Home > Local Transport Plans > Provisional LTP July 2005 (version for comments) > Strategy Development

The Local Government Context

<p id=“task_141_ID_1”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> The Metropolitan Authorities recognise the importance of a corporate approach in helping to deliver broader policy aspirations.<span style=“mso-spacerun: yes”>&nbsp;</span> The Leaders of the seven Metropolitan Councils and the Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) have met regularly, specifically to review transportation strategy for the area in the context of corporate priorities. </p>

<p id=“task_141_ID_2”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> The Chief Executives of the Councils and the Director-General of the Passenger Transport Executive (Centro) are actively involved in the development of our LTP2 and how it affects their Authorities.<span style=“mso-spacerun: yes”>&nbsp;</span> They have set up a Transport Group to focus on relevant issues and ensure that the LTP2 reflects and supports corporate priorities. </p> <p class=“MsoNormal” id=“task_141_ID_3”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> Strategic decisions relating to the LTP and its implementation are taken by a Joint Planning &amp; Transportation Sub-Committee of cabinet members from each Council and the PTA.<span style=“mso-spacerun: yes”>&nbsp;</span> This Joint Sub-Committee oversees preparation of the LTP and commends it for adoption to each of the Authorities. </p> <p class=“MsoNormal” id=“task_141_ID_4”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> This Joint Sub-Committee is supported by the Chief Engineers and Planning Officers Group (CEPOG), consisting of&nbsp;the relevant engineering, planning and transportation chief officers.&nbsp; They meet regularly and work together with the Government Office for the West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands, Regional Assembly and Highways Agency. CEPOG is supported by a dedicated team of strategic transportation and planning officers &#8211; the CEPOG Support Team. The CEPOG Support Team (CST) and each Authority&#8217;s LTP officers jointly review progress in order to ensure that this LTP addresses the issues in a realistic, deliverable and economic way. </p> <p class=“MsoNormal” id=“task_141_ID_6”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> Within each Authority, LTP officers have worked with officers from relevant parts of their Authorities to ensure that development of the LTP2 is a corporate activity.&nbsp; This enables travel needs within each Authority to be taken into account, and helps other officers appreciate and work towards coordinated and sustainable decisions in their service areas. </p> <p class=“MsoNormal” id=“task_141_ID_7”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> CST officers have worked with others, such as Rights of Way Officers and Environmental Health Officers, to focus on particular issues.&nbsp; The latter group has a significant role in helping to tackle transport-related air quality issues. </p> <p class=“MsoNormal” id=“task_141_ID_8”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> CEPOG and the development of the LTP2 are also supported by a number of other officer groups.&nbsp; For example, the District Maintenance Engineers Group shares good practice and establishes value-for-money arrangements using its combined purchasing power. </p> <p class=“MsoNormal” id=“task_141_ID_9”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> <a href=”#task_141_ID_12”>Figure 1 &#8216;Administrative Structure&#8217;</a> illustrates the coordinated and cross-cutting nature of the working arrangements at all levels, which are designed to ensure that the LTP2 is a truly corporate document. </p> <p class=“MsoNormal” id=“task_141_ID_11”><span style=“font-weight:bold;”></span> These arrangements ensure that the issues and work contributing to and flowing from the LTP are coordinated across the Metropolitan Authorities and throughout their structures, and closely involve key partners. </p> <div class=“pagebreak”>&nbsp;</div> <div class=“columnspan all”>&nbsp;<img alt=“Administrative Structure” class=“figure” height=“276” id=“task_141_ID_12” src=“http://www.westmidlandsltp.gov.uk/2005/images/33.jpg” title=“Administrative Structure” width=“454” border=“0px”></div>