5. A flexible framework of joint working

5.1 The Business Plan

The Business Plan has been designed as a flexible framework for joint working. It is felt that this process of partnership working gives the ‘best chance’ of achieving the required balance of an integrated strategy which includes sensitivity for environmental and regeneration policies. With a long term formal commitment from each of the partners involved, the strategy should outlive any of the inevitable organisational and personnel changes within the partner organisations.

5.2 Advantages of joint working

The advantages of joint working are that the organisations can step aside from the ‘fire-fighting’ of every day work and take a longer term view of what needs to be done. Work programmes inevitably fall into short term, medium term and long term categories, and it is often difficult to get beyond short term demands. Yet it is the long term issues which are the most pressing – if a strategy can begin with the long term and work back from the future, then the very necessary detailed short term planning will nest into the bigger picture.

Additionally, the Peak Park Transport Forum is able to monitor any proposals for development that might have an impact on the Strategy. Ideally, time would allow for an audit of existing activity to check that activity remains in keeping with the principles of the strategy; this may need to be phased in at a later stage. Also, matters may be raised and referred to the Forum for discussion and decision. For example, the issue of guidance for the use of road signs within the National Park by the constituent authorities has been raised and will be discussed in December 2000. In addition to the workload as described in the Business Plan, the regular meetings of the officer group in particular results in ongoing liaison and co-ordination which serves a useful purpose in its own right.

5.3 A brief word of caution

The strategy must strike a balance between development (improved bus and rail networks and services, core trunk road improvements, rail freight ) and restriction (road traffic restraint measures). The restriction element must be effective, otherwise there is a danger that the strategy will create extra travel activity, rather than displacement or alternative activity.

"It is the long term issues which are the most pressing."