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Wednesday October 6th 2010, Guoman Charing Cross Hotel - London, 09:00 - 14:00 (half day)
Resilient Transport Networks: Planning for Severe Weather Conditions
Overview
Supporting 61 billion journeys a year, the performance of the UK transport network is critical to sustaining both the productivity and the competitiveness of the UK economy.
Responding to the severe disruption caused to parts of the UK’s transport network by blanket snowfall and prolonged periods of sub-zero temperatures during the winter (2009/10), the former Secretary of State for Transport set up an independent review. The review will be led by David Quarmby CBE, Chair of the RAC Foundation.
The purpose of the review will be twofold. First, it will identify the practical measures that can be implemented to improve the resilience of England’s transport network – road, rail and air – in preparation for this winter 2010/11. This section of the review will focus principally on the supply chain and operational issues related to the treating of the road network with salt. Second, the review will examine much broader, strategic matters related to the resilience of transport networks.
The focus of the second report will be on the introduction of cost-effective, proportionate, longer term measures by central government, councils, businesses, salt suppliers, the Highways Agency, network operators, transport companies and other organisations to maintain public access to key services such as health, education and employment. The review will build upon the 19 recommendations made by the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) in its study, published in July 2009, entitled: Lessons from the Severe Weather February 2009.
This review is also part of wider measures announced by the government to help councils prepare for severe winter weather in future years. For example, the recent publication of a new code of practice for companies that dig up our roads and £100 million extra funding for councils to help pay to repair potholes. With the expected publication of the first report of the review this summer and the second report during the autumn.
Agenda
| 08:45 |
Registration and Coffee |
| 09:20 |
Chair’s Welcome Address
Richard Hayes FIHE, Head of Construction and Engineering,
Environmental Department, Northumberland County Council, and Vice President, IHE (Institute of Highways Engineers) (CONFIRMED) |
| 09:30 |
Moving Forward: Building Greater Resilience into Britain’s Transport Networks
- Transport key enabler for the economy: Airports, rail, road networks; international business and movement of freight
- Adapting to climate change: Key implications
- Salt supplies - Salt Cell: Storage, diversification of supply, efficient use of salt
- Risk assessment: Road condition reports, reinforcing infrastructure resilience
- Asset management: Operational efficiency targets, capital budgets for infrastructure maintenance; new code of practice for better quality road surfaces
- Working successfully together: Local authorities, HA, HELG, RIEPs
- Reviews: Lessons from the Severe Weather February 2009; independent Quarmby Review
Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport (CONFIRMED)
|
| 09:50 |
Quarmby Review: Moving Ahead – Lessons Learned
- Quarmby Review: Building on the findings of the UKLRG report
- Key findings and recommendations:
- Planning, preparation and management of services during winter 2010/11
- Preparedness for future years
- Service coordination: Key examples of good practice
David Quarmby CBE, Chairman, RAC Foundation, Chair, Review Team (CONFIRMED)
|
| 10:10 |
Questions and Answers Session |
| 10:25 |
UK Roads Liaison Group – Lessons from the Severe Weather February 2009
- 19 recommendations from the report: Key lessons for future planning:
- Improve resilience of transport networks
- Improve planning and operation during severe weather conditions
- Communicate key messages between partner organisations and the general public
- Review and improve collaborative procurement arrangements
- What has happened so far?
- Key lessons for the future
Matthew Lugg, Director, Environment and Transport, Leicestershire County Council Chair, UK Roads Board, and Second Vice President, ADEPT (Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport) (CONFIRMED)
|
| 10:45 |
Britain’s Rail Network: Meeting Customer Needs
- Strategic importance of rail services to the economy
- Maintaining rail operations: De-icing rail networks and overhead cables
- Customer oriented: Assisting our teams to travel to and from work
- Planning for severe weather conditions: Revised timetables
- Providing information to passengers: Using modern technologies to communicate with passengers; National Rail Enquiry
- Through ticketing - working with other transport service operators: Allowing passengers with tickets bought in advance to reach their destination using any reasonable route
- Customer support: Redeploying current and hiring new staff to meet customers’ needs
- Improving performance: Reviewing our response to the severe weather conditions
Ashwin Kumar, Rail Passenger Director, Passenger Focus (CONFIRMED)
|
| 11:05 |
Questions and Answers Session |
| 11:15 |
Coffee Break and Networking |
| 11:40 |
Open for Business: Keeping Britain Moving
- Small businesses: supporting the growth of Britain’s economy
- Cost implications of absenteeism due to transport disruptions and severe weather conditions
- Responding to the implications of climate change: The need for better preparedness and coordination between councils, businesses and the general public
- Business continuity planning: Providing small businesses with the information and knowledge they require to improve their preparedness
- Business continuity risks: Introduction of government emergency grant support schemes for small business affected by extreme weather conditions
- Stocks and supplies of rock salt: Ensuring minimum supplies of salt are stored by highway authorities
- Digital Britain: The need for faster broadband access speeds to enable widespread adoption of video conference and new technologies
Mary Boughton, FRSA, MBE, Chairman, Health, Safety and Risk Management Committee, FSB (CONFIRMED)
|
| 12:00 |
Understanding Climate Change: Future Planning and Policy Development
- Climate change: Changing our behaviour and practices
- Providing accurate forecasts and weather warnings for all: Milder winters and severe weather events
- Planning ahead: Working with transport, government and business organisations to improve operation and business planning
- Risk assessments: Assisting organisations to translate policy into practice
Philip Evans, Director, Government Services, Met Office (CONFIRMED)
|
| 12:20 |
Questions and Answers Session |
| 12:30 |
Emergency Feeding for Resilience: Vestey Foods Neal Prest, Brand Development Executive, Vestey Foods (CONFIRMED) & Captain Jeremy Rigby, Royal Navy, Team Leader, Defence Food Services (CONFIRMED) |
| 12:50 |
A Coordinated Response: Local Authorities’ Perspective
- Keeping our roads clear: An integrated, effective response
- Working cooperatively: Salt supplies, storage and distribution
- Business continuity – policy and practice: Reviewing contingency planning policies and procedures
- Key priorities: Meeting the needs of the health, social and community care, and education sectors; business, retail and farming
- Information, advice and guidance: Providing communities with the information they need; assisting the most vulnerable
- Mitigating and adapting to climate change: next steps
- Investing in transport infrastructure: Potholes - funding needed to repair road surfaces
Cllr Peter Box, Chair of the LG Group Economy & Transport Board, Local Government Association (CONFIRMED)
|
| 13:10 |
Questions and Answers Session |
| 13:20 |
Chair's Summary and Conclusions |
| 13:25 |
Lunch and Networking |
| 14:00 |
Close |
*programme subject to change without notice
Sponsor
Vestey Foods UK Ltd
Audience
Delegates will include central government departments and agencies, road safety officers, teachers, youth and community workers, transport planners and managers, logisticians, engineers, transport research organisations, schools and colleges, architects and planners, NHS, PCT, and ambulance, fire and police rescue services, faith, parent, voluntary, community and sports organisations, housing associations, trade unions and think-tanks.
