Option 30 Report
7 Conclusions
The Option 30 work has provided the opportunity to carry out a strategic research study to identify the optimum arrangements for the management and maintenance of roads in Scotland for Local Authorities and the Scottish Government to consider. The generic options identified have been subjected to a qualitative assessment using professional judgement against objectives and assessment criteria, both of which are outcome-focussed. It has also been subject to a Peer Review by representatives from SCOTS, COSLA, SOLACE, Transport Scotland and the Improvement Service. The assessment approach takes account of the work of the Christie Commission on the future delivery of public services and has been endorsed by COSLA leaders.
1. Delivery of roads services in each of the 33 roads authorities varies with a wide range of management arrangements and roads services being delivered as part of an integrated front line service model as opposed to a standalone one. Current arrangements are unlikely to be sustainable and indeed some local authorities are already implementing or seeking to implement change from existing delivery models. As such, there appear to be wider opportunities to improve the delivery of road services over the short, medium and long term.
2. The various approaches to financial reporting across roads authorities should be standardised, where possible. This should be linked to any work developing more robust Key Performance Indicators and benchmarking in the wider public services. In addition, there should be further research work undertaken on international best practice.
3. A range of options have been reviewed for reconfiguration of the delivery of roads services that could potentially generate economies of scale and fuller utilisation of existing capacity and skills. These have been classified into two broad categories:
a. Shared Services (Option C) and sub-options range from specific maintenance works through to maximum sharing of a complete roads service. These approaches could involve local and/or trunk road authorities. The qualitative assessment found that all seven sub-options can be taken forward in the short to medium term. If the anticipated benefits of shared services are not sufficiently realised over the short to medium term, then exploration of structural change should be accelerated
b. Structural Change (Option B) and sub-options incorporate reform of the current structure of road authorities to form a new roads authority or authorities. The qualitative assessment carried out identified that six sub-options met the objectives and initial screening assessment criteria. The implementation of any such structural change is likely to be in the medium to long term. Structural change should only be considered if the anticipated benefits of shared services are not sufficiently realised. In any event, any structural change is likely to require detailed assessment in the shorter term and consideration of any necessary convergence of contractual commitments.
4. The standardisation of a variety of strategies could be developed pan Scotland in the short term and progressed as a pilot.
Building on the key findings of the report, further work is needed to take forward key action points to develop robust baselines and benchmarks for change. It is recognised that this is out of scope of the level of capacity available to all roads authorities, therefore it is proposed this work is progressed by.
Creating a central resource, overseen by Scottish Ministers and COSLA, to take forward the design and delivery of a package of shared service initiatives. This team should lead the programme and provide support to roads authorities to develop robust baselines and benchmarks for change to ensure a rigorous social, economic or financial appraisal of alternative options in the short to medium term. This will provide an appraisal framework for shared service options and for any future options for structural reform.
The particular options pursued should be appropriate to the varying operating contexts of different road authorities. Nonetheless, the programme should engage all authorities. This resource should also be responsible for ensuring best practice and experience is shared across Scotland.