Regional strategies - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 303

cross-boundary basis on behalf of these councils and seek funding from the National
Assembly.
Guidance prepared by the Welsh Assembly asks that RTPs set out a vision for the
medium and longer term to integrate it with the horizons of the national Spatial Plan
and Transport Strategy as well as a detailed five-year programme beginning in 2008/09
(WAG 2007a). As in England, bids for national funding of new major schemes (over
£5m) may be included, supported by evidence from project appraisal.
In the absence of formal arrangements for land use/transport integration at the
regional level the Guidance goes to some length to promote collaborative working:
Each spatial plan group has embarked on a series of projects that seek to establish
the strategic agenda for economic, social and environmental development at a
sub-regional level in order to meet the area visions. This work will identify the
role and function of places and set the basis for policy and investment in a whole
range of sectors ….
It is therefore essential that the Consortia work closely with each spatial plan
group in developing this strategic agenda in each area. Consortia should not
regard the WSP and RTPs as separate strategies and the transport content
of both ought to originate from the same basis of thinking as far as possible.
The spatial priorities need to inform the strategic transport proposals at regional
and local levels, but at the same time be informed by what is realistic in transport
terms. The Welsh Assembly Government, in funding key regional transport
schemes, will look for evidence that this iteration has taken place in practice,
assessing schemes for 'fit' with the regional strategic agenda set out in the Spatial
Plan.
(ibid. paras 2.19 and 2.20; emphasis in original)
The RTP is envisaged to be a 'dynamic framework' for transport planning and 'not
just a reference map'. This will be reflected in four continuing activities:
• monitoring programmes
• annual progress reporting
• possible responsibility for developing Welsh Assembly Government initiatives in
their area (e.g. prioritisation of trunk road improvements alongside local authority
interventions, similar to the transport element of the English RFA process)
• implementation management.
To fulfil these tasks the Guidance rather pointedly notes that the Consortia will
need to develop the capability to take on greater responsibilities involving spending,
employment and project management:
These changes will mean that more clarity and robustness may be needed
to govern the cooperative relationships between Local Authorities and their
respective Consortia. This will require consideration of whether the respective
constitutions are appropriate or in need of strengthening …
The Assembly Government will support the Consortia so that they continue
to develop to become an effective vehicle for implementing the RTPs. It has
however made clear that it will consider establishing a Joint Transport Authority