2: Croydon is a place of opportunity for
business, earning and learning, and Outcome 4: Croydon is a
cleaner, safer, and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to
call home). 
 
Other plans and strategies
supported by the LIP Delivery Plan include the Town Centre Vision,
the Air Quality Action Plan and the Carbon Neutral Action
Plan.
 
The LIP Delivery Plan helps
deliver the transport infrastructure to support the growth of the
borough as outlined in the Local Plan and the accompanying
Infrastructure Delivery Plan. The National Planning Policy
Framework (NPPF)requires local planning authorities (LPAs) to work
with other authorities and providers to assess the quality and
capacity of infrastructure (including transport infrastructure) and
its ability to meet forecast demands.
 
The LIP Delivery Plan will
allow significant external funding to be utilised for the benefit
of Croydon’s residents and businesses.
 

Alternative options considered

ALTERNATIVE OPTION
CONSIDERED
 
Not accepting the full amount
of Local Implementation Plan funding offered by Transport for
London.
 
This would prohibit the
utilisation of circa £2.2- £3m of external grant
funding per year to assist delivery of objectives important to
Croydon. This is not the recommended option as it would not realise
an opportunity for proactive regeneration and investment for the
borough. 
 
Lack of delivery on Transport
for London’s objectives could impact the Council’s
well-established partnership working with the Greater London
Authority and Transport for London which is a key component of the
Council’s 2025 Growth Plan.
 
Accepting a smaller allocation
of Local Implementation Plan Funding
 
As with Option 2, this would
prohibit the utilisation of a proportion of the circa £2.2-
£3m of external grant funding available each year to assist
delivery of objectives important to Croydon. This is not the
recommended option as it would not realise an opportunity for
maximising proactive regeneration and investment for the
borough. 
 
This option would also have a
similar risk to Option 2 in that Croydon may not be performing the
statutory duties as identified in the (GLA Act ) and could also
negatively impact the partnership working needed for the
Council’s 2025 Growth Plan.
 
Increased Borrowing to make up
the shortfall of external grant funding
 
Whilst this would increase the
opportunity for proactive regeneration and investment in the
borough this option is not recommended as it would increase the
Council’s borrowing and would be in conflict with the
Councill’s Stabilisation Plan proposals.