Date: 12 November 2002 Item 6 Report by: The Hampshire Director of Environment, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Executive Director of Development and Sustainability Written by: Peter Murnaghan, tel 01962 846920 Purpose and Summary: The purpose of this report is to make Members aware of the proposal to seek an integrated management approach to strategic decisions on transport in South Hampshire and to address the relationship of this Panel with the emerging political reporting structure. RECOMMENDATION: That the Panel endorses the intention to work closely with the proposed Joint Strategic Transport Forum on matters of strategic transport planning for South Hampshire. 1. Background 1.1 At the meeting of the Panel on 25 June it was agreed that a further special meeting would be held in Winchester on 5 September to discuss and receive a presentation on a new approach to integrated management of transport in South Hampshire. 1.2 This followed an agreement by the Executive Members for Environment of Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth Councils that it would be beneficial to consider a new method of working to tackle transport improvements in the wider area. This sub-regional approach to strategic transport planning was recognised and commended in the draft Regional Transport Strategy. 1.3 It is clear that the delivery of packages of measures over the wider area can be constrained by local authority administrative boundaries. Examples include the planning of strategic Park and Ride arrangements and the planning of a mass transit network. This applies particularly in South Hampshire, where there are considerable benefits in taking a wider view on transport investment and network development. Initiatives currently under way are the joint procurement of SHRT-1 between Fareham and Portsmouth, the allied investment on other aspects of SHRT on the public transport priority corridor on the A3 between Waterlooville and Portsmouth and the new rail station at Chandlers Ford, with its through train service between Romsey, Southampton and Totton. In addition, a multi-operator integrated ticket is being investigated as an early demonstration of the joined-up wider SHRT concept. Whilst individual schemes from the respective Local Transport Plans are able to be implemented separately, the integrated schemes and those arising from the Multi Modal Study for the South Coast need to be considered in an holistic manner. 1.4 It is proposed that a Joint Strategic Transport Forum be established, to concentrate on management of the transport network and its development within the coordinated transport and land-use planning context. This would involve district council interests, together with those of the transport undertakings. It is further proposed that, in due course, a Strategic Board may be established to take investment decisions and coordinate the goals of the constituent organisations, including the Hampshire Economic Partnership, the Strategic Rail Authority, the Highways Authority and the transport operators. 2. Relationship with the Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Panel 2.1 Whilst there is a real benefit in engaging with the transport providers, to work together in a more coordinated and cohesive manner to achieve corporate objectives and targets through this new mechanism, it is important to create an appropriate relationship with the Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Panel (JAP) in terms of land-use and transport planning. The provision of good transport links can influence the emerging Spatial Strategies and be a key means of their successful delivery. This has already been recognised by the close working of the task team on Transport and the Implications of Information Communication Technology Change. 2.2 JAP will continue to lead on formulating the new Structure Plan's spatial strategy, including post-2011 transport requirements. It is clear that JAP can have a pivotal role to play in providing a coordination focus, whilst avoiding the need to get involved in the details of implementation or operational management. It is to be expected that the work of the Joint Strategic Transport Forum will inform the land-use debate and be guided by the Spatial Strategy. The Forum will not be a decision making body, but will make recommendations to the Executive Members of the strategic authorities. Detailed matters of constitution and Terms of Reference have yet to be addressed for the new Forum, but the linkage with JAP will be clearly recognised. 3. Next Steps 3.1 As the proposed Joint Strategic Transport Forum takes shape, it will be important to establish a close link with this Panel, so that the two gatherings are best able to concentrate on their respective areas of influence, whilst ensuring optimum levels of coordination and communication. 3.2 Ultimately Members may wish to consider the need for setting up coordinating mechanisms. An alternative way forward, advocated by the City Planning Officer of Portsmouth, envisages taking the strategic elements of both transport and land-use planning and combining the Executive decision making processes into a single body. | 
