Minutes - 13 March 2024 - NTS Delivery Board
Board Attendees
- Cllr Gail Macgregor: Elected Member, COSLA - Chair
- Fiona Hyslop MSP: Minister for Transport - Co-Chair
- Bruce Kiloh: Head of Transport Planning, SPT
- Derek Crichton: Director for Communities, Dumfries and Galloway Council, SOLACE
- Margaret Roy, ATCO Board Chair, ATCO
- Derek Crichton, Director for Communities, Dumfries and Galloway Council, SOLACE
- Ewan Wallace, Chief Officer, Aberdeenshire Council, SCOTS
- Anne Martin: Head of Transport Strategy and Co-ordination, Transport Scotland
Supporting Officials
- Robert Nicol, Chief Officer, COSLA
- Meg Robertson, Policy Officer, COSLA
- Phil Mccluskey, Head of Sustainable Transport Demand, Transport Scotland
- Alan Shirley, Head of Transport Futures, Transport Scotland
- Kirsty MacCormick, Primary Care, Scottish Government
- Jonathan Inglis, Interim Head of Transport Strategy, Transport Scotland
- Bethany Sharp, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Transport Scotland
- Thomas Meikle, Private Office, Scottish Government
Review of Actions from Previous Meeting
Action DB8-01: ‘Active Travel Transformation Project report to be shared with Board members’. This report was circulated to members following the previous Board meeting. Action closed.
Action DB8-02: ‘Details on funding model to be shared with members after December’s budget announcement’. Reports from January and February were shared with Board members. Action closed.
Developments and Achievements
20% Car Km Reduction
Transport Scotland provided an update on the 20% Car KM Reduction Route Map, confirming that the updated route map - along with the consultation analysis report, a monitoring framework and a resource pack for local authorities - will be published in due course.
Scottish Transport Statistics, which will be published later this month, are expected to show a slight drop in car use from the 2019 baseline.
Public attitudes and behaviour has not changed significantly, with the cost of living crisis cited as a key factor influencing travel choice. Transport Scotland continues to consider options for the demand management framework for 2025.
Members agreed there needs to be a collective voice from Scottish Government, operators and local authorities when considering and managing the associated communications surrounding the route map. Members added that the pace of this work should be increased, to promote the route map for wider discussion.
Fair Fares Review
Transport Scotland provided an update on the Fair Fares Review, highlighting that it reflects on the impacts of the cost of living crisis, international evidence gathering and funding that was provided through the pandemic. The Review will form part of a coordinated approach to the Future of Public Transport workstream.
Members discussed the importance of integrated ticketing in order to make the use of public transport more attractive.
Transport to Health
Scottish Government Primary Care officials and Transport Scotland provided an update on the transport to health workstream, recognising alignment with the Accessible Travel Framework and reflecting on initiatives by Regional Transport Partnerships that are helping to improve access to healthcare.
The draft Transport to Health Delivery Plan sets out 16 commitments across Scottish Government and partners to improve the experience of patients. Further engagement with NHS Boards is being developed through this workstream.
Members indicated their support and asked about the role of Community Planning Partnerships. Officials confirmed that this was being explored through health boards.
Ms Hyslop will meet with Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, later this month to discuss this workstream further.
Action DB9-01: Officials to report to Cabinet Secretary for Transport on the work of the Health and Transport Action Plan Steering group (HTAP) in the Nestrans area.
Next Steps
Derek Crichton will retire this summer and members expressed their thanks to Derek for his contributions to the Board.
The next meeting is expected to take place in summer and arrangements will be shared with members in due course.