The £26,000 saving in 2006/07 relates to routine highway maintenance schemes. Officers have reassured me that current capital funded programmes can cover these revenue savings without significant detriment, given that the Best Value Performance Indicators which cover the condition of our highways improved last year.

The £30,000 saving in 2006/7 on safe routes to schools is an amendment to the existing business plan. Growth was included in the budget for 2005/06 and further growth was planned in 2006/07 to increase the number of safe routes to schools that we could implement each year. As our present road safety initiatives are achieving the casualty reduction targets set, a further acceleration of the programme is not necessary.

Likewise, the £20,000 saving in 2006/07 on road safety revenue schemes is also an amendment to previously agreed growth. Growth for road safety schemes was included in the budget for 2005/06 and further growth was planned for 2006/07. Slough is on track for reducing road casualties and this proposal should not have a significant impact on the achievement of Government issued casualty reduction targets for 2010.