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Frankwell Quay
Shrewsbury
SY3 8HQ
 
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Initiatives and Implementation

The staff travel survey contained a section asking staff to indicate their interest in a number of alternative working or travelling methods to encourage a reduction in single occupancy car use. The following results were found;

Rank

Option

Percentage of total

1

Home working scheme

44%

2

Pool cars available for business trips

28%

3

Showers and changing room

23%

4

Free priority car parking for car sharers only

22%

5

Lower bus fares

21%

With these results in mind, the following initiatives will be implemented to coincide with the occupation of the new council offices and will be considered as part of the overall design. Schemes which can be implemented prior to the move will be developed as soon as possible.

Implementation – The following initiatives will be implemented:

  1. The first step is to get Member and Officer support and a critical mass to implement the travel plan.

    The Joint Personnel Consultation Committee (JPCC) is the appropriate body to take on responsibility for this task and has established a Travel Plan Steering Group (TPSG) consisting of Members, Officers and Union representatives. A recommended 'terms of reference' for the TPSG in respect of implementing the travel plan is shown in appendix 1.

  2. Future car parking allocation will be carried out based on the need for a car for daily or weekly business use by an employee.

This will be based on a system of Zones. Figure 1 illustrates this method. The concentric rings indicate the different parking zones, with the people requiring their car for daily or weekly business use parking within Zones 1 & 2 (Frankwell and Ravens Meadows) and other members of staff parking further afield in Zones 3 & 4 (St. Julian's Friars and Abbey Foregate). All car parking spaces currently used will be reviewed and re-allocated in accordance with the needs based approach.

Employees being offered a space in Zones 3 & 4 will have the option to park and walk or use an alternative form of transport to commute to work, hopefully at a discounted/subsidised rate. This latter option ranked fifth in the option list.

All employees currently holding a free parking pass or receiving a free parking space will continue to receive this for three years from March 2003. From 1st March 2006, all employees will have to pay for parking, unless they use a certified 'green vehicle' selected from an annual list to be determined by the TPSG. This will be subject to review as will the situation for new employees starting with the council in the future.

Figure 1: SABC Parking Zones

SABC Parking Zones

  1. Pool Cars will be provided for use by employees.
Employees requiring the use of a car for business trips will be offered the use of a pool car on the condition that they do not drive to the offices, but use an alternative form of transport to get there. The availability of pool cars was the second most supported option indicated by staff (Rank 2). Over time this will replace the use of 'Essential User' designation where appropriate. The travel survey indicated that over 50 members of staff would be interested in using a Pool Car. The number and type of vehicles to be purchased will be recommended to Cabinet following examination of the options. 8% of staff also expressed an interest in a pool bike for business travel and 5% in pool mopeds.

  1. A review of current council policy will be carried out during 2003.
A review of current council policy on business travel (essential & casual car user allowance/ mileage rates/ loan schemes for cars and cycles/ use of public transport for long journeys etc.) and working hours (flexi time, home-working etc.) will be carried out. Home-working was the option supported by the highest number of staff (Rank 1).
 
In terms of car loans and grants, the travel survey indicated that half of the staff respondents and 1/3 of Councillors were not aware of the Powershift grant available to individuals to converts cars to run on LPG. Promotion could help in this matter. Staff indicated the following interest in the car loan scheme;

    Staff interest in the Council car loan scheme.

    Figures down the left side of the graphs indicate percentage of staff.

    Staff who have used the Council's car loan scheme    

     

    Future use of the Council car loan scheme

     

    Preferential rate for environmentally-friendly cars

     

     

    LPG conversion loan

     

  • 9% of staff expressed an interest in a loan or discount scheme for cycles, and 7% for mopeds/scooters.

    With these results in mind, the current policy will be reviewed by the steering group to reflect the above.

     

    1. Car Parking at main sites will be structured to encourage car-sharing and alternative modes of transport instead of single occupancy car use. A car-sharing scheme will be implemented.

     

At the new offices, car-parking spaces beneath the building will be used for car-sharers. The following indication was given from staff in support of car-sharing:

    Would you be interested in car-sharing?

    Car sharing: CouncillorsCar sharing: staff

    (figures on the left hand axis relate to percentage of people)

    This number represents over 25% of the office-based workforce interested in or already car-sharing. When employees were asked the question concerning car parking allocation and charges, car-sharing options featured.

  • 'People who car share should park closest to the office' ranking 3rd in parking allocation options… and…
  • 'There should only be free car parking for people who car-share' ranking 5th in the car-parking charges options.
  • 14% of staff supported the introduction of a car-sharing matching scheme.
Infrastructure and facilities for cyclists / walkers will be provided at main council sites.

The staff survey revealed the following concerning interest in the provision of infrastructure and facilities:

Option

Rank

Percentage of staff

Showers and changing rooms

3

23%

Undercover storage for cycles

6

20.5%

Safer cycling routes

10

15%

Safer walking routes

12

11%

 

Showers and changing rooms will be included within the new offices, with secure undercover cycle storage provided within the car-park beneath the office building. Discussions concerning the provision of safer infrastructure for cyclists and walkers will be pursued.

Discounted public transport options (Bus/Rail/Park and Ride) will be

offered to staff subject to agreement with local transport providers.

The following indications and support for options were given from staff taking part in the survey:

Option

Rank

Percentage of staff

Lower bus fares

5

21.5%

Lower Park and Ride fares

8

18%

Lower train fares

12

11%

Ability to pay for transport passes through SABC wages

17

6%

The options concerning the provision of reduced fares will be examined.

  • Information will be provided to all staff, Councillors and visitors to SABC

Publicity and marketing, as well as organising the provision of information for staff, visitors and councillors concerning transport options to main council offices will be developed. Where the use of IT can be used to either cut down on transport (ie. tele-conferencing), or provide information, it will be used. All correspondence sent out from the Council will contain information on Park and Ride and public transport to the offices.