Recent new developments in the UK have established a new regime for Transport Planning and Practice, based upon the twin concepts of `Integration' and `Best Value', bringing a much needed stimulus to innovation in policy development, planning and funding for transport. The two concepts, which place new duties upon UK Local Government, share a number of common themes: Emphasising the needs of transport users rather than providers; focusing on the long rather than the short term; Supporting a fairer and more inclusive society; Improving transport choice and access to services; Integrating transport modes more effectively; Achieving better co-ordination of transport and other policies including health, welfare, education and regeneration; and Pursuing continuous improvement. From 1 April 2000, the duty of `Best Value' requires all local authorities in the UK to undertake regular comprehensive reviews of all their services on a five year cycle, based upon the following four principles: (a) Challenging whether and how services are provided; (b) Comparing service provision with others; (c) Consulting users and the wider community; and (d) Competition strategy to ensure value for money. The outcome of all `Best Value' Reviews must be published by the authority and will be inspected by the Audit Commission. A number of local authorities are already undertaking `Best Value' reviews of Transport Planning and Practice and the paper draws conclusions from this first round of reviews. Other related initiatives are being pursued in support of the new UK Best Value and Integrated Transport Regime, including the preparation and publishing of best practice guidance in a number of areas. One of these is in the field of Highway Maintenance where a new UK Code of Practice is to be launched in the summer of 2001. Mike Kendrick, the Project Manager for this major initiative, will use examples from the Project to illustrate the application of `Best Value' and how this is bringing new and creative approaches in releasing added value across the complete spectrum of transport policy and planning.
Samenvatting