Spelthorne's Transport Plan was agreed by the Council in February 1999. It is a crucial document for Spelthorne, both in the example it sets to other employers in the Borough and in the context of an Integrated Transport policy for the area.

The plan sets the framework by which we can all manage our travel needs - getting to work and at work - in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way. It seeks to reduce car dependency and ease transport choice by encouraging alternatives to car use along with changes in working arrangements.

We must all accept that we contribute to the severe and unnecessary problems of traffic congestion, car pollution and other forms of environmental damage.

The vision of the plan is to

Reduce congestion, pollution, number of accidents, staff stress;

Work more efficiently;

Improve the motivation of people at work; and

Build a healthier environment and a more successful economy for all.

This is only the start. Initiatives will be introduced to action the plan.

When drawing up the plan, Management Team adopted four main principles. These principles underline, inform and enable us to judge any proposals under the plan and constitute Spelthorne's approach to its Way to Work initiative.

• The approach is one of encouragement and co-operation - not coercion.
• Practical alternatives must be given where changes are proposed.
• Managers must manage their own work situation.

but

• Service delivery must be maintained or improved as a result of any initiatives.

Plans only work when everyone takes part. It is essential that everyone contributes to the Transport Plan to ensure its success. Please do your bit to make the vision happen.

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The need for change

Traffic congestion is an everyday occurrence in Spelthorne, particularly in the morning and evening peak periods. The situation is set to get even worse as the demand to travel by car increases; so much so, that if nothing is done, there could be day-long congestion as already occurs in some areas.

Projections show that by 2025, road traffic could grow nearly 100%, having a detrimental effect on both Spelthorne's economy and its environment. The economy will be affected by staff taking longer and longer to get to work, deliveries being held up in traffic and some Companies relocating to less congested areas. Environmental effects include increased pollution from the extra cars on the road, the extra congestion this causes and poorer health.

The need for action

There is no simple solution to this problem. Even if there was sufficient money, we still would not be able to build enough roads to cope. Congestion on the widened section of the M25 clearly illustrates this - building more roads does not solve the problem - it just encourages more car use.

It is no use blaming others for clogging up the roads and expecting them to change their behaviour while we stick to ours. A major shift in culture is needed to get everyone who drives a car, particularly to work, to accept that we are all part of the problem. This is a problem which we all have to solve by each taking responsibility and making a contribution.

Spelthorne's role

The Borough of Spelthorne has three main roles to play in addressing the problem of traffic congestion.

• as the local planning authority, Spelthorne has committed itself to use all appropriate measures to manage and control the demand for travel by car in order to secure environmental improvements, improve safety, and reduce congestion and pollution;
• as a Borough Council working with Surrey County Council on a wide range of measures, including encouraging local employers to adopt Company Transport Plans for its employees. This would lead to:
  - reduced congestion - reduced pollution - reduced number of accidents - reduced staff stress - more efficient working - improved motivation of staff; and - healthier environment for all;
• as an employer we can make our own contribution to achieving the goals set out above.

The main purpose of this document is to set out a Company Transport Plan for Spelthorne as an employer.

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Statement of intent

1. The Borough of Spelthorne is totally committed to a Company Transport Plan for the Council and its employees.
2. The general principles of Spelthorne's Company Transport Plan have been endorsed by UNISON on behalf of staff and agreed by the Council in February 1999. It is acknowledged that such a Plan can only be successful if supported by everyone at all levels throughout the organisation.
3. The Borough recognises the problem that traffic congestion is causing and is determined to tackle the issue. This has already been recognised in both the Environmental and Economic Development Strategies adopted by the Council which contain the strategic aim of "addressing the problem of traffic congestion".
4. Spelthorne acknowledges that some of the policies it adopts and benefits it offers to staff can add to the problems of traffic congestion. Indeed, some actually encourage staff to use their cars and discourage the use of other forms of transport. A balance must be achieved between competitive conditions of service for staff and the environmental issues.

Aims of the plan

• To manage the travel needs of our staff in a more effective and environmentally friendly way.
• To promote the use of alternatives to car travel either by different modes of travel or by different ways of working.
• To reduce car journeys to work and work related car usage by staff by 20% in two years and 30% in five years.
• To set an example to other employers in the area and encourage them to adopt similar plans.
• To make staff aware of the challenges and encourage them to consider their means of transport getting to their workplace and carrying out their duties.

Ways to implement

There are three main strands to the approach adopted:

• Working arrangements
• Promoting alternatives to car travel
• Promoting less car use.

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Working arrangements

There is scope to influence the number of journeys to work and the time of day at which they are made. For example

(i) Make changes to the flexitime system

• by extending the flexible working hours with an earlier start and later finish time (7.30am to 7.30pm) and removal of core hours. This would encourage travel to work at less congested times of day.
• Allowing staff to take two flexidays per four week period and an increased maximum carry over of hours per period could lead to less travel days per year.

(ii) Consider Home Working Arrangements
Current technology enables people to work from home, where previously this was not possible. Not all posts lend themselves to home working, nevertheless there are a number of posts where a certain amount of work can be done from home without detriment to either the standard of work or service to the customer. A separate policy on eligibility for home working will be produced to complement this plan.

(iii) Make better use of all of our accommodation

Although the Borough Council has accommodation around Spelthorne, staff based at Knowle Green have to return here for administrative purposes. Greater use will be made of all Borough Council accommodation and new technology so as to reduce the need to travel to and from Knowle Green through improved communication.

Pilots are being introduced for (i) and (ii) above from early 1999 as a way of assessing the strengths.

Every effort will be made to make the options available to all staff although it must be recognised that work responsibilities must prevail. Service Heads will be responsible for ensuring that flexibility is offered in ways that maintain or enhance services to our customers.

Promoting alternatives to car travel to work

Most staff travel to their work place by car (even though about half of our staff live in the Borough or have journeys less than four miles from their workplace). As a means of promoting alternatives to car travel the Council will

• provide interest-free season ticket loans - it is already Council policy to provide these, but the scheme will be more widely promoted;
• provide bus and train information - to ensure accurate travel information is available;
• encourage cycling - In the past, little encouragement has been given to people to cycle to work by the Borough Council. The provision of good quality cycle storage, showers / changing rooms and interest-free loans for purchase of cycles (coupled with negotiated discounts for purchase from local suppliers) will be evaluated in the light of cost and likely usage. Depending on the outcome, a campaign to promote cycling will be launched;
• promote walking - many work journeys are less than a mile and can easily be made on foot.

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Promoting less car use

The Council accepts that some members of staff do need to travel to work by car or use a car for their work. However, there is still scope to reduce the amount of car usage. Measures include

• reviewing the car leasing scheme to make it more environmentally friendly, including a financial incentive to staff to reduce the size of car, offering a travelling allowance to staff as an alternative to car leasing;
• reviewing the car allowance scheme to discourage high mileage;
• reviewing working arrangements to consider work practices such as reporting in to the Knowle Green office first thing in the morning, after lunch and in the evening; use of modern equipment. Some journeys would be unnecessary as well as leading to a more efficient and quicker service for the customer;
• introducing a car sharing system through a register for those interested plus a guarantee of a lift home to anyone let down by a car share arrangement or who needs to make an emergency trip home; * amending the current home relocation scheme to reduce length of journeys into work (reduce present 30 mile radius to 20 miles);
• phasing out the lunch time car parking pass in Staines.

Other initiatives that could be looked at in the light of any Central Government measures could include

• car park charging at the place of work
• departmental targets for reduction of car mileage

The future

It is hoped that by encouraging staff to think how and when they work, other initiatives will be forthcoming, subject to further consultation with staff and negotiation with Unison as appropriate. A Taskforce has been set up to look at further initiatives as well as promoting the current Plan.

If successful, Spelthorne's Company Transport Plan will be used as an example to encourage other organisations to develop their own plans.

This policy will be reviewed in the light of experience of the various pilots, increased awareness and any further Central Government measures and no later than 12 months after the implementation of this policy.
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