Contact: Bob Lisney, ext 6647 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report presents the actions to be taken to progress implementation of the first three joint projects to emerge from the review, and also suggests that the best way forward to ensure the results of the cross-cutting review are implemented county-wide is to include them in the formal procedure for the development of the second Local Transport Plan (LTP).

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1 This report supports Aim 2 (Stewardship of the environment) of the Corporate Strategy by tackling congestion and increasing the amount of cycling; Aim 4 (Building strong and safe communities) by increasing the number of school and workplace travel plans and reducing the number of road casualties; and Aim 5 (Improving services) by increasing passenger transport usage and improving public transport accessibility to services such as hospitals and schools.

3. Background

3.1 On 22 January 2004 this Committee endorsed the concept of addressing the outcome of the Cross-Cutting Review of Passenger Transport within the developing Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) process and the opportunities offered via the LTP process. Members requested this follow up report to be further briefed on the management of the function and its resources.

4. A Best Value Service

4.1 The previous reports highlighted how the three main departments that procure or provide passenger transport services, Environment, Education and Social Services, have conducted best value reviews individually before this cross-cutting review. The cross-cutting review had two outcomes:

(i) the delivery of 12 projects aimed at improving tailored customer service; and

(ii) the need to set the provision of service in relation to the public's need for mobility and accessibility in relation to non-car travel.

4.2 With regard to the outcome of (i) it was agreed that the individual outcomes could be used, in full or part, in conjunction with local needs in a more `joined-up' way, eg the provision of Cango services with revised safer travel to school routes.

4.3 Cost-effectiveness was being delivered in accordance with current policies, national legislation and client specifications. At a very local level there will always be cases where some spare capacity in vehicle utilisation is considered to be wasteful, but the review highlighted how demand is not consistent over the day and services have to be provided to meet need. The spreading of demand over a wider timespan is one of the cross-cutting proposals if it can be achieved by influencing customers to change behaviour.

4.4 Most of the review's focus in recent months has been on moving the agenda forward to pursue the benefits of new learning from the cross-cutting pilot projects. Three geographical locations have been identified as being suitable for immediate focus: Havant, Andover and Basingstoke. All three areas relate to Members' interests and priorities.

4.5 Each area will have a different approach to management and resourcing. In Havant, it is proposed that the Area Committee accepts a lead role and dedicated resources will be available to consider a package of measures for improvement.

4.6 In Andover, where there is a Cabinet priority to consider provision of services for young people, resources can be used in adopting innovative ways of considering travel modes. Finally, the Basingstoke East Development Plan provides the opportunity to investigate multi-travel solutions at the planning stage. The Environment Department will lead this project and involve all departments in determining actions.

4.7 Experience gained in these projects can assist the case that can then be developed for the second LTP. Outcomes are difficult to speculate on but experience from the individual pilots shows progress on modal shifts and greater utilisation of passenger transport, so there is potential for greater effect by implementing a wide range of complementary measures.

5. The Way Forward

5.1 The opportunity now presents itself to mainstream this agenda in the way in which the County Council manages its strategic service. In other recent months cross-cutting requests have emerged from the County and District Community Strategy process. Members have also determined `transport' as a priority area to tackle and a new approach to developing a second LTP

has led to the suggestion that the best way forward to tackle this cross-cutting societal issue is to ensure that it is at the core of policies and executive management plans.

6. The Second Local Transport Plan

6.1 The County Council is currently preparing its second LTP, which will set out a transport strategy for the period 2006/07 to 2010/11. This provides an opportunity to produce a more cross-cutting transport strategy, which meets wider corporate objective as well as specific transport objectives.

6.2 It is likely that the Government will require local authorities to submit their LTPs by 31 July 2005. The second LTPs are expected to be focussed more closely on the delivery of transport improvements rather than cross-cutting initiatives. The new guidance will probably place most emphasis on measures to:

(i) tackle congestion*;

(ii) increase passenger transport usage*;

(iii) improve public transport accessibility to services such as hospitals and schools*;

(iv) reduce the number of road casualties*, particularly children;

(v) improve air quality;

(vi) increase the amount of cycling*; and

(vii) increase the number of school and workplace travel plans*.

* all areas covered by the cross-cutting review.

6.3 Whilst all of these are issues are undoubtedly important, an LTP which focussed exclusively on them would not be very cross-cutting, and like the cross-cutting review a focus on them quickly leads to broadening the agenda to support wider sustainability aims. Fortunately, the County Council's status as a CPA Excellent Authority allows some flexibility within the Government guidance on LTPs, and the opportunity exists to treat the emerging Government requirements as a minimum so that transport measures can be integrated with wider corporate objectives. This means treating the LTP as a "whole of council" document and not just as a transport strategy.

6.4 To achieve this, the second LTP will be built around a core vision for Hampshire which looks at wider quality of life issues. This vision will include:

(i) the objectives from the county's Community Strategy, and of each district's Community Strategy;

(ii) the County Council's corporate objectives;

(iii) themes emerging from cross-cutting work and Members' priorities;

(iv) the service plan objectives from all of parts of the County Council, including the non-transport objectives of the Environment, Education and Social Services Departments, etc;

(v) objectives of key stakeholders, where these are compatible, including business representatives, community groups, environmental organisations, etc; and

(vi) emerging regional policies, where relevant, including the Regional Spatial Strategy, Regional Economic Strategy and Regional Transport Strategy.

6.5 The LTP will be developed through a network of cross-cutting virtual teams, with each team responsible for a particular area of policy (eg school travel, buses, freight, safety) or a geographical area. To reduce workload, these teams could conduct a large amount of their business electronically rather than by meetings. Full use would be made of existing organisations and structures, such as Hampshire Economic Partnership, LSPs and the newly revised Area Transport Strategy Panels. This approach will better enable resource priorities to be allocated to need and the outcome of the Best Value Review to be implemented.

7. Conclusion

7.1 As a result of the opportunity to better manage the cross-cutting issue of mobility, accessibility and travel as a truly living and corporate agenda, it is recommended that:

(i) the cross-cutting work on the Best Value Review is reflected in the Second LTP, including the resource requirements, in order to ensure delivery; and

(ii) the three project areas, Havant, Basingstoke and Andover, are supported for immediate action.

Recommendation

That the inclusion of the outcomes of the Best Value report with the Second Local Transport Plan be agreed.

8771/RPL