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REGIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGIES DRAFT GUIDANCE - OVERVIEW

Section 1: Introduction and purpose of the guidance

1. The Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 ¹ places a duty on the Scottish Ministers to create regional transport partnerships ( RTPs) covering the whole of Scotland. Ministers propose to create 7 RTPs and have laid an order ² establishing RTPs before Parliament for approval. A map of the proposed partnerships is attached as Annex A.

2. A summary of the background leading up to the decision to create regional transport partnerships and the legislative provisions on regional transport strategies contained within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 is at Annex B and a full version of the relevant extracts from the Act are at Annex C ³.

3. The Act places a statutory duty on the regional transport partnerships to prepare regional transport strategies ( RTS). This will be one of the first and most important tasks of each partnership and the Act requires RTPs to have regard to statutory guidance given to them for this purpose by the Scottish Ministers. This document contains that guidance.

4. Section 5 of the Act sets out requirements for the content of regional transport strategies and section 6 of the procedures for consultation, approval and publication. Section 7 covers review, modification and renewal, section 8 places duties on local authorities and designated health boards to perform certain of their functions, as far as possible, consistently with the transport strategies and
section 9 enables the production of joint transport strategies.

5. The aim of this guidance is to help RTPs to draw up regional transport strategies that enjoy broad public support. The aim of each regional transport strategy is to improve transport in the region for those who use it. RTPs will consult with councils, other interested parties and the public at large in developing their strategies. RTPs will work with each other, particularly where the transport needs of one region are met by infrastructure or services located or originating in a neighbouring region.

6. The development and implementation of the strategy will require the RTP to focus on some issues at the expense of others. Effective and objective prioritisation will be central to the success of the RTPs.

7. This guidance should assist RTPs in particular by:

• explaining and expanding on the statutory requirements for an RTS laid down in the legislation;

• providing direction for the form and content of strategies, in line with Section 5(3) of the Act;

• providing outline timetables and processes for the completion of a strategy;

• explaining the links with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance ( STAG) and Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA);

• outlining requirements for implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and review;

• providing a route-map for securing approval of the RTS by the Scottish Ministers;

• giving statutory guidance on the form and content of requests for the conferring of functions.

Provided the guidance has been followed, an RTP should be confident that its strategy can be approved by the Scottish Ministers.

8. This draft guidance has been steered by the Transport Bill Reference Group and informed by a small Working Group of practitioners set up by it to assist in the drafting ⁴. It will be further developed through a public consultation exercise during late 2005.

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