National Transport Strategy Board - Meeting Minutes - 20 February 2025
Attendees
Board members
- Fiona Hyslop MSP: Cabinet Secretary for Transport - Chair
- Cllr Gail Macgregor: Elected Member, COSLA
- Bruce Kiloh: Head of Transport Planning, SPT representing Regional Transport Partnerships
- Mike Newall: Chief Executive, South Ayrshire Council, representing SOLACE
- Margaret Roy, ATCO Board Chair, representing ATCO
- Ewan Wallace, Chief Officer, Aberdeenshire Council, representing SCOTS
- Fiona Brown, Interim Director of Transport Strategy and Analysis, Transport Scotland
Supporting Officials
- Robert Nicol, Chief Officer, COSLA
- Ed Gordon, Policy Officer, COSLA
- Anne Martin, Head of Transport Strategy and Co-ordination, Transport Scotland
- Heather Cowan, Head of Climate Change and Just Transition for Transport, Transport Scotland
- Paul Sloan, Head of Research, Statistics and Evaluation, Transport Scotland
- Joanne Parker, Stakeholder and Partnerships Engagement Lead, Transport Scotland
- Craig Peaston, Private Office, Scottish Government
Review of Actions from Previous Meeting
Action DB9-01: ‘Officials to report to Cabinet Secretary for Transport on the work of the Health and Transport Action Plan Steering Group (HTAP) in the Nestrans area’. Briefing was provided by Officials following the previous Board meeting. Action closed.
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport emphasised the importance of Transport for Health. It was agreed that further discussion was required at a future meeting and that it would be beneficial to explore examples of successful delivery across the regions to help inform future work in this area.
Action DB10-01: Officials to work with Board members to coordinate examples of successful delivery of transport to health across the regions, for discussion at a future Board meeting.
Developments and Achievements
A written update was provided to the Board setting out developments and achievements since the last meeting. It was agreed that this was a useful update positively highlighting key work and successes, and that this would benefit from wider circulation.
Action DB10-02: Officials to consider appropriate format for setting out the Developments and Achievements reported to the Board for wider circulation.
Next steps on car use reduction
Transport Scotland and COSLA officials are exploring options for moving away from the Route Map in its current form towards a joint publication on car use reduction policy. COSLA are currently engaging with its members on options. The preferred option is to take a phased approach to development, decision making and publication. Following publication of a renewed policy statement, delivery plans will subsequently be developed. There was consensus that plans needed to be place-based reflecting the need for different local and regional approaches. This approach includes taking forward a regulatory check on existing local road user charging powers granted by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.
The renewed policy statement will provide an opportunity to review the existing target of a 20% reduction by 2030 given we know the target is off track. The proposed approach is to develop a longer-term target for car use reduction aligned to the Climate Change Plan.
The Board reflected in its discussion on the Audit Scotland recommendations in its Sustainable Transport Audit and noted that the Public Audit Committee will take evidence from Audit Scotland soon. The Board agreed to establish a working group to consider governance arrangements and delivery plans informed by the recommendations.
Action DB10-03: Officials to establish the working group to develop proposals for, then prepare, delivery plans for car use reduction. This should include governance and decision making, responding to the Audit Scotland recommendations.
NTS Monitoring and Evaluation
Transport Scotland provided an update on the NTS Monitoring and Evaluation Report which was published in December 2024 and the key findings from this.
Members discussed some of the challenges highlighted by the data and requested sharing of regional data in order to understand trends and behaviours to inform decisions.
There are clear challenges around the decline in bus journeys, having the right data available is crucial to understanding these, not limited to bus but such as time of day, day of week, trip purpose changes in more detail. Recognising the lag in the Scottish Household Survey data, there is also a desire to incorporate more ‘up to date’ data into the evidence suite available to the Board. As well as, compiling evidence/ case studies to expand understanding on what is working well and why.
Coach travel increases are observed in areas across Scotland, data and analysis on this trend would be beneficial to the Board.
Action DB10-04: Officials to prepare further analysis of regional data, coach travel and travel demand behaviours to be shared with Board members.
NTS Board Developments
Members discussed the remit of the Board, membership and stakeholder engagement groups.
It was agreed that a new elected member from a RTP be appointed to the Board.
A new NTS Officers Group is to be established to support the Board. This sub group will help set the agenda and drive items/ papers/ presentations for the Board and the sub group.
Going forward, the agenda for the Board will include an update from stakeholder groups across the four NTS priorities of reducing inequalities, delivering inclusive economic growth, climate action and improving health and wellbeing. Each NTS Board meeting will focus on a specific theme.
Officials will review existing NTS Stakeholder Groups and seek Board members views on the membership of these. Board members are keen that consideration be given to widening membership, or establishing a new group, to include transport operators.
Action DB10-05: Officials to liaise with RTP Lead to progress appointing an elected member to the Board.
Action DB10-06: Officials to update the Terms of Reference for the Board to reflect revised Board membership and to draft the Terms of Reference for the new NTS Officers Group and circulate these to members for agreement.
Action DB10-07: Officials to provide Board members with the Terms of Reference of existing NTS Stakeholder Groups and to confirm membership of these groups, and to consider options for widening representation to include transport operators.
Next Steps
The next meetings are expected to take place in June and October, arrangements will be shared with members in due course.