1
NETWORK MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MIDDLESBROUGH
CHARLES ROONEY, EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT
ACTING DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT: ED CHICKEN
15th September 2009
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.
To seek Executive Member approval of the Middlesbrough Network Management
Plan.
BACKGROUND AND EXTERNAL CONSULTATION
2.
The Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) introduced a Network Management Duty
on local traffic authorities. Section 16 of the Act sets out the requirement of the
duty as follows;
“It is the duty of a local traffic authority to manage their road network with a view to
achieving, so far as is reasonably practicable having regard to their other
obligations, policies and objectives, the following objectives: (a) Securing the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority’s road network
and;
(b) Facilitating the expeditious movement of traffic on road networks for which
another authority is the traffic authority.”
Whilst there is no statutory requirement to develop a Network Management Plan,
this document enables the Council to set out the processes that it will employ to
meet this duty. The Plan also demonstrates high level commitment to the duty and
provides both a framework for consultation with stakeholders and a performance
monitoring regime to drive improvement and enable reports to the DfT through the
Local Transport Plan monitoring process.
The TMA gives the Government the power to ‘intervene’ if it considers an authority
is not performing its duties satisfactorily.
3.
This report outlines the key elements of the Council’s first Network Management
Plan and seeks endorsement of the principles outlined in the document. The draft
Plan has been produced from a common template agreed with the local Traffic
Authorities in the North East region. Section 4 of the document is set out in a
format that more easily evidences that the requirements set out in the Department
for Transport’s ‘Intervention Criteria’ are met.
4.
The Plan also highlights the key transport corridors across the Borough that
generally carry the highest volumes of traffic and are therefore designated as
“traffic sensitive” for the purposes of planning and co-ordinating road works
5.
The key elements of the draft Network Management Plan are set out in Annex A.
The plan itself is available for viewing in the Members Library and is considered to
be a “live” document which will require regular updating as local and national
circumstances change. A copy will also be placed on the Council’s website.
OPTION APPRAISAL/RISK ASSESSMENT
6.
The basis of the Traffic Management Act is to ensure authorities proactively
manage to import networks in their area. It is not statutory for local authorities to
produce a plan but it is considered best practice to do so to demonstrate
compliance with the duties of the Act. The Plan itself provides a first baseline of
information gathered to contribute to fulfilling the statutory network management
duty. Some new systems and ways of working have been introduced but there is
still much to do. The Plan forms the basis on which strategies and schemes will be
developed to improve the proactive management of the transport network to
improve journey reliability and improve accessibility to and within the town.
7.
Through the adoption of this Plan, the framework for improved management of the
transport network both today and in the future will be laid. Individual schemes,
strategies and developments will influence network performance and the presence
of the Plan and its support mechanisms will help reduce the risks associated with
uncontrolled traffic movement and growth. The Plan will also enable, through
increased use of technology, improved information being available to the travelling
public to enable them to make informed travel choices. A major step forward in this
respect is a planned link to the Major Bus improvement scheme to introduce a
Tees Valley Urban Traffic Management and Control system to provide information
and control strategies.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND WARD IMPLICATIONS
8.
Financial – Any actions resulting from the adoption of the plan will require to be
funded within the normal budget allocations and constraints associated with
capital or revenue investment.
9.
Ward Implications – The impact of adopting and implementing measures to
improve the network management within Middlesbrough will cut across all wards.
This may be through improved management of road and street works, more
reliable journey times or improved travel information.
10.
Legal Implications – There are no specific legal requirements to adopt the
Network Management Plan, however the Council does have a legal Network
Management Duty as stated in the Traffic Management Act 2004, and adopting
the Plan demonstrate taking responsibility of this duty.
11.
A copy of the Appendix is available on the Members Library.
RECOMMENDATIONS
12.
It is recommended that The Executive Member approves the content and
publication of the Middlesbrough Network Management Plan.
REASONS
13.
Through the adoption of a Middlesbrough Network Management Plan the Council
can demonstrate that it is meeting it’s legal requirements with respect to the Traffic
Management Act 2004. In addition, it sets in place the foundation on which to
improve the proactive management of the transport network.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
The following background papers were used in the preparation of this report:
Middlesbrough Network Management Plan 2009
Traffic Management Act 2004
Traffic Management Act (guidance on Intervention Criteria) (England) Order 2007
Traffic Management Act 2004 – Network Management Duty Guidance
AUTHOR: Derek Gittins
TEL NO: 728636
______________________________________________________
Address: PO Box 65, Vancouver House, Middlesbrough TS1 1QP
Website: http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk