Epping Forest District Council’s (EFDC) transformation programme identified part of the main council campus in Epping Town Centre for redevelopment which in the main is currently used for staff car parking. Being a mostly rural district council, it was thought, and was highly likely that a high proportion of staff commuted to work by car and also used a car for work related activities due to the Council’s rurality.
Project Centre’s solution was to develop a staff travel plan. It would address the loss of staff’s car parking facility and assist with the council’s transformation program. EFDC had never had a staff travel plan before. Both Project Centre and EFDC viewed it as an opportunity to improve consiltation and engagement. This is Despite the project being a relatively ‘off the shelf’ product. As a result, a simple solution for a complex challenge was delivered in a rural authority.
Approach
We defined a two-stage project, stage one involved the collection of baseline travel data, site assessments and setting targets.
In the second stage we looked at a delivery plan, monitoring and management. Also, we held briefings with approximately 200 members of staff who were essential car users. The Chief Executive and Project Director helped to deliver these briefings. Afterwards, we developed a five-month programme.
We created online surveys for staff to complete which reduced our use of paper. This is a key part of maintinging sustainability throughout the project. The survey used our own bespoke engagement and consultation platform which has been designed to offer a seamless user experience. We began site surberys and plotted the data in GIS which we presented to the client. Furthermore, we established a package of multi-modal measures to create the staff travel plan.
Outcome
The staff survey achieved a 70% response rate and captured data from all departments/offices within scope. We set up reviews as a result of the staff workshops. This was to look at how individual services could reduce car travel in general, whilst delivering high quality council services.
Using an experienced consultant at the start of the transformation journey was a real benefit. The Project Director was a leading member of a London borough transformation in 2015. The transformation halved the number of desks for staff based on a comprehensive travel plan approach. The travel plan report compiled from this exercise set out ambitious, but realistic targets for mode shift and car park reduction. In response to the travel plan, we prepared a multi-modal action plan. The council has used it, alongside the establishment of a staff travel working group. The group has already implemented a number of the quick win actions, including a trial ride share scheme.
