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.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 23/10/2020
Decision due: Not before 25th Nov 2020 by Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Lead director: Simon Jones
Department: Growth, Environment & Transport
Contact: David Joyner, Transport & Development Manager Tel: 03000 410236 Email: david.joyner@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01622 696852.
Consultees
Has any public consultation been undertaken or is any planned?
A transport model is simply a tool to provide evidence for a policy decision or to identify and help justify a scheme which would then be subject to our normal consultation procedures.
Cabinet Committee consultation planned:
The proposal was considered by Members of the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee at their meeting on 12 November 2020.
Members endorsed the proposed decision, and also recommend that a further report be brought back to the Cabinet Committee covering issues relating to availability of the data and pricing.
Which Divisions / Local Members are particularly affected:
None.
Have views been sought from local Members?
This is not necessary for the reasons outlined above.
Financial implications: The contract value sought is £15.6m over a period of 10 years to give sufficient commissioning capacity to avoid the need to keep undertaking re-procurements and incurring model hand over costs and inefficiencies.
Legal implications: Legal advice has been obtained and is being incorporated into the procurement documentation.
Equalities implications: An EqIA has been produced and it has been confirmed there are no equalities implications from awarding this commission.