SPT is focused on delivering real benefits for the travelling public in your local authority, and across the west of Scotland.

Working in partnership with councils, community planning partners, operators and other stakeholders, we are keen to play our part in delivering National Outcomes, and making a firm contribution to your local authority's Single Outcome Agreement (SOA).

This draft report is a high-level summary of our transport plans for your council area over coming years, and is intended to assist your local authority in preparing their draft SOA.

It contains information on SPT's commitments to your area, projects and initiatives for 2008/09, and information on how we plan to monitor progress towards National Outcomes.

We look forward to further discussion and development as your council prepares the finalised SOA.

We are preparing the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) 'Delivery Plan' for the period 2008/09-2012/13.

This Delivery Plan, developed in partnership with our member councils, will detail the resources SPT and partners will target towards regional transport projects and initiatives over the first five years of the RTS.

The Delivery Plan will be fully aligned to achieving National Outcomes.

SPT and local authorities have a track record of partnership working, and we look forward to continuing this as we work towards National Outcomes.

Ron Culley
Chief Executive, SPT

We will prepare and publish an annual monitoring report setting out our progress on the delivery of the Regional Transport Strategy including progress on transport indicators.

SPT's Regional Transport Strategy has a timeframe of 15 years and the Transport (Scotland ) Act, 2005 requires SPT to keep its Regional Transport Strategy under review and makes provision for it to be modified or a new one drawn up. Scottish Government Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies suggests that the strategy is refreshed every four years. Our intention is to do this in 2012.

The Scottish Government has approved SPT's statutory Regional Transport Strategy.

The strategy document - entitled A Catalyst for Change (pdf format, 5.4Mb, opens a new window) - was submitted to the Scottish Government in April 2008 and on 15 June, 2008 Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson wrote to SPT Chair Alistair Watson to notify SPT that the RTS had received approval.

The preparation of the RTS involved close partnership working with our member councils and extensive stakeholder and public consultation.

The Regional Transport Strategy Post Adoption Statement (Strategic Environmental Assessment) is now being prepared.

The development of the RTS has been supported by full documentation. This includes:

• The RTS Draft submitted to Scottish Ministers, March 2007;
• Equality Impact Assessment, March 2007;
• Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance Report April 2007;
• Modelling report, March 2007;
• Strategic Environmental Assessment Main Report and Executive Summary, March 2007;
• Information for an Appropriate Assessment Report, June 2007.

These are available on request to rts@spt.co.uk.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 placed a statutory duty on the seven Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) in Scotland to produce a Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) for their area.

The RTS influences all of the future plans and activities of the organisation and informs future national and local transport strategies.

The act also set out various specific requirements for Regional Transport Strategies in terms of their content and the procedures for their production, publication and implementation.

It placed duties on local authorities and designated health boards to perform certain of their functions, so far as possible, consistently with the RTSs.

We have six Action Plans which have Partnership approval:

• Smarter Choices;
• Access to Healthcare;
• Walking and Cycling;
• Park and Ride;
• Bus;
• Parking.
  

There are three other Action Plans in the pipeline which will shortly go through a final consultation and Partnership approval process:

• Access to Education;
• Access to Rural Areas;
• Ports, Ferries and Airports.

These reports set out how SPT is supporting each member council's Single Outcome Agreement.

Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) are the new framework agreements between local councils and the Scottish Government to ensure everyone is working to the same national Strategic Objectives.

These objectives are to achieve a Scotland that is wealthier and fairer, healthier, safer and stronger, smarter and greener.

The basis for the Transport Outcome Reports is the Regional Transport Strategy.

Local authorities throughout Scotland are required to prepare Local Transport Strategies (LTSs) under the provisions of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001. The main purpose of an LTS, is to set out a local authority's strategy and proposals for transport, over a three-year time period, but also with a longer term vision.

Local Transport Strategies provide:

• A clear statement of transport policy in each council area;
• An opportunity to raise local issues and to state strategic transport priorities for the authority;
• A link between transport planning, development plans and other policies, including the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS);
• A detailed implementation plan for the policies and interventions identified in the Strategy;
• A basis for evidence at public inquiries.

SPT has worked in partnership with its member councils as their respective LTSs were developed and will continue to work with them to help align the LTS and the RTS as each is rolled out.

Links to the LTSs of the 12 member councils which make up Strathclyde Partnership for Transport are attached for information. Should you require specific information on a council's LTS please make direct contact with them directly.

Local Transport Strategy Links:

Below are links to agreed Local Transport Strategies and those LTSs which are still in progress.

Argyll and Bute Council - Moving Forward (opens a new window).

Glasgow City Council - Keeping Glasgow Moving (opens a new window).

East Ayrshire Council (Final draft) (opens a new window).

East Dunbartonshire Council (opens a new window).

East Renfrewshire Council (opens a new window).

Inverclyde Council (Draft under review) (opens a new window).

Renfrewshire Council (opens a new window).

South Ayrshire Council (opens a new window).

South Lanarkshire Council (opens a new window).

West Dunbartonshire Council (opens a new window).