Confirmation of the final £236 million lump sum for the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station is now due in mid-January.

It means contracts can be signed and work on the transformation of Birmingham's rail station can begin next year.

Birmingham presented its "final" funding submission for the Gateway scheme on October 5. Government sources suggested only "the dotting of 'i's and crossing of 't's" is needed.

But backers remain cautious after a string of delays have seen confirmation twice put off since summer.

The Department for Transport has set a December 10 deadline for the city council to outline its risk management process - who foots the bill if costs over-run.

Once in place the Treasury has been cleared to wave through a funding package for formal confirmation in mid-January. West Midlands Minister Liam Byrne said there was no political motive to the delay, just the need to ensure everything is in place.

He said: "It is better to ensure everything is in place now. It is important we stick together until the final fence is cleared. Mike Whitby and the New Street Steering Committee have done a very good job. Barring anything unexpected this is going to happen."

The New Street Steering Committee, led by the council with rail industry and regional development agency members, is growing restless at extra Government demands.

A spokesman for council leader Whitby said: "We have been asked for more information, which we will provide by December 10."

But he said they will not be celebrating until they are sure the deal has been done. The £550 million New Street Gateway scheme is dependent on £330 million of Government money, of which £236 million has yet to be confirmed.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly was expected to confirm the funding at the end of the summer, but delayed and asked the

Steering Group for more details of other funding options. The Steering Group complied but was hit with a further request for risk management details by December 10. nTraffic managers from across the country have gathered in Birmingham for a conference on how technology can cut congestion.

Officials from local councils and Highways Agency offices visited the National Traffic Control Centre at nearby Quinton to see how journey times could be cut without new roads.

The visit was part of the Urban Traffic Management and Control conference, yesterday and today at Birmingham Council House.

Delegates were shown how the control centre manages traffic and gets up-to-the-minute information to the driving public.

Staff at the centre provide motorists with information on England's motorway and major A roads.

They collect information from sources including 3,750 sensors in the road surface and more than 1,000 traffic cameras, as well as police and contractors.

This information is given to the media as well as motorists using electronic signs, the Highways Agency website and auto-mated telephone helpline, information points at motorway service areas and the Highways Agency's new digital radio station, Traffic Radio.

Steve Crosthwaite, Head of the National Traffic Control Centre said: "This is a great opportunity for traffic professionals from local authorities to gain a better understanding of the work of the National Traffic Control Centre and to develop relationships to help us get the latest traffic information to motorists."

A team at the National Traffic Control Centre is dedicated to helping firms relying on motorways and major roads.

They provide access to up to the minute traffic information, even showing the average speed between individual motorway junctions, using the same computer system used by radio station travel presenters across the country.

Theme parks, car manufacturers, shopping centres and tourist destinations have all benefited from their advice.