Trade groups: put logistics at heart of devolution plans
Key industry trade associations have responded to a new white paper published by the government yesterday, which sets out its planned direction for devolution across England.
The white paper proposes that all parts of England will be covered by new strategic authorities, comprising groups of local authorities working together – similar to combined authorities which already exist in some parts of the country.
The plans aim to drive a more coordinated approach to various policy areas, including transport and roads oversight, planning, skills and employment, environment and climate change, and promote growth and service provision.
Strategic authorities are set to play a key role in coordinating road networks, working in conjunction with National Highways on the strategic road network and their constituent authorities on local roads.
As part of the plans, mayoral strategic authorities will set up and coordinate key route networks on behalf of the mayor, enabling the most important local routes to be strategically managed.
“Our industry will be looking on with interest at what [the changes] will mean in practical terms for local businesses and economies, and it’s hot on the heels of the government’s announcement last week on planning rules reform which we’re hopeful will speed up the major infrastructure our industry relies on including roads and driver facilities,” said Richard Smith, managing director of the Road Haulage Association (RHA).
“We’re pleased that freight and logistics are now specifically referenced in the latest National Planning Policy Framework; however, we’re concerned that the government hasn’t gone far enough to meet the future needs of our industry. These are conversations we’ll continue to have with MPs and ministers in the months ahead.”
He said the RHA had made it a priority to forge stronger links with local government, complementing the work it does on a national level.
“We’re increasingly working with metro mayors and combined authorities in England,” he said.
“In recent years, we have secured funding from the metro mayors including in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to support dozens of local people into new careers behind the wheel. A win-win all round…
“With budgets and decision-making increasingly devolved on transport, infrastructure and skills, we have great opportunities to secure support on specific projects that can have tangible benefits for regional economies and the businesses who service them, including hauliers and coach operators.
“It should mean that new road schemes and driver facilities can get off the ground quicker – and help firms recruit and develop new local talent.
“The government says this will help deliver economic growth. We stand ready to support them on that pledge.”
Meanwhile, Logistics UK said that placing decision-making closer to the businesses it affects could only be beneficial – but added that it was vital that any local growth and transport plans created as a result of the plans reflected the importance of the logistics industry as a key growth enabler.
Jonathan Walker, the organisation’s head of planning and infrastructure policy, urged local and national politicians to consider the needs of the industry when developing devolved strategies, to place the movement of goods at the heart of local and regional planning.
“Logistics has been proven as a key driver of growth in the economy, as well as being critical to providing all the goods which businesses, homes, schools and hospitals need to operate,” he said.
“It is vital that the key route networks, and local growth plans, announced today consider the needs of logistics as an industry, and how the sector can support growth locally and nationally.
“Putting decision-making closer to the businesses it affects is a good thing, providing local and regional governments and administrators acknowledge and accommodate their role in the national economy and its networks.
“How local key route networks will operate as part of the national logistics network will be critical to their success – key roads must be the priority to ensure the smooth and swift delivery of all that the economy needs, where the goods are needed.”
