Councillor Page / Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

This report informs the Committee of a £4.75m grant award from the Department of Transport for Thames Valley Berkshire Live Labs project, a technological trial to help futureproof roads and transport, and seeks approval to spend the grant in accordance with the project objectives.

An updated version of this report was published on 4 June 2019.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report informing the Committee of a £4.75m grant award from the Department of Transport (DfT) through the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) for Thames Valley Berkshire Live Labs, a two-year technological trial to help futureproof roads and transport.

The report explained that the project objectives were to deploy data science and Internet of Things in Reading and across Berkshire to tackle issues impacting productivity and health including congestion, air quality, road surface quality and potholes, energy consumption and carbon emissions.  The project aimed to harness the value of data to demonstrate how to make a measurable difference to the health of the region’s population and the operational efficiency of the region’s road network, whilst reducing CO2 emissions and improving the region’s productivity.  A mobilisation plan had been delivered to the ADEPT/DfT programme board on 10 May 2019.  The project would be delivered through the main project partner O2, with the Council as grant holder and the client.

The report explained that the grant award had been accepted and half the funding had already been received, with the remaining funding expected later this year.  There was no match funding requirement from the Council.  The report sought approval to spend the grant in accordance with the project objectives and the grant conditions, and authorisation to enter into contracts as required to deliver the project objectives.

Resolved –

(1)     That scheme and spend approval be given for the Thames Valley Berkshire Live Labs projecttotalling £4.75m of grant funding to deliver the objectives of the two-year technological trial;

(2)     That the Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, the Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services and the Assistant Director of Finance be authorised to enter into contracts as required to deliver the project objectives;

(3)     That further reports on progress of each project theme and the potential outcomes be reported to the relevant Committees.