REPORT TO EXECUTIVE
Date : 21 APRIL 2004
Title : INTEGRATED TRAVEL PLANS
(WORKPLACE TRAVEL PLAN)
REPORT OF
THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TRANSPORT
IMPLEMENTATION DATE
: 4 May 2004
SUMMARY :
1. To agree the proposals for car park demand management and to support the development of an integrated workplace travel plan by the Council with other employers where appropriate.
BACKGROUND
2. The current unprecedented interest in transport arises largely as a result of growing concern over the environmental implications of road transport and particularly the increasing dependency on the private car. Across the UK there is increasing and widespread concern about the problems resulting from traffic congestion, pollution and inadequate public transport.
3. Over the last 30 years, car ownership rates in the UK have grown significantly and this in turn has led to a dramatic increase in the amount of traffic on the roads. The Island has also experienced a substantial increase in traffic and there are currently some 65,000 cars and vans registered on the Island. As car ownership rates have increased and people have become more mobile, their lifestyles and travel patterns have become increasingly car-dependent. Over the same period, public transport has been in steady decline and bus travel in particular has been badly affected by increased car usage, traffic congestion and higher fares resulting from reduced patronage.
4. Car ownership levels on the Island are predicted to continue to rise and congestion, compounded at times by tourist traffic, will inevitably get worse unless something is done to arrest the rate of car usage. Part of the solution to this problem will require the implementation of “Workplace Travel Plans”.
5. Workplace Travel Plans seek to reduce car usage for travel to work by providing a range of alternative transport options, including public transport, car sharing, cycling, walking, flexible and home working opportunities. All Workplace Travel Plans need to be properly supported by demand management strategies in the form of car parking controls and sustainable financial commitments.
6. Analysis of relevant data reveals that 70% of the Island’s peak hour traffic flows are made up of travel to/from work journeys. Recent traffic data also reveals that only 3.9% of people travel to work on the bus, whilst almost 17% walk to work. The potential to improve modal shift and reduce car usage through Workplace Travel Plans is therefore considerable and the Council must, in accordance with Government requirements, take a lead in developing such initiatives.
7. It is clear from the predicted growth in traffic congestion that the Council has an important role in developing a pragmatic and resourced Travel Plan which recognises the link to the development of integrated transport. Part of that approach involves a focus on parking “demand management” so that spaces, which are valuable to the success of businesses in town centres, are better managed. The ownership of car parks by the Council means that it is better able to balance availability in unison with its on-street parking to encourage and support the use of public transport. This is why the Council’s own Workplace Travel Plan can be more appropriately called an ‘Integrated Travel Plan’.
8. It is clear the development of the Integrated Travel Plan needs to be resourced if it is to be successful and so it is proposed later in this report that any new income raised should, within reason, be hypothecated (ring fenced) to encourage increased travel by public transport. This could include the negotiation of new or extended services with existing public transport operators where this with other employers can give employees an alternative to using their car to get to work.
9. There is a growing recognition that traffic levels cannot be allowed to continue to grow at the current rate. The Local Transport Plan (LTP), Community Plan, Unitary Development Plan (UDP), Local Agenda 21 Strategy, Health Improvement Plan and Rural Transport Action Plan are all working together to provide an integrated transport choice and address the broadest transport issues, including social exclusion, health, environment and the economy.
10. The Council clearly has a lead role to play in reducing the rate of traffic growth and maximising the available capacity of the Island’s road network for all users. A range of targets relating to managing traffic growth and increasing public transport patronage are set out in the LTP; future levels of funding from Government for transport will be dependent on achieving these LTP targets.
11. A considerable amount of work has already been undertaken to develop the Council’s Travel Plan. A working group was established involving UNISON, Elected Members and relevant Officers. This group started to discuss the issues and opportunities before the decision was made to pass the subject over to the Ecological Footprint Working Party. This group has met only once to discuss the issues and no meetings have been held since March 2003.
12. Two surveys have been undertaken to establish current travel patterns and identify those people who would be prepared to switch to travel by cycle, foot, public transport and car share. The results of these surveys carried out in April 2000 and February 2002 showed some positive support from staff including the fact that 20% of car drivers would consider car sharing, 23.8% of car drivers would be prepared to leave their cars at home if not required for work purposes and nearly 30% would use public transport if it was of better quality or cheaper. The results of this survey were reproduced in the 2001 APR and are attached as an appendix to this report.
13. Informal consultations with representatives of Unison have been ongoing for over 4 months with a view to gaining constructive comments about the package of proposals. This has been useful in providing additional measures to allow for equitable implementation arrangements which recognise affordability issues as well as a longer period to phase in the harmonisation of charges. It is fair to say that Unison has made strong and consistent representations which highlight that this will be a sensitive issue for its members. It has also requested that the payment for permits should be delayed pending investment in alternative public transport services and facilities to encourage cycling and walking to work.
14. If the Executive agrees in broad terms the proposals outlined in this report, the detailed arrangements will be the subject of further consultation with Unions before implementation.
15. The potential cost of any scheme will depend on the type of initiatives agreed and negotiated. It is intended that all of these costs should be met from ring-fenced income and should be kept under review by the Portfolio Holders for Resources and Transport.
16. The local authority has a discretion to manage land it owns and controls for the purposes of providing car parking facilities as it sees fit. Where management of these facilities is under the environmental, social and economic well-being powers in part 1 Local Government Act 2000, it must be undertaken with regard to the community strategy.
17. The process of implementing this decision will include the making of a car parking order (currently being advertised and will appear in the May – August edition of the Forward Plan). Few, if any, contracts of employment contain express terms about the provision of free parking as a contractual entitlement. No employee has yet to assert that they have an implied contract term relating to parking entitlement. If such contractual entitlements are asserted, then contracts of employment may have to be varied.
18. A considerable amount of work and consultation has now been carried out to enable a set of proposals to be prepared to enable a trial for this important initiative to proceed. Once approved by the Executive, these proposals need to be the subject of further consultations with staff and Unison prior to implementation in whole or in part.
19. This comprehensive package of alternative parking demand management is fully in line with the Council’s integrated transport policies and is sympathetic to the need to harmonise current custom and practice with the costs of commuter parking generally.
20. The full package of proposals has the potential to raise in the order of an additional £60,000 - £100,000 depending upon the take-up of permits and income from additional short-stay parking spaces. This will provide a ring-fenced source of income, which could be used to negotiate and develop public transport services in conjunction with other employers.
21. There is a risk that should the Council not implement a Workplace Travel Plan as outlined in the Local Transport Plan, the allocations of funding to support other initiatives including basic road maintenance could be put in jeopardy. Other public sector employers, notably the NHS Trust, are facing up to the need to plan transport movements more efficiently and that parking demand management is an effective tool in this approach. Consequently, the Council together with other large employers could play a significant role in developing alternative public transport services at an affordable price. This is a significant performance indicator, which the Council needs to address.
22. Consultations about the details of these proposals with staff and Unison will need to be carried out as soon as possible so that any necessary changes can be considered before implementation of any revisions to the Parking Places Order.
23. RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Executive authorise officers in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Resources and Transport to:- (a) Adopt a workplace travel plan for the Isle of Wight Council following further, formal, consultations with staff and appropriate trade unions about the package of proposals outlined in this report and that these should be concluded as soon as possible (b) The workplace travel plan is to include the introduction of charging for staff parking permits, to include discounts for multiple car users (c) Additional income as a result of these changes to be ring fenced for the improvement of facilities and public transport services as outlined in the report (d) Further discussions to be held with other employers and public transport providers to improve or extend existing services for workforce travel (e) A further report be considered by the Executive on conclusion of the consultations |
24. Local Transport Plan 2001-2006, LTP Annual Progress Reports, 2001, 2002, 2003. Local Agenda 21 Strategy, Community Plan – Island Futures. Unitary Development Plan 1996-2011. Paper presented to Ecological Footprint Working Parking 18th March 2003 and minutes arising.
25. Appendix A illustrates the type of content of Workplace Travel Plans in place elsewhere.
Appendix B sets out the results from the second staff questionnaire.
Steve Matthews – Head of Engineering Services (01983) 823702
stephen.matthews:@iow.gov.uk
|
S MATTHEWS Head of Engineering Services |
E FOX Portfolio Holder for Transport |