Annual Report 2019-20

Annual 19-Report 20 Annual Annual Report 2019-20 Report 2019-20

Contents

03 Foreword (Chair) 05 Who We Are 12 Our Activities 2019-20 31 European Projects 37 Appendix: Annual Accounts and Reports 38 Contact Information

2 Annual Report 2019-20 Foreword

Our role providing strategic regional data and trends to produce a direction Main Issues Report. This is a precursor As a Regional Transport Partnership, to the development of a new Regional SEStran provides strategic direction. We Transport Strategy which will set out work to achieve common purpose across an ambitious course for transforming our eight local authority partners; we have transport and mobility across the region. a statutory duty to prepare a Regional Leading by example Transport Strategy (RTS) and keep it up to Last year SEStran continued to be actively date. The RTS provides the coordinating involved in demonstrating how innovative platform for the development of local changes in strategic transport, personal transport plans. It helps shape a wide mobility and logistics will work in the range of policies for regional and local south east of Scotland. land use, and economic development As Chair of SEStran, I am plans. It fosters a consistent approach Many of the projects we supported help immensely proud to present across our eight statutory partners. to tackle the most challenging issues that the annual report for 2019/20. we face today, and we have continued The challenges we now face as a region to collaborate on some of the most with a rapidly growing population, and Throughout the year, SEStran pro- innovative EU and Scottish projects in those we all face as a society from more actively developed strategies and order to bring the best of new approaches extreme weather events and climate studies, and supported projects that to our partners and region. The following change, make it imperative that the RTS make a real difference in the region. are a mere flavour of the work of the past sets out the best strategic direction year, I hope you will enjoy reading more possible. For this reason, last year we within the report itself. embarked on a study of partner issues,

3 Annual Report 2019-20

Foreword Cont’d

In active travel, the SEStran Strategic Our BLING project, in partnership with the Of course, behind these highlights, the Network study has delivered a bold University of Edinburgh, began testing dedicated SEStran team continues to ac- and visionary proposal for a regional the way blockchain technology can help tively work with partners and stakehold- active travel network, with funding from facilitate efficient freight consolidation, ers, hosting formal partnership meetings Sustrans Scotland. As demand rises for and we were delighted to receive funding and forums, contributing, reaching out to longer distance active travel commuting notice from Transport Scotland for a major a wide range of stakeholders, and actively and leisure, this is a vital resource for Forth Freight Study in partnership with demonstrating the benefits of a regional partners at all levels. Forth Ports Plc. focus for transport. To promote transport equality, a rebrand GO e-bike successfully expanded Finally, I am particularly proud, as I write of Thistle Assistance and marketing its coverage in the region with hubs this, that SEStran’s achievements in campaign led to over 10,000 new cards at 9 locations across the region, 2019/20 remain highly relevant, necessary being issued across Scotland (SEStran providing e-bikes in some of the and positive contributions to the south leads this nationally). Furthermore, an most disadvantaged communities innovative development project funded east of Scotland - even as our worldview and providing companies with the by Scottish Enterprise has allowed local is adjusted by the Covid-19 pandemic, opportunity for staff to trial e-bikes for companies to prove a concept for a which rapidly came into focus towards up to six weeks. Our partnership with Scotland wide Thistle Assistance App the end of last year. As an organisation, Cycling Scotland to support Bikeability with adaptations for a wide range of user we remain alert to a changeable context, Scotland delivery, benefitted primary needs. and responsive to opportunities to help schools in all corners of the region. respond, plan and prepare the region for In tackling climate change, SEStran changes ahead. In developments around sustainable set up a regional grouping of partners, logistics, the successful Surfloghcargo- delivered three strategic studies and On behalf of the SEStran team, we look bike delivery project demonstrated how invested in improving Real Time Passenger forward to continuing to work with you. the approach is commercially viable and Information, all to help prepare for the ready to be rolled out in new areas. introduction of a Low Emission Zone in Edinburgh.

Cllr Gordon Edgar Chair August 2020 4 Annual Report 2019-20 Who We Are

SEStran is South East of Scotland Transport Partnership. We are one of seven statutory Regional Transport Partnerships in Scotland established under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005. SEStran encompasses eight local authorities. SEStran’s Vision: “A regional transport Target “By 2022, to reduce the percentage system that provides of people commuting to Edinburgh by all citizens of South single occupant car from each local East Scotland with authority area in South East Scotland by 10% compared to a 2001 base. a genuine choice of For Edinburgh residents working transport which fulfils outwith the City Council area, to reduce their reliance on the single their needs and provides occupant car for commuting by 10% travel opportunities for over the same period.” work and leisure on a sustainable basis.”

5 Annual Report 2019-20 Who We Are Our Objectives SEStran participates We have highlighted the relationship between our work and our strategic in a diverse range of objectives with an icon, a number in a circle relating to each of our objectives transport projects and the key priorities represented by each of the following icons: and events on a Objectives Priorities local, national and international scale. All Economy – to ensure transport facilitates our work is focused economic growth, regional prosperity and vitality Bus on delivering against in a sustainable manner our core strategic Train objective areas: Accessibility – to improve accessibility for those with limited transport choice (including those with mobility difficulties) or no access to a car, particularly those living in rural areas Active Travel

Environment – to ensure that development is achieved in an environmentally sustainable manner Car Share

Safety and Health – to promote a healthier and more active SEStran area population £ Economy Corporate – to continually improve performance to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in SEStran service delivery.

6 Annual Report 2019-20 Who We Are SEStran Team SEStran has a core staff of ten, and one Cycling Scotland embedded officer, as of April 2020: • Partnership Director, • Business Manager, Jim Grieve Angela Chambers • Senior Partnership Manager, • Business Support Assistant, Anna Herriman Cheryl Fergie • Programmes Manager, • Business Support Officer, Keith Fisken Hannah Markley • Strategy and Projects Officer, • Cycling Scotland Officer Jim Stewart Beth Harley-Jepson • Project Officer, • Marketing Intern Julie Vinders Rhianne Forrest • Active Travel Officer, Peter Jackson

Local Authority Partners Partnership Board City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, The board consists of 20 elected members East Lothian, Falkirk, Fife, Midlothian, from the partnership local authorities and Scottish Borders and West Lothian. nine appointed non-councillor members. The Partnership Board meet quarterly. Headquarters SEStran’s operational and administrative premises are based in Edinburgh at Victoria Quay.

7 Annual Report 2019-20 Who We Are Governance

Decision Making Structure The Succession Planning Committee Equalities Duty SEStran’s main policy and budgetary remit covers matters related to decisions are taken by the Partnership succession planning and Board SEStran published its Mainstreaming and Board, which consists of 20 Councillor appointments. Its membership consists Equalities Outcomes Progress Report and nine Non-Councillor members. of the Partnership Chair, two Board for the period 2017-19 on 30 April 2019. members, the Partnership Director, the Operational decisions are taken by the During the reporting period SEStran Partnership Secretary and a Human Partnership Director and other officers have engaged with our legal advisers Resources adviser. in accordance with the List of Officer to ensure full compliance with our Powers which forms part of SEStran’s obligations under the Public Sector Governance Scheme. The Scheme Cyber Security Equalities Duties. Some of the actions is reviewed regularly and was last undertaken during this annual reporting In order to comply with the Scottish updated in September 2019. period are: Government’s Public Sector Cyber The Partnership Board delegates some Security Action Plan, SEStran carried • Inclusion Scotland Intern decisions to Committees in accordance out a robust review of its IT provision. • Board Diversity Succession with the Governance Scheme. The Under the scheme, an independent Plan/Skills Audit Performance and Audit Committee cyber security consultant was appointed remit covers scrutiny of performance, in 2018 and audited the partnership’s • Equalities and Human Rights staffing, standards and audit. It IT environment. The outcome of this Commission of Scotland comprises a Councillor member from audit was SEStran being awarded Cyber Engagement each constituent authority, and two Essentials Plus accreditation. SEStran Non-Councillor members. It is currently were re-audited in 2019 and retained chaired by Councillor Russell Imrie. the award.

8 Annual Report 2019-20 Who We Are Partnership Board As of August 2020

Chair Deputy Chair Deputy Chair Cllr Karen Doran Cllr Nick Cook Cllr Brian Small Cllr Gordon Edgar Cllr Colin Davidson Cllr Lesley Macinnes City of Edinburgh City of Edinburgh until 6 March 2019 Scottish Borders Fife City of Edinburgh Labour Conservative East Lothian Independent Labour SNP Conservative

Cllr Donald Balsillie Cllr Mike Watson Cllr David Key Cllr Chas Booth Cllr Norman Hampshire Cllr Laura Murtagh Clackmannanshire Clackmannanshire City of Edinburgh City of Edinburgh East Lothian Falkirk SNP Conservative SNP Scottish Green Party Labour SNP

9 Annual Report 2019-20 Who We Are Partnership Board Cont’d

Cllr Fiona Collie Cllr Dave Dempsey Cllr Peter Smaill Cllr Cathy Muldoon Falkirk Fife Midlothian West Lothian SNP Conservative Conservative Labour

Cllr Ian Ferguson Cllr Russell Imrie Cllr James Fullarton Cllr Chris Horne Fife Midlothian Scottish Borders West Lothian SNP Labour Conservative Conservative

10 Annual Report 2019-20 Who We Are Non-Councillor Board Members

Paul White Simon Hindshaw Vivienne Gray Callum Hay Richard Llewellyn

Laura Alexander Catherine Thomson Doreen Steele Barry Turner

11 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 SEStran Regional Transport Strategy £

SEStran’s core statutory function Developing a Main Issues Report Ten ‘Main’ Issues were identified out is to maintain a Regional Transport for a new Regional Transport of the 36 evidence-based issues, and these will be critical in informing the Strategy (RTS). In June 2019, the Strategy Partnership Board agreed an outline development of the new RTS: In preparation for the development of a approach to develop a new RTS, in • The policy and legislative context for new RTS, SEStran commissioned Jacobs to transport decisions has changed; recognition of emerging changes bring forward a Main Issues Report (MIR) to national policy, strategy and for the region, highlighting the key factors • Coordination between transport legislation affecting transport, that affect or are influenced by transport agencies is not consistent; there climate and regional planning. The provision. is now a focus on how this can be strengthened at a regional level; new RTS will provide a framework Jacobs examined partner input, and for transport solutions in the region reviewed a wide range of data under three • Larger developments haven’t often that meets new challenges. The themes: been accompanied by early delivery of RTS will be closely aligned to the the infrastructure needed to support • the rationale and new policy context modal shift; priorities of Scotland’s Second for a new RTS, National Transport Strategy (NTS2) • The transport network must be ready • the characteristics of the SEStran which was published in February to respond to population growth and region (its people, society, 2020. As part of NTS2, a Roles and varying mobility needs across all age environment, economy), Responsibilities Working Group, groups; • transport issues and challenges that including two Regional Transport • Current action in the region is not are specific to the SEStran region. Partnership representatives, has delivering a reduction in carbon been set up to review regional emissions from transport needed to governance arrangements. The tackle climate change; work of this group will also inform SEStran’s new RTS. 12 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 SEStran Regional Transport Strategy Cont’d £

• Many people still can’t access The Regional Transport Strategy • Traffic growth has continued year on appropriate, affordable transport; – regional monitoring year since 2014, • The relative cost of car use has fallen SEStran’s current Regional Transport • Carbon emissions from transport have in recent years compared to that of Strategy (RTS), which was refreshed in been rising since 2013, public transport; this is a difficult fact August 2015, currently runs until 2025. • Bus patronage is declining across the that doesn’t help reduce levels of car The RTS vision, objectives and policy region (apart from a few areas), framework were established when the RTS use; • A lack of appropriate, affordable was first written, in 2007. In recent years, • Many positive initiatives promoting transport and road network SEStran has identified a need to review the healthier and more sustainable modes congestion means that the monitoring framework for the RTS. of travel are yet to make a significant accessibility of a full range of difference to net demand for car The review of monitoring data during the opportunities for education, use. The proportion of journeys in development of the Main Issues Report employment, healthcare and other the region undertaken by car/taxi revealed that there are some issues in the needs impacts on some of the region’s increased in the decade to 2018; current RTS which have not improved, people. whilst highlighting a number of new and • capacity issues for rail affect the emerging challenges which need to be potential for more passengers; limited addressed at a regional level: road network capacity impacts on buses; • The future is increasingly uncertain, the new RTS must be able to respond to new issues and opportunities as they emerge.

13 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Formal Partnership Meetings and Forums

The Partnership Board met quarterly The Succession Planning Committee meet Logistics and Freight Forum: aims to over the reporting period apart biennially, and the last meeting took support economic growth and resilience from in Q4, which was cancelled place in November 2019. The Committee across the region by developing, due to guidelines implemented in approved a revised version of the Board promoting and implementing sustainable Diversity Succession Plan. business and distribution solutions. The response to the Covid-19 pandemic. forum supports constructive partnership In addition to dealing with standard SEStran hosts three forums which are between local authorities, government all held twice a year. The aim of these business, there was a presentation/ agencies, business and representative forums is to facilitate policy and technical discussion item for each meeting. groups. The forum aims to provide a discussions within a South East of Scotland Topics included young people’s unified, regional voice in working with context and provide a platform for greater organisations such as Transport Scotland, attitudes to bus travel (Scottish stakeholder engagement across the Network Rail and ports authorities. Youth Parliament), rail updates from region. ScotRail and the national rollout of Equalities and Access to Healthcare Integrated Mobility Forum: aims to the Thistle Assistance programme. aims to deliver our Equality develop a better understanding of the Forum: Outcomes and legislative requirement These generated valuable discussion opportunities to improve implementation to consult Health Boards and those and have gone on to provide input and understanding of integrated who represent those with or who share into our forum groups. mobility in the region. The primary focus a protected characteristic. The forum is to facilitate discussions between SEStran’s quarterly Performance and covers how equality issues should be stakeholders to make progress in reducing Audit Committee and Chief Officers’ considered and “built in” to future the number of single occupancy car Liaison Group meetings were held prior transport strategy development. journeys, maximise the use of public to each Partnership Board meeting and transport and maximise active travel More information on SEStran’s decision- helped shape the business of the Board. opportunities. making structures are provided at Governance on page 9.

14 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Low Emission Zones

In November 2019, as part of the The Mobility Hub Strategic Study scopes The Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Transport Scotland Low Emission out the potential role of Mobility Hubs Strategic Study is a strategic review of Zone (LEZ) Public Transport within the regional context of the SEStran DRT services in the SEStran area. Various Provision Fund, SEStran was area, and provides a framework for their challenges and opportunities for the DRT implementation across the South East of sector have been identified and the study awarded a total of £249,512. Scotland. For the purpose of the study, also developed options to increase the This funded the purchase and a Mobility Hub has been identified as “a resilience of DRT services and encourage reassignment of Electronic Ticketing recognisable and easily accessible place innovation and service development. Machines, the SEStran element of which integrates different transport modes The study will help inform the emerging the Edinburgh Bus Tracker Project and supplements them with enhanced RTS. The final report can be viewed here: and the development of three facilities, services and information aimed SEStran Demand Responsive Transport strategic studies: at encouraging more sustainable travel, Strategic Study – Final Report creating a sense of place and improving The P&R Strategic Study is an evidence- journeys and travel choices”. The final based review of current P&R provision report can be viewed here: SEStran in the South East of Scotland. It helps Mobility Hubs Strategic Study – Final inform future investment priorities for Report, SEStran_Mobility Hubs Strategic the enhancement of P&R facilities and Study_Appendices will feed into the emerging rewrite of the SEStran Regional Transport Strategy. The final report can be viewed here: SEStran Park and Ride Strategic Study – Final Report

15 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Public Transport Support

SEStran operates a wide range of programmes and projects to support and bolster the provision of public transport in the region, set out here. In addition, SEStran maintains regular contact with rail and bus operators to discuss matters relevant to the provision of public transport in the region. This includes raising any relevant mobility issues for people and communities in the region with rail and bus companies.

16 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Thistle Assistance Programme

Thistle Assistance Programme In 2019/20 SEStran worked closely with The key aims for Thistle Assistance’s new is at the forefront of providing transport providers, members of our website are: ‘good assistance’ to people communities with mobility challenges • to give easy access to all information with disabilities, by recognising and disabilities and SEStran Equalities and about the Thistle Assistance Access to Healthcare Forum members, and supporting their needs and Programme, to better understand the problems and ensuring transport staff understand concerns faced by many when using • promote the benefits of Thistle their needs. SEStran leads and public transport. This has helped shape Assistance, manages Thistle Assistance on the way Thistle Assistance Programme has • explain who is eligible to use the card behalf of Scotland’s seven RTPs and developed and expanded further. or the App, welcomes the acknowledgement In December 2019 SEStran launched the • make it easy to request the card and of Thistle Assistance in Transport new look Thistle Assistance Programme download the App, Scotland’s ‘Going Further: which includes new easy to recognise • provide information on other ways to Scotland’s Accessible Travel branding, the new Thistle Assistance get involved in the project. Framework’. website , a new look card and App and supporting promotion and awareness SEStran continues working with Transport raising campaign. Providers (ScotRail, Lothian Buses/ Trams, Stagecoach, First East Buses) Transport Scotland, Traveline Scotland, Confederation of Passenger Transport, Bus Users Scotland and other to explore how the new Thistle Assistance approach can be integrated into their existing processes to improve awareness of

17 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Thistle Assistance Programme Cont’d

the issues faced by customers, how The Phase One work identified in detail to spot them and how to engage the barriers faced by disabled people and help. SEStran continues to work when travelling, the extent to which these collaboratively to support the roll- barriers affect disabled peoples’ travel out of Thistle Assistance throughout plans or modal choices for travelling and Scotland by increasing awareness of the looked to develop door to door journey programme and providing training tools planning solutions that help alleviate for transport providers. these barriers. At the end of Phase One, five ‘proofs of Thistle Assistance Journey concept’ were completed, for a door to Planning and Wayfinding – door journey planning platform providing Phase One relevant route information, travel options, where and when to get on or off public In 2018 SEStran made a successful appli- transport, what to do if lost and also cation to the Scottish Enterprise ‘Can Do’ enabling a carer to monitor where the Innovation fund for £150,000 to run Phase person is and communicate with them. One of a project to develop a fully acces- SEStran aims to identify funding for sible journey planning and wayfinding the next stage of development of the mobile solution for people with a wide project – Phase Two – to deliver a working range of mobility challenges. A competi- prototype for the journey planning and tion was run, and five software develop- wayfinding app. ers were commissioned to research and https://www.thistleassistance.com produce proof of concepts for a Thistle Assistance Journey Planner. This work was completed in December 2019. 18 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI)

SEStran’s RTPI system began in 2010 with the aim to tackle a declining bus patronage and make bus travel more predictable and reliable. SEStran is working with the City of Edinburgh Council to move towards a new Content Management System (CMS) that will improve the public facing regional screen network.

The new CMS will provide an improved interface and back office management system provided by the successful contractor 21st Century. The new RTPI system will include additional regional bus operator’s data delivering greater regional coverage. SEStran also received funding from Transport Scotland to update the hardware for the system.

19 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Tripshare

This year, SEStran has continued to work with local authority partners and Liftshare to encourage sustainable travel through car- sharing in the SEStran region.

Particularly where active travel or public transport is not viable, car-sharing offers a sustainable solution for commuters in an attempt to reduce the number of single occupancy cars on the road. During the financial year 2019/20, Tripshare SEStran gained 843 new members, bringing the total membership up to 9490 at the end of March 2020. +843 new members in 2019/20 20 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 TravelKnowHow Scotland £ TravelKnowHow Usage figures in 2019/20 In 2019/20 SEStran continued to support TravelKnowHow Scotland. TravelKnowHow is an online Of the 57 new resource which offers organisations registrations across Scotland easy access to a wide variety of tools to implement 57 workplace Travel Plans and reduce new registrations during the negative impact of single the 2019/20 period occupancy car journeys. 37%were from the SEStran Region Supported by Scotland’s seven Regional Transport Partnerships and funded by Transport Scotland. TravelKnowHow Scotland supports and contributes directly to the Scottish Government’s Of the total Low Carbon Scotland ambition for registrations: 55% decarbonising transport. from the private sector 45% (27% increase from since 329 the public 2018/19) total registrations sector as at end of March 2020

21 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Cross Boundary Active Travel Routes, SEStran Strategic Network Review connecting people and place

April 2020 saw the completion It provides: of the SEStran Strategic • Up-to-date information and audits Network Review, a framework of existing active travel networks for coordinated development and corridor proposals within the of cross boundary active travel region. routes connecting cities, towns, • Information and clear, high quality neighbourhoods, settlements mapping of potential active travel and public transport hubs in the networks. SEStran region. • A proposal for investment in Building on the 2015 SEStran “Strategic active travel infrastructure across Cross Boundary Cycle Development” the region, presented in phases, study, the review focuses on identifying to help guide potential future development and improvement projects and funding bids. opportunities for cross-boundary The full report can be accessed here: commuter routes. An optimal network SEStran Strategic Network Final has been identified and prioritised Publication according to predicted current and This project was funded by the future journeys made in the region, with Scottish Government the aim of helping shift focus away from delivery of one-off active travel projects and investments to a shared vision of a comprehensive, region-wide strategic active travel network.

22 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Active Travel Projects 2019/20

The Regional Cycle Network Grant Building on the additional funding secured SEStran made use of an app called Scheme continues the partnership for the Regional Transport Partnerships TravelVU with a successful bid to the between Sustrans Scotland from Transport Scotland to facilitate Smarter Choices Smarter Places Open and SEStran’s commitment projects promoting sustainable cross Fund in November 2018. The project boundary travel, SEStran proposed five captured data and preferred behaviours to delivering improvements projects, a detailed design study on active from a sample of users in Edinburgh in to the cross-boundary utility travel provision between Kirkcaldy and March and April 2019. The results showed routes. Expanding on a previous Buckhaven; a town centre placemaking a desire for greater access to active travel application in 2016/17, funding design project in Alloa; two feasibility options alongside many car journeys that was granted to the Edinburgh studies in West Lothian, Ecclesmachan could have been on public transport, had BioQuarter partners to progress to Threemiletown and the missing link the journey times been comparable. The detailed design on an active travel between Bangour and the Bathgate Hills project illustrated the need for holistic corridor from Cameron Toll to Quiet Roads Initiative; and a feasibility thinking for planning around transport, the BioQuarter. The project was and options study between Dalkeith and education, health, and leisure though presented to the local community Little France Park. The town centre design further research is required throughout in Alloa was completed in March 2020 the region as a whole. in late 2019 and further design with plans to progress to construction. refinements have been made. All The remaining projects were due for designs will be ready to make a completion in summer 2020. full handover to City of Edinburgh Council in summer 2020.

23 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 GO e-Bike

SEStran launched GO e-Bike in April 2017 with the aim of increasing usage and awareness of power- assisted cycling across the South East of Scotland and beyond. The launch projects continue in St. Andrews, Buckhaven, and West Lothian.

In order to further this aim, SEStran successfully bid for £300,000 from the Round 2 Low Carbon Travel and Transport funding from Transport Scotland, to create active travel hubs across the region. travel between stations and the town West Lothian Bike Library CIC (WLBL). During 2019, two further hubs were centres of Dalkeith and Musselburgh. Ten There were 130 sign-ups across the sites established, one as part of a youth e-bikes will be available at each of the four and around 400 trips were taken. project in the Scottish Borders and the docking stations. In addition to the hub development, other at Social Bite Village in Edinburgh. From May-October 2019 an employer SEStran was proud to be back sponsoring Following site identification, a docked roadshow ran for a second year, the Go the, GO e-Bike Family Ride event at the e-bike hire scheme was procured for e-Bike pool of ten e-bikes was provided Tweedlove Bike Festival for 2019, the ride East Lothian and Midlothian. Once to ten employers at six different sites for was free to join and followed the Tweed complete, the scheme will support periods of 2-6 weeks. The project was Valley Railway Path from Peebles to the managed by SEStran and operated by festival site with nearly 500 participants involved. 24 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Working in Partnership with Cycling Scotland

SEStran’s Regional Cycle Training Training opportunities were identified and Development Officer (RCTDO) and supported in partnership with the Go continued to support Bikeability e-bike project to support the provision of Local Authority Co-ordinators. The training through the hubs and create more sustainable local delivery. In West Lothian, results from the last academic year West Lothian Bike Library was supported had shown an increase in schools with training to enable them to deliver delivering cycle training and more Bikeability Scotland training in schools. pupils than ever taking part. This provided them with an income The more flexible Bikeability Scotland source to support their wider work around strategy was utilised to support new cycling in the community. In the Scottish approaches to delivery in several Borders, Tweeddale Youth Action were Local Authorities in the SEStran region provided with Cycle Ride Leader training including West Lothian, Midlothian and and a four-day Cycle Trainer course. This Fife. Unfortunately, the early closure of enabled them to expand their offer to their schools in March 2020 as a result of the community and upskill local young people. Covid-19 pandemic meant that the core delivery period for the year was cut short.

25 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 The GO SEStran Forth Freight Strategy £

As part of the Programme for Government Transport Scotland launched the Local Rail Development Fund (LRDF), with £2,000,000 made available to fund projects that will enhance Scotland’s rail connectivity. The LRDF aligns with Scottish Government’s Rail Enhancement and Capital Investment Strategy.

The GO SEStran Forth Freight Strategy is being funded by Transport Scotland through the Local Rail Development Fund. The SEStran region is of significant economic value to the Scottish and wider UK economy and is a major generator of freight movements. Consultants AECOM have been asked to SEStran will be working in partnership deliver this study and explore how an with Forth Ports, our Local Authorities and efficient and sustainable freight sector key stakeholder to deliver this important can boost the regional economy and strategic piece of work in 2020. deliver modal shift from road freight to ‘greener’ modes of transport.

26 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Regional Rail Liaison Meeting

SEStran along with Transport Scotland, Network Rail, ScotRail and other rail operators continued to engage via the quarterly South East Scotland Regional Rail liaison meeting. The meetings centred on the key rail issues within the SEStran region and are an opportunity to share information with key stakeholders to better understand problems, identify challenges and opportunities, and improve the delivery of rail services across the South East of Scotland.

27 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 East Coast Mainline Authorities (ECMA) £

The Consortium of East Coast Main Line Authorities (ECMA) works to secure investment, improve the passenger experience, improve capacity and reliability and shorten journey times on the East Coast Main Line.

ECMA is a cross-party group of Councils, Combined Authorities and Scottish Regional Transport Partnerships throughout the area served by the East Coast Main Line. Each has a responsibility for enabling economic growth in their own sections of the line – the backbone of the UK economy. The Consortium allows members to speak with a single voice. lives within 20 minutes of an East Coast the east coast mainline as ECMA Vice Main Line station and together they deliver Chair and Officer Group representative, The East Coast Main Line is one of 41% of the UK’s GDP. respectively. Over the year 2019/20, the UK’s most strategic rail routes. based on data from studies funded by Stretching more than 500 miles, from Both SEStran’s Chair and Partnership Director continue to represent the the Consortium, the organisation has Inverness and Aberdeen, through key made a number of approaches to both stops at Edinburgh, Newcastle and York Regional Transport Partnerships (Tactran, Nestrans & Hitrans) with an interest in governments to encourage increased to London. A third of the UK population investment in the line.

28 Annual Report 2019-20 Our Activities 2019-20 Newburgh Transport Appraisal

In June 2018 SEStran & Fife Council supported a successful bid from the Newburgh Train Station Group for the first phase of funding.

£82,000 (exc. VAT) was secured to undertake a multi-model transport appraisal in the Newburgh area with SYSTRA appointed to undertake the work in December 2018. Phase 1 – the Initial Case for Change was completed in March 2020 and submitted to Transport Scotland. Further work will be undertaken in 2020 to develop a detailed case for change and outline business case.

29 Annual Report 2019-20 What We Do Levenmouth Rail Link £

SEStran supported the Sustainable Transport Study work undertaken by Transport Scotland on the re- opening of the Levenmouth rail link.

Following assessment of transport links in the area, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity announced in August 2019 that the reopening of the link to Levenmouth and the rail network is to be taken forward to the next stage of development alongside new bus and active travel provision. Parts of the Levenmouth area are currently ranked amongst the most deprived in Scotland (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation - SIMD 2016). Easier and more sustainable travel options will make it easier for people to reach hospitals, schools and visit other areas of the country as well as giving better access to Levenmouth. www.transport.gov.scot/news/levenmouth-on-track-for-rail-investment

30 Annual Report 2019-20

“The ongoing success in building towards reinstating this vital rail link is the product of many years of work. The past and present involvement from SEStran in developing the case for change has been central to its success.”

Councillor Colin Davidson, Deputy Chair, SEStran Councillor for Leven, Kennoway and Largo

31 Annual Report 2019-20 European Partners Bling Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden 5PROJECTS 14COUNTRIES

PriMaaS UK, Portugal, Italy, SHARE-North Romania, Germany, UK, Belgium, Finland, Sweden Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway

REGIO-Mob UK, Italy, Greece, Surflough Poland, Romania, Belgium, Slovenia Netherlands, Sweden

32 Annual Report 2019-20

European Projects

SEStran has continued to be PriMaaS: Prioritising actively involved in innovative and Mobility-as-a-Service progressive EU funded transport projects, working closely with (an Interreg Europe project) European partners and in turn In August 2019, the PriMaaS project contributing knowledge and ideas, kicked-off, an exciting new Interreg to help benefit our own regional Europe project aimed at ‘prioritising transport network. SEStran will low carbon mobility services to improve remain involved in its current EU accessibility of citizens’. SEStran is partnership projects until their representing the region in a consortium agreed conclusion dates, ending in of ten European transport partners to 2023. The UK Treasury has written promote Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) through policy development. to UK bodies involved in EU projects to confirm that funding for ongoing The project kick-off was held in SEStran’s role in the project is to establish projects will be underwritten, in the September 2019 and in January 2020, a baseline of MaaS levels in the region, SEStran held the first PriMaaS Regional and exchange best practices with project case of EU funding impact linked to Stakeholder Meeting to assess current partners. This will help develop an Action Brexit arrangements. levels of transport integration and Plan to promote MaaS in the SEStran identify barriers to the widespread region and support the development of adoption of MaaS. SEStran worked closely the new Regional Transport Strategy. with MaaS Scotland to bring together More information can be found on: stakeholders to provide regional representation. The first stakeholder https://www.interregeurope.eu/primaas meeting was held in late January 2020 in Tampere, Finland. 33 Annual Report 2019-20

European Projects Cont’d

CONNECT: Connecting North Sea Region’s TEN-T nodes and supporting intermodal freight movement in the North Sea Region through smart efficiency enhancements

The overall project objective is to support ‘smart intermodality’ growth in the North Sea Region, through efficiency enhancements in and around port areas. The project focuses on implementing new ‘smart’ technology processes and working tools and developing strategies to for using smart efficiency enhancements in freight movement. SEStran is leading on a work package based around marketing and communications. The project will officially start in June 2020. More information can be found on: https://northsearegion.eu/north-sea- connect/about

34 Annual Report 2019-20

European Projects Cont’d

area, and often provide seating and SHARE North – Shared Mobility additional placemaking elements, Solutions for a Liveable and making them supportive of everyone and Low-Carbon North Sea Region everyday journeys. Mobility Hubs can (an Interreg North Sea Region project) easily be identified by their branding. As part of the SHARE-North project, The SHARE-North project promotes Mobility Hubs have expanded to Norway, shared mobility as a form of sustainable Belgium and the Netherlands, and SEStran transport and a viable alternative to has been working with Local Authorities private car ownership. SEStran has to promote and develop the concept continued to support shared mobility in the South East of Scotland, and to through Tripshare SEStran and GO e-Bike. identify locations where Mobility Hubs SEStran has also actively promoted could add value to everyday travel. The Mobility Hubs, a concept that originated SEStran Strategic Mobility Hub study in the City of Bremen, the lead partner applies the learning from SHARE-North to in SHARE-North. Mobility Hubs are the SEStran region. centrally located points where shared More information can be found on: modes of transport such as car clubs https://mobihubs.eu and or (e-)bike-sharing are integrated with https://share-north.eu public transport. Mobility Hubs provide information on transport and the local

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European Projects Cont’d

REGIO MOB (an Interreg Europe project)

The Regio-Mob project aims to promote sustainable travel by influencing relevant policy instruments. SEStran’s role in the Regio-Mob project was to develop an Action Plan for the re-write of the Regional Transport Strategy. In the final year of Regio-Mob, SEStran monitored the implementation of the Action Plan. The Action Plan proposed two interventions to encourage active travel in the SEStran region. This led to the implementation of the GO e-Bike The research was based on best practice Two SEStran Board Members attended scheme, a regional electric bike-sharing examples which project partners had and presented on the impact of Regio- scheme. SEStran conducted an online exchanged during phase 1 of Regio-Mob. Mob in the SEStran region. survey and focus group at the GO e-Bike These conclusions were incorporated into More information can be found on: hub at St Andrews University to measure the Projects Report which was presented www.interregeurope.eu/regio-mob the impact of the scheme on travel to the SEStran Board in December 2019. behaviour and levels of physical activity. The results from Regio-Mob were presented at the Final Conference in Kozani, Greece, in October 2019.

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European Projects Cont’d

developing business models for urban SURFLOGH: Sustainable freight hubs. These business models will Urban Logistics Hubs focus on the scalability and applicability (an Interreg North Sea Project) of models for different locations and circumstances. SEStran & Edinburgh SURFLOGH aims to improve the role of Napier University presented the first logistics hubs in the network of urban outputs of the project research at the 2019 logistics through connecting long- STAR Conference in Glasgow in May 2019. distance freight transport and last mile distribution in strategically located urban In May 2019 SEStran, jointly hosted the freight centres. SURFLOGH mid-term conference with the TRI at Edinburgh Napier University in Dr Jonathan Cowie from Edinburgh Last mile distribution is part of the wider Edinburgh. concept of city logistics, which concerns Napier who gave a critical overview the public and private planning and The event was compered by Richard of the academic research on last mile management of urban logistics. The Llewellyn of Edinburgh Napier University. consolidation, and Sam Keam, Director City Logistics concept has emerged as With almost 100 delegates (from Scottish of the UK Sustainable logistics operator a comprehensive approach aimed at local authorities, transport operators and Zedify, who gave an insight into the attempting to mitigate the negative voluntary organisations, plus more than commercial realities and practicalities impacts of urban freight transportation 30 international guests) it was a great of working in sustainable city centre without penalizing many economic, success. logistics. social, administrative, cultural, touristic, Keynote speakers were Assistant Professor More information can be found on: and other activities. Paul Buijs from Groningen University who northsearegion.eu/surflogh/about SEStran are leading on a work package presented the concept of the ‘physical along with Edinburgh Napier University internet’, examining the interface Transport Research Institute (TRI), between smart technology and logistics,

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European Projects Cont’d

The University of Edinburgh supported BLING: by SEStran has developed a pilot concept Blockchain in Government called GeoPact. The GeoPact system is comprised of a complex assembly of SEStran and the Centre for Design technological objects, that together Informatics at the University of Edinburgh enables the design, deployment of are collaborating on a project exploring location-aware smart contracts that run on opportunities around Blockchain the Ethereum blockchain for study. technology developing practical transport focused applications for the Through GeoPact we have been exploring technology with the development of the potential for location-aware smart a pilot project in the South East of contracts to catalyse new thinking around Scotland. urban transport and logistics systems and services. A successful trial was tested with Blockchain is a key enabling technology couriers in Edinburgh in December 2019. that will underpin efforts to deliver The next stage of the work will look at innovative services under the Digital development of ‘smart contract’ writing Agenda for Scotland and Europe. in the everyday world, this will continue Blockchain promotes user trust by throughout 2020. making it possible to build systems that share information and record https://northsearegion.eu/bling transactions in a verifiable, secure and permanent way. Based on a ‘distributed ledger’, blocks of information are chained together with cryptography to produce a system that stores, manages and verifies information.

38 Annual Report 2019-20 Appendix Annual Accounts and Reports

Annual Accounts Public Services Reform Act from groups that can aid SEStran in delivering its strategic functions in the SEStran’s Annual Accounts can be accessed The Public Services Reform (Scotland) South East of Scotland. To gain more online here: Act 2010 (Sections 31 and 32) imposes information on how to place a request, www.sestran.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ duties on Scottish public bodies to please follow the link: SESTRAN-Audited-Annual-Accounts-2018-19.pdf publish financial information as soon as www.sestran.gov.uk/corporate/participation- is reasonably practicable after the end requests/ Climate Change Report of each financial year. This statement Part four of the Climate Change (Scotland) is produced annually by the South Public Records Act Act 2009 places duties on public bodies to East of Scotland Transport Partnership SEStran is required under the terms act in the way best calculated to contribute (SEStran) to ensure compliance with of Section 1 of the Public Records to the delivery of emissions reduction the requirements of the Act. It can be (Scotland) Act 2011 to produce a targets, to help deliver any statutory accessed online here: Records Management Plan, setting climate change adaptation programme, www.sestran.gov.uk/publications/public-services- reform-act-scotland-2019-report/ out proper arrangements for the and in a way that they consider is most management of its records and sustainable. The act came into force on 1 to submit this to the Keeper of January 2011. Following the introduction of Community Empowerment Act the Records for approval. SEStran an Order by Scottish Government in 2015, SEStran is a listed public authority under submitted its RMP in January 2011 all 151 public bodies that appear on the the Community Empowerment Act and and it is available here: ‘Major Player’ list must submit an annual one of our duties under the Act is to report to the Sustainable Scotland Network www.sestran.gov.uk/wp-content/ consider requests from the community. uploads/2019/05/SEStran-Records-Management- (SSN), detailing their compliance with the Participation Requests can help groups Plan.pdf climate change duties. from the local community (a community- www.sestran.gov.uk/wp-content/ controlled body) to liaise with SEStran uploads/2018/12/2019-12-06-Item-B1.-Climate- and other listed authorities on improving Change-Duties.pdf issues in an area. We welcome requests

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