‘Opportunities and uncertainty’ for transport partnerships amid public sector reform

PUBLIC sector reform offers both opportunities and a “level of uncertainty” for regional transport partnerships (RTPs), according to ZetTrans chair Moraig Lyall.

ZetTrans is one of seven RTPs in Scotland, with other ones covering areas like the rest of the Highlands and Islands, the North East and Strathclyde.

They are aimed at strengthening the planning and delivery of regional transport, with ZetTrans locally overseeing the delivery of public bus services.

With the Scottish Government now eyeing up significant public sector reform, a report went to a meeting of the Highlands and Islands RTP Hitrans recently on what opportunities change could bring.

Its partnership director Ranald Robertson suggested in this report that “transport governance offers an opportunity to build upon existing institutions and partnerships rather than creating new delivery structures”.

He said the public service reform agenda presents an opportunity to consider whether additional transport responsibilities could be delivered more effectively at a regional level through RTPs.

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Commenting on the report, ZetTrans chair Lyall said she feels ZetTrans gives the “right balance of an ability to do things that work in our Iocal context while having a seat in the room when the seven RTPs come together to lobby on a national basis and share good practice and ideas”.

She pointed to collaboration with Hitrans on electric vehicle charging, and the successful joint bid to be a pilot area for the £2 bus fare cap.

“But having the independence of our own RTP we have retendered all our buses and will be able to apply funding from bus infrastructure Fund and active travel funding to where we decide locally is most appropriate,” Lyall added.

She said through the Shetland external transport forum ZetTrans is given a “direct voice” to interact with transport operators and Transport Scotland.

“The importance of this was highlighted when Loganair withdrew without warning the weekday flights to Kirkwall and Inverness and I was able to engage directly with them whilst working behind the scenes with other political leaders and HiTrans to get a resolution,” Lyall said.