Regional Transport Partnerships
The role of Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) is to strengthen the planning and delivery of regional transport developments.
The first task of each RTP was to prepare a regional transport strategy. This is supported by a delivery plan where RTPs set out when and how projects and proposals would be delivered.
Some RTPs are also responsible for the delivery of transport services. In particular Strathclyde Partnership for Transport owns and operates the Glasgow subway and major bus stations across the west of Scotland.
The seven RTPs are:
- Shetland Transport Partnership (ZetTrans)
- Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS)
- North-East of Scotland Transport Partnership (NESTRANS)
- Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN)
- South-East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SESTRAN)
- Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
- South-West of Scotland Transport Partnership (Swestrans)
What is a Regional Transport Partnership?
Regional transport partnerships (RTPs) were established on 1 December 2005 to strengthen the planning and delivery of regional transport so that it better serves the needs of people and businesses.
The first task of each RTP was to prepare a regional transport strategy. This is supported by a delivery plan where RTPs set out when and how projects and proposals would be delivered.
RTPs bring together local authorities and other key regional stakeholders to take a strategic approach to transport in each region of Scotland.
RTPs are independent bodies corporate defined in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005. That legislation bases them on the local government model but they are not local authorities and they are not NDPBs. RTPs are like joint boards, bringing councils together to perform local government functions collectively and strategically over a larger area.
All local authorities in Scotland are members of regional transport partnerships. Councillors make up around two-thirds of the membership. There can be up to a maximum of 5 councillor members from each constituent council but no more than 20 councillor members in total. The RTPs can also appoint Advisers/Observers. Around a third of members of RTPs are non-councillor members who fulfil a role similar to that of Non-Executive Directors.
Transport Scotland works to ensure close liaison with the RTPs and local authorities to ensure that transport policy in Scotland is properly co-ordinated.
Working Group Report
The Scottish Government, Regional Transport Partnerships and COSLA produced a joint Working Group Report in August 2015.
Related legislation
Legislation relevant to Regional Transport Partnerships:
- Transport (Scotland) Act 2005
- The Regional Transport Partnerships (Establishment, Constitution and Membership)(Scotland) Order 2005
- The Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax) Order 2006
- The Transfer of Functions from the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive to the West of Scotland Transport Partnership Order 2006
- The Transfer of Property, Rights and Liabilities from the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive to the West of Scotland Transport Partnership Order 2006
- The Strathclyde Passenger Transport Area (Variation) Order 2006
- The Transfer of Functions to the Shetland Transport Partnership Order 2006
- The Transfer of Functions to the South-West of Scotland Transport Partnership Order 2006
- The Regional Transport Strategies (Health Boards) (Scotland) Order 2006
Scottish Government publications
- Consultation paper on Proposals for a new approach to transport in Scotland, September 2003
- Consultation paper on Regional transport partnerships, October 2004
- Consultation and Analysis Report on Proposals for Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships
- Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies, March 2006
- Guidance on Membership, December 2005
RTP contacts
| RTP | Chief Officer and Address | Telephone | Constituent Council(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shetland | Michael Craigie, c/o Shetland Islands Council 6 North Ness Business Park Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0LZ |
01595 744868 | Shetland Islands |
| Highlands and Islands | Ranald Robertson HITRANS, Rear Section, Second Floor, 7 Ardross Terrace, Inverness, IV3 5NQ |
01667 460464 | Argyll & Bute* Eilean Siar** Highland Moray Orkney Islands |
| North-East | Rab Dickson, NESTRANS, 27-29 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AA. |
01224 346680 | Aberdeen City Aberdeenshire |
| Tayside and Central | Mark Speed, TACTRAN, Bordeaux House, 31 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5EN. |
01738 475 771 | Angus Dundee City Perth and Kinross Stirling |
| South-East | Brian Butler, SESTRAN 3D Bridge Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ |
0131 524 5150 | Borders Clackmannanshire East Lothian Edinburgh City Falkirk Fife Midlothian West Lothian |
| Strathclyde | Gordon Maclennan SPT, 131 St Vincent Street Glasgow G2 5JF |
0141 333 3100 | Argyll & Bute* East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Renfrewshire Glasgow City Inverclyde North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Renfrewshire South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire West Dunbartonshire |
| South-West | Douglas Kirkpatrick Swestrans, Militia House, English Street Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries, DG1 2HR |
01387 260 136 | Dumfries and Galloway |
* Argyll and Bute is divided between Highlands and Islands (all except Helensburgh and Lomond) and Strathclyde (Helensburgh and Lomond only)
** Western Isles