3.6 Established Policy Directives

Objectives and policy directives that are already established must also be considered during the Objective Setting process and are used to describe the set of existing objectives of which practitioners should take cognisance of during the STAG study.

By definition,  established policy directives will have been set by a third party or, if set by the body undertaking the study, are independent of the study. Established policy directives may be national, regional or local and may be more or less precise.

Transport Planning Objectives will typically be local in scope but it is quite possible for the geographic compass of Transport Planning Objectives to be greater than that of certain  established policy directives relevant to a given study.

Established policy directives can quite reasonably be seen as constraints upon the options being put forward.  A clear conflict between an option and, say, established land-use planning policy in the area is likely to jeopardise potential for both funding and implementation.  A positive contribution towards the achievement of other relevant objectives will be to the option's credit.

Practitioners should take cognisance of the Government's Purpose and the National Transport Strategy (NTS). The associated strategic outcomes and indicators including the Government's National Outcomes, outlined in this Technical Database, should be recognised during the Objective Setting process and should contribute towards the appraisal of options.  

It should be noted that the National Transport Strategy (NTS), published in December 2006 sets out the Scottish Government's long-term vision for transport in Scotland together with some key objectives which the practitioner should take cognisance of when assessing established policy directives.  The NTS focuses on three strategic outcomes which will set the context for transport policy making for the next twenty years and provide the guiding principles at national, regional and local level when developing strategy and prioritising resources:

• Improve journey times and connections, to tackle congestion and the lack of integration and connections in transport which impact on our high level objectives for economic growth, social inclusion, integration and safety;
• Reduce emissions, to tackle the issues of climate change, air quality and health improvement which impact on our high level objective for protecting the environment and improving health; and
• Improve quality, accessibility and affordability, to give people a choice of public transport, where availability means better quality transport services, value for money and a realistic alternative to the car.

Progress on these outcomes will be measured against a series of indicators including:

• Improved journey times and connections;
• Congestion - through the existing measure of time lost on trunk roads due to congestion (or other causes) and if, appropriate, through the development of new measures (see box on traffic growth);
• Number of international routes from Scottish airports;
• ScotRail passenger kilometres;
• Rail punctuality;
• Reduced emissions;
• CO₂ emissions from the transport sector;
• Tonnes of CO₂ saved;
• Average distance walked and cycled per person per year;
• Improved quality, accessibility and affordability;
• Passenger numbers on buses, through lifeline airports and on lifeline ferries;
• Satisfaction of bus and rail passengers;
• Walking time to nearest bus stop and frequency of bus service at nearest bus stop (for urban and rural areas); and
• Access to key services.

The delivery of the Government's Purpose is supported by 15 National Outcomes, which describe in more detail what the government wants to achieve over a ten year period. These are:

1.  We live in a Scotland that is the most attractive place for doing business in Europe;
2. We realise our full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities for our people;
3. We are better educated, more skilled and more successful, renowned for our research and innovation;
4. Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens;
5. Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed;
6. We live longer, healthier lives;
7. We have tackled the significant inequalities in Scottish society;
8. We have improved the life chances for children, young people and families at risk;
9. We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger;
10. We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need;
11. We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others;
12. We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations;
13. We take pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity;
14. We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production; and
15. Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people's needs.

Progress on these outcomes will be measured through 45 indicators and target as set in the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007. 

(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/13092240/0)

These should be recognised during the Objective Setting process and should contribute towards Part 1 Appraisal of options.