Other Statutory Plans and Strategies

Bus Strategy

The Transport Act 2000 places certain statutory obligations on local authorities including that to prepare and include a Bus Strategy in their LTP.  Under Section 110 of the Act, the Bus Strategy must contain the authority’s general policies as to how best to carry out its functions,…in order to secure that:

a)    "Bus services meet such of the transport requirements of persons within the authority’s area as the authority considers should be met by such services;

b)    Bus services are provided to the standards to which the authority considers that they should be provided; and

c)    Additional facilities and services are provided, as the authority consider should be provided.”

Warwickshire’s first LTP contained a Bus Strategy. This has been reviewed and updated for the second LTP and is contained in Annex 2.

Bus Information Strategy

The preparation of a Bus Information Strategy is a requirement for all transport authorities in England and Wales under sections 139 -141 of the Transport Act 2000. The Strategy should set out clearly what local bus information should be available and the way in which it should be provided.

Local bus information means:

  • Information about routes and timetabling of local bus services to, from and within the authority's area;
  • Information about fares for journeys on such local bus services;
  • Such other information about facilities for disabled persons, travel concessions, connections with other public passenger transport services or other matters of value to the public as the local authority considers appropriate in relation to its area.

Warwickshire’s first LTP contained a Bus Information Strategy. This has been reviewed and updated for the second LTP and is contained in Annex 2.

Warwickshire's Countryside Access and Rights of Way Improvement Plan

Introduction

Section 60 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires all local highway authorities to prepare a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP).  In the longer term, the ROWIP will be incorporated into local transport planning and a strong link established between the ROWIP and LTP.  The Government has recognised that full integration is unlikely to be in place until 2010 onwards, however the County Council is submitting its first ROWIP in conjunction with this LTP as a first stage to the integration of these two Plans.

This section of the LTP sets out a short report outlining:

  • The progress that has been made in preparing the Rights of Way Improvement Plan;
  • The objectives for improving the rights of way network;
  • A statement of policy; and
  • Improvements and proposals linked to the delivery of transport objectives and Shared Priorities for Transport.

We feel that the term “Rights of Way Improvement Plan” does not reflect the scope of the plan, and have therefore called the plan a Countryside Access and Rights of Way Improvement Plan (CAROWIP). This incorporates both the rights of way network, which includes paths in urban areas, and access to other parts of the countryside, which are not served by rights of way. This includes country parks, greenways and access land.

Progress in preparing the Rights of Way Improvement Plan 

Targets within the CAROWIP are also reflected in the various LTP strategies. This has inevitably led to some duplication, but provides the clearest way of indicating actions and priorities, and is a substantial step towards full integration of the LTP and the CAROWIP.

The Draft CAROWIP was open to public consultation between 22 September and 22 December 2005. Comments received have been considered, and the final CAROWIP is available as a sister document to the LTP.

Objectives for improving the rights of way network

In the past, Warwickshire has had few policies governing rights of way work. Nevertheless, considerable progress has been made towards the ongoing target of making rights of way easy to use for members of the public. The preparation of the CAROWIP offers an opportunity to present in a more formal way the working practices that have guided our work over previous years, as well as introducing new ways of working in support of CAROWIP targets.

We have a number of duties relating to public rights of way, as well as many powers that can be used at our discretion. It is the prioritisation of the duties combined with the exercise of the powers that give us the flexibility to seek out improvements both to the coverage of the network and its condition. We have used the CAROWIP process to increase the transparency of our processes and develop consensus on our approach and priorities.

In addition to the rights of way network, we own and manage several country parks and greenways throughout Warwickshire. These are mentioned within the CAROWIP as they provide a valuable stepping-stone between the urban area and the wider countryside. Other access opportunities are also mentioned, such as canal towpaths and Open Access land.

Intention of Warwickshire County Council

It is the intention of Warwickshire County Council to:

Assert and protect the rights of the public in the use and enjoyment of rights of way within the County

Although this is our primary duty, and we strive towards a fully recorded and easy to use network, we recognise that resources are limited. As such, we are aiming to target those resources where they will have the most impact, whilst still remaining responsive to the day-to-day needs of the public.

Work towards a fully legally defined network

The Definitive Map and Statement was last issued in 1998, and there have been almost 200 legal changes to the network since that time. By continuing with our programme to record the information digitally, we will reduce the time needed in future to transcribe the routes from one base map to another and free up more time for other work, as well as reducing the likelihood of errors arising from future issues of the Definitive Map and Statement. We will be recording, for the first time, principles that will guide our handling of creation, diversion and extinguishment order cases, as well as reinforcing our existing priority programme for dealing with evidential orders.

Make the network more accessible to greater numbers of people whilst maintaining the rural, untouched nature of the network

Targeted improvements to the physical aspects of the network, such as replacing stiles with gates and improving signing and surfacing, will enable a greater number of people to enjoy the routes. Promotion of routes using appropriate material will enable us to reach out to a wider cross section of the community.

Work towards a more connected and relevant network

The network we have today in Warwickshire originates from the historic network used by people without access to cars. In general, people were prepared to travel further on foot, and routes were linear and tended to take the most direct route to link villages and hamlets. Today the users of the network are more likely to want circular routes, and pleasant scenery, plus other amenities such as parking, views and refreshments. In addition, tarmac roads which link the rights of way network are often denied to non-motorised users because the roads are too busy or the traffic is too fast. By managing existing verges and seeking additional links as an alternative to the tarmac road, as well as looking at the connectivity of the rights of way network, we can hope to fill in the missing links and to help the network serve the needs of modern users.

Promote the rights of way network

The network is a much under-used resource. Although Warwickshire is a popular tourist destination, visitors rarely look outside the honey pot areas such as Shakespeare’s Stratford and Warwick Castle. By providing the right sort of information, and organising events such as the Warwickshire Walking Festival, we can raise the profile of Warwickshire as a County worth exploring. There is also a role in providing information to the public about the wider countryside and responsible use of the network, and educating both children and adults about the rural environment and the benefits of exercise.

Encourage the use of the rights of way network by walkers and cyclists as an alternative to the car

There are obvious health benefits to be gained from exercise, and encouraging people to walk and cycle in a recreation setting, whether it be along rights of way or in our country parks, can both lead to a healthier lifestyle and provide a safe location to teach children (and adults) that cycling and walking can be fun. This in turn can build people’s confidence and encourage them to consider walking and cycling in their daily lives, rather than using the car. By promoting and publicising rights of way in the urban fringe we can encourage people to explore the countryside on their doorstep rather than automatically driving somewhere else.

In all of these areas we seek to work with, rather than against, land managers and wherever possible we will look to partnership working to provide effective solutions.

The CAROWIP has therefore been divided into several key themes that reflect the above objectives. These are: 

  • Accessibility and Inclusion;
  • Education;
  • Health;
  • Legal Record;
  • Paths on the Ground;
  • Network and Network Connectivity;
  • Strategic Access Developments and Promotion; and
  • Tourism.

Improvements and proposals linked to the delivery of transport objectives and Shared Priorities for Transport

The Action Plans within the CAROWIP and the LTP Walking and Cycling Strategies have been cross-referenced. These strategies can be found in Annex 2.

Warwickshire's Transport Asset Management Plan

Introduction

Warwickshire County Council has recognised the value of asset management for over 30 years. The Authority was one of the first to introduce condition assessments for all of its carriageways and footways in the 1970’s. Whilst these assessment processes have changed over the years, this approach has ensured that structural maintenance funds have been targeted to those roads most in need of treatment.

In 1993, the County Council developed its first countywide maintenance policy. This was subsequently reviewed and published in April 2002, following a best value review undertaken in 2001.  In line with the current highway maintenance policy, the County Council publishes an Annual Maintenance Plan. This sets out:

  • The way in which the transport network is currently being maintained;
  • The planned maintenance work in the County for the year ahead; and
  • An assessment of where maintenance work will be required in future years.

N.B. Public rights of way and unsealed Unclassified County Roads are covered by separate arrangements.

In line with the requirements of the LTP guidance, and as part of our desire for continuous improvement, the County Council is now in the process of developing a Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP) for Warwickshire. As part of this process, and to inform the development of the Final LTP, each of our key maintenance policy areas have been reviewed to identify where improvements can be made to ensure that the money which we allocate to highway maintenance is spent in the most cost effective way.

The County Council recognise that ensuring that the condition and safety of the transport network is front line service, which Warwickshire residents and visitors to the area expect.

Our Bridge Maintenance, Highway Maintenance, Network Management Duty and Intelligent Transport Systems Strategies can be found in Annex 2 of the LTP. These set out how we continue to maintain and manage the core elements of the transport asset within Warwickshire, and how this approach has evolved over time to ensure that we achieve efficiency and value for money in all our maintenance work.

The Value of Producing a TAMP

The County Council recognises the value of producing a TAMP as a more wide-ranging, holistic approach to addressing issues beyond the traditionally core areas of road and bridge maintenance. Although the County Council has a current set of processes for identifying where and why we spend resources to maintain the transport asset, there is a range of issues that it would be beneficial for us to address in developing a formal TAMP.

Table 2.9 provides details of the types of asset that we consider form part of the overall transport asset of the County. Our approach to managing all of these assets will be included in the TAMP.

Through the Midlands Service Improvement Group (structural maintenance team) we have recently joined with other authorities within the West Midlands to commission consultants to help us develop our TAMP. This has been particularly useful in helping to identify:

  • The timescale required for developing a quality TAMP (typically between and 2 and 3 years);
  • The resource needs to support the preparation of the TAMP (between 2-2,500 person hours) and to maintain and review it in the future; and
  • Lessons to be learnt from other authorities’ asset management plans.

In terms of learning from others, it is clear that a number of asset management plans that have been produced to date have focussed more on providing a factual background rather than giving a rationale for why money is being spent. It is our view that a large glossy document taking many hours to produce is likely to be seen as a static document that will not be reviewed for several years, whereas a more practical document will be more useful to us in informing how the Authority can utilise its resources more efficiently and cost effectively. The Annual Highway Maintenance plan that the County Council produce provides a large amount of the factual background information to inform the development of the TAMP.

The County Council has noted the work of the County Surveyors Society and the Local Authority Technical Advisors Group in producing a framework for preparing a TAMP. The County Council will be using this advice as part of the process, albeit within a ‘Warwickshire’ context. It is recognised that a good quality TAMP will assist the Authority in understanding the value and liability of the existing asset base, and allow decisions to be made that do not compromise its value for future generations.

Table 9 Components of the transport asset

Components of the Transport Asset in Warwickshire

Asset

Records relating to the existence and extent of the public highway

Carriageways and footways

Kerbs

Footpaths and public rights of way

On and off-road  cycle facilities

Structures, including Bridges

Street Lighting

Illuminated and Non-Illuminated Signs

Traffic Signals

Pedestrian Crossings

Drainage, including channels, gullies, pipes, ditches and culverts

Highway verges

Trees that grow within the limits of the public highway

Road markings

Traffic calming features

Refuges and Bollards

Traffic Regulation Orders

Safety fences

Other fences and hedges

Winter Maintenance assets

Intelligent Transport Systems

Public Transport Interchanges

Park and Ride sites

Street furniture

Bus Shelters, and bus shelter facilities covered within the countywide Bus Shelter Agreement

Motorcycle Parking

Progress in producing a Transport Asset Management Plan

Work on the preparation of the Warwickshire TAMP began during 2004. A project group has been established which meets on a regular basis to develop and oversee the development and preparation of the TAMP. A proposed timetable for producing a first draft of the TAMP is set out below. It is recognised that the Plan will play a key role in supporting the forthcoming requirement for Whole Government Accounting (WGA), and work is in place to collect the base data needed for this by the end of 2006/07. The preparation of the TAMP will allow greater scrutiny to be made of the value for money of maintenance activities against other local transport spending within the Authority. It will also inform spending reviews and the efficiency savings needed under Gershon during the LTP period.

Table 10 Programme

Activity

Timescale

Complete review of current approach to asset management for selected core activities (structural maintenance, street lighting, bridge maintenance and traffic signals/VMS)

Ongoing, to be completed by end of March 2006

Undertake gap analysis based on current funding levels for core activities

To be completed by end of June 2006

Identify changes to the approach to asset management for these core activities to address the gap analysis

To be completed by end of September 2006

Prepare outline TAMP document based around consultants recommended structure

To be ready by end of September 2006

Incorporate proposed asset management approach to core activities into TAMP document, and review

To be completed by end of December 2006

Roll-out model approach for core activities to other assets (as identified in the table above)

To be completed by end of April 2007

Complete first draft TAMP document

To be completed by end of July 2007

Undertake consultation with stakeholders on the draft TAMP

July 2007 – September 2007

Commence work on producing a Functional Route Hierarchy. This will be used to inform the development of the TAMP

To begin in July 2007

Analyse consultation results and make changes to the draft TAMP document

October – November 2007

Complete the final TAMP document

To be completed by end of January 2008

Review TAMP and report in the LTP Annual Progress Report

Annually

Whole-Life Maintenance Costing

Highway Maintenance

Warwickshire has always strived to ensure that the highways asset is maintained in the most cost effective way, and the County Council follow the UK Code of Practice for highway maintenance (‘Well-maintained Roads - Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management’). A number of improvements were introduced following the 2001 Best Value review of highway maintenance. Using the condition and surfacing records built up over the past 20 years, a substantial amount of activity was undertaken to identify where maintenance work was required and the most cost effective treatments to return the assets to their desired condition. Maintenance work required on carriageways was identified, assessed and costed 3-4 years ago, and a five year rolling structural maintenance programme was introduced (this will shortly be extended to a 10-year programme on the advice of our consultants). A provisional programme of footway work has been drawn up, although the full assessment of footways is still in progress. Carriageway surface dressing and footway slurry sealing work has been increased to ensure the life of these assets are extended where this is cost effective. Regular condition assessment of the network ensures that future maintenance schemes are identified and prioritised on a regular basis so that work is continually targeted to where it is most needed. The success of this approach has been shown by the recent improvements in our Best Value Performance Indicators.

The work to identify necessary future programmes of work is being extended to include all highway assets including street lighting, drainage and signs.

Bridge Maintenance

A Code of Practice for Bridge Maintenance was launched in September 2005. The County Council was actively involved in the development of this Code of Practice through the CSS Bridges Group. The Code includes recommendations for a long term Structures Asset Management Plan, which includes consideration of whole life maintenance. The Code details specific actions to be taken by Highway Authorities in meeting these recommendations, which the County Council will adopt. The County Council is currently identifying how the asset management regime for highway structures should be developed and intends to have an initial plan in place during 2006.

 

Integrated Transport Schemes

For small schemes funded through the Integrated Transport block funding (e.g. pedestrian crossings), it is inappropriate to undertake a detailed assessment of the whole-life maintenance cost of the capital asset. However, for many other schemes, the County Council enters into agreements with others to ensure that the long-term maintenance liabilities (and their associated risks) are managed efficiently. Examples of where this has been undertaken during the first LTP period include:

  • The provision of capital grants to Parish Councils for new bus shelters, on the agreement that they procure and maintain the facility for a fixed period of time;
  • Entering into agreements with bus shelter providers (e.g. Adshel) as part of the implementation of Quality Bus Corridors (QBC);
  • Entering into agreements with bus operators as part of the implementation of Quality Bus Initiatives (QBI); and,
  • Providing enhancements to rail station facilities (e.g. interchange improvements, provision of Real Time Information screens) which are then handed over to the Station Facility Operator (SFO) for maintenance as part of their standard leasing arrangements with Network Rail.

Whole-life maintenance costing issues have recently been considered as part of the design for the Park and Ride site at Bishopton in Stratford-upon-Avon. The choice of materials for the large paved area of the facility was a key consideration in balancing the capital cost of the scheme against its long-term maintenance implications.

Major Schemes

The SPARK Major Scheme submitted with the Provisional LTP in 2005 was assessed over a 40-year period for its on-going maintenance implications. Any other Major Scheme bids submitted during the LTP period will be assessed using the same methodology.

To illustrate the approach that the County Council takes to integrating planning, structural maintenance schemes are often combined with known capital projects so as to minimise disruption to the public, and achieve cost efficiencies. Such an opportunity has been taken recently during the construction of the A429 Barford Bypass where programmed structural maintenance work in the area has been combined with the main highway construction contract.

Partnership Working

Partnership working within the County Council is vital to the development of the TAMP, and to reviewing ways of working to deliver best value and efficiency savings. Work is ongoing to share this message more widely across the Authority, including the integration of the TAMP with the County Council's existing approach to asset management.

As noted above, the County Council is working with the Midlands Service Improvement Group to develop a consistent approach to the preparation of Transport Asset Management Plans across the region. The County Council is also in discussion with the Highways Agency in relation to their approach to asset management, and opportunities for both organisations to make efficiency savings through joint procurement processes.

The preparation of the TAMP will be undertaken in consultation with the nine adjoining authorities to Warwickshire (Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Coventry, Solihull and Birmingham). There are a number of examples of important corridors between an adjoining authority and Warwickshire where a more co-ordinated approach to maintenance would be of benefit, both operationally and in resource terms.

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