Decision details

Background – A Multimodal Strategic Transport Model is under construction for Kent County Council as part of the Highways preparations for transition and to improve our network planning and resilience in the longer term.? The model will be completed during 2020 and the associated commission will run until 31 March 2021.? Once built, it is intended that the model will be used as the basis for future transport modelling in Kent, replacing our current bespoke commissioning processes.  The model will be used for a range of work such as land use option testing and providing the evidence base for Local Plans and to feed into business cases for transport infrastructure scheme bids.  The successful consultant will operate a scenario testing service for the County Council, for the districts and for developers and income generated from developers will be used to keep the model up to date and to reinvest in its future development.

Options – An assessment of our options for maintaining and operating the Kent Transport Model have been undertaken in a detailed Business Case.  Our recommended approach is to procure a specialist transport modelling consultancy for a long-term commission (of up to 10 years including a break clause at year 5). This approach, where we will have a strategic relationship with a single supplier, provides the best return in terms of process efficiencies, effective transport and land use planning, value for money and potential for generating income for reinvesting in the model development.

How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’– The model will be used to inform and improve our recommendations on development options within Local Plans as well as the application of transport policies, it will help us identify and ‘test’ schemes and to provide inputs to business cases to support bids for much needed investment in Kent’s transport infrastructure.  It is intended that the scenario testing service will generate income to be reinvested in the model to develop ‘near real time’ functionality to improve the resilience of our transport network.

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport agrees to:

(i)  grant the Director of Highways, Transport & Waste delegated powers to award a contract to maintain and develop the Kent Transport Model and to run a scenario testing service on behalf of the County Council, subject to the outcome of a procurement process; and

(ii)submit a further report to a future meeting of the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee covering issues relating to availability of the data and pricing.