TSN Annual Report - Annex 4: Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland Draft New TSN Action Plan

The first New TSN Annual Report

November 1999

Annex 4 (continued)

Business Area:	Housing – Energy Consumption
Social need to be tackled:	Domestic energy use and the problem of fuel poverty
Desired outcome:	Reduction in domestic energy consumption and the eradication of fuel poverty
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 25 To promote energy conservation with a view to improving energy efficiency and addressing fuel poverty in the residential sector. Fuel poverty applies to all those who spend more than 10% of their income on fuel.	a. Grant aid for individuals receiving social security benefit, or aged 60 or over, under the Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme (Ł2.88m) by March 2000. b. Upgrade the energy efficiency of an estimated 15,000 NIHE homes by March 2000. c. Deliver energy efficiency advice to 5,000 households by March 2000. d. Develop at least 3 projects aimed at addressing fuel poverty under the Home Energy Conservation Act programme. e. Consider how those in specific disadvantaged areas are kept informed of energy efficiency services. f. Develop new policy to meet the challenge posed by fuel poverty through restructuring of the Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme by September 2000. g. Address the energy inefficiency of the housing stock using pilot schemes in 2 fuel poverty areas in West (Beechmount) and East (Willowfield) Belfast by December 2000 (c. Ł3m).

5.

5.1

Regional Planning and Planning

In consultation with Departments, Regional Planning Division has prepared a draft Regional Strategic Framework (draft RSF) which will provide a new development strategy for Northern Ireland up to 2025. The final RSF will complement the Department of Economic Development "Strategy 2010".

5.2

The draft RSF addresses a number of issues, including the problems associated with a divided society, lack of social cohesion and geographic concentration of disadvantage. It sets the context for the preparation of development plans and Strategic Planning Guidelines which provide a strategic planning framework for strengthening the regional economy and tackling social disadvantage. It deals with land use but also recognises that polices for physical development have an important bearing on other matters. The final RSF will also facilitate and guide the public sector generally in respect of those elements of its strategies and programmes which have a spatial development perspective.

5.3

The Planning Service regulates the development and use of land in the public interest. Planning policies are each the subject of a specific New TSN assessment and take account of disadvantage where appropriate. The Development Plan Programme includes a framework for regenerating deprived and derelict areas. Plans also take account of the draft RSF which embraces the aims and objectives of New TSN.

5.4

The role of the Planning Service is mainly to create the land-use conditions which will facilitate development, however, development in areas of social need is determined by developers. Recent government policies such as those relating to development on brownfield sites and New TSN will provide a clearer focus on areas which are deprived in land-use terms and on the ability of planning policies to promote development.

Business Area:	Regional Planning Division
Social need to be tackled:	Accessibility of jobs, housing, social amenities and a quality living environment
Desired outcome:	The development of a final Regional Strategic Framework (RSF) which provides a balance of opportunities across Northern Ireland in line with the core Guiding Principles of the Draft Strategy, in order to meet social need
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 26 Reflection of the principles of New TSN in the draft of the final RSF.	a. To incorporate the outcome of the process of public consultation in the draft of the final RSF by Spring 2000. b. To undertake a Strategic Environmental Appraisal of the draft final RSF which will include social equity and quality of life themes by Spring 2000
DOE 27 To consider the mechanisms needed for implementation and co-ordination of the RSF.	a. To liaise with Planning Service and other Government Departments to consider options for the development of an action plan, to include appropriate New TSN indicators by 2000-2001. b. To ensure New TSN indicators are incorporated in any future action plans for the implementation and monitoring of the regional development strategy. c. To liaise with Planning Service on additional guidance that may be required in relation to the implications of the New TSN elements of the RSF.

Business Area:	Land-Use Planning
Social need to be tackled:	Availability of jobs, housing, social amenities and a quality living environment
Desired outcome:	A sufficient supply of suitably designated land to facilitate development conducive to meeting the social need
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 28 To assess the New TSN impact of development plans.	a. Identification of New TSN-relevant criteria in a development plan context and completion of a baseline survey. Complete initial research by December 2000.
DOE 29 To ensure that new development plans reflect New TSN principles.	a. Review of development plan procedures and issue of revised guidance. Complete review and issue guidance by June 2000.
DOE 30 To ensure that new or revised Planning Policy Statements (operational) reflect New TSN principles.	a. To require that a New TSN Assessment is completed when preparing new or revised planning policies, throughout the period of this Plan.
DOE 31 Development of the Planning Service Geographical Information System (GIS) to include New TSN-relevant data.	a. To incorporate data collected by the Urban Capacity Study in the GIS by March 2000. b. To add data from subsequent annual monitoring of that baseline to the GIS each year over the Plan period.
DOE 32 Promote greater use of brownfield land for development.	a. Study of the capacity of previously developed sites in urban areas by March 2000. b. Annual monitoring of the baseline from July 2000 onwards. c. Publish Development Control Advice Note on housing development on brownfield land by March 2000. d. Implementation of RSF through Development Plan programme by June 2000 onwards (or when RSF is in place, whichever is sooner).
DOE 33 Provide support to URG with regeneration programmes.	a. Delivery of annual work programme in accordance with Service Level Agreement agreed with URG, throughout the period of this Plan.

6.

6.1

Roads and Transport

The Department has a duty to maintain and improve the public road network. These activities benefit all sections of the community but they also have a positive effect on social need by, for example, reducing peripherality.

6.2

Programmes for capital works are prioritised using an appraisal framework which embraces improvements to the accessibility of key economic centres and the concept of equity – so that the travel needs of every group of people, including the elderly, rural dwellers and the disabled, are catered for fairly. The potential for all schemes to contribute further to improved conditions in disadvantaged areas is being examined.

6.3

In November 1998 the Department published the Northern Ireland Transport Policy Statement, Moving Forward, which set out a strategy for developing a more balanced, substantive, integrated and effective transport system. The Regional Transport Plan being prepared for 2001-2002 to 2005-2006 will seek to increase the accessibility and mobility of disadvantaged people and to address key transport corridors identified in the draft RSF and Strategy 2010.

6.4

In exercising its responsibilities for public transport policy the Department oversees the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC), a public corporation with one rail and two bus subsidiaries which trade under the brand name "Translink", and provides grant assistance for bus and rail usage. Programmes such as the concessionary fares scheme and the Rural Transport Fund have significant impacts on social need.

Business Area:	Roads
Social need to be tackled:	Peripherality and accessibility
Desired outcome:	Reduced peripherality and improved accessibility
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 34 To ensure the inclusion of a strategy for targeting social need in the Regional Transport Plan for the period 2001-2002 to 2005-2006.	a. Develop aims and objectives of strategy following consultation. b. Draft Regional Transport Plan for 2001-2002 to 2005-2006 to be completed by July 2000.
DOE 35 To incorporate New TSN considerations into the assessment criteria for major works schemes.	a. To refine a system of weighting and performance indicators as part of the New Appraisal Framework by 30 September 2000. b. To review the study by the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment, on the link between investment in roads infrastructure and economic regeneration, and consider its applicability to NI and the implications for major works schemes
DOE 36 To demonstrate that major works schemes are reducing peripherality and hence making a positive impact on social need.	a. To refine the data collection process on journey times on the Key Strategic Route Network by 30 September 2000.
DOE 37 To investigate the potential for minor works schemes to contribute to improved New TSN conditions in disadvantaged areas.	a. To report on outcome by 30 September 2000 and make recommendations on the way forward.

Business Area:	Transport (Policy and Support) Division
Social need to be tackled:	Accessibility and mobility
Desired outcome:	Improved accessibility and mobility
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 38 To review the pilot Free Travel Scheme for the elderly.	a. To analyse the data collected through the pilot Free Travel Scheme for the elderly and consider the impact of the results on the current concessionary fares scheme, six-month pilot to be completed by January 2000. b. Consideration of the outcome of the public consultation on the current concessionary fares scheme. Consultation analysis and final report to be available in April 2000.
DOE 39 To maintain and improve the overall level of public transport services in rural areas.	a. To review the findings of the network study of Rural Transport Services in conjunction with the NITHC and Translink. b. To consider the consultant’s report into the development of a methodology to underpin the granting of unprofitable routes and the New TSN implications. Methodology to be in place in April 2000.
DOE 40 To consider in consultation with NITHC and Translink what guidance should be provided in respect of New TSN.	a. Development of a more focused approach to New TSN with NITHC and Translink by early 2000. b. New TSN principles to be reflected in NITHC and Translink Corporate Plan for 2000/2001. c. NITHC and Translink Action Plan to be available by 2001.

7.

7.1

Local Government, Water, Environment and Heritage, Finance and Central Policy and Management
These areas all impact in some way on social need.

7.2

Research is underway to establish how the Local Government General Exchequer Grant for 1999-2000 – which includes Ł18m for disbursement to District Councils which would otherwise have difficulty in providing their services from local resources – can be made more accessible to New TSN considerations.

7.3

The Water Service provides water and sewerage services to quality and environmental standards set out in legislation and EU Directives. Almost 99% of properties are connected to the public water supply. About 6,000 properties are not connected to mains water; generally these are isolated properties in rural areas. Connections are provided at the request of the householders. However the householder must meet any costs over Ł2,000. The New TSN Action Plan indicates that Water Service will identify houses not connected to the public supply and investigate the technical and financial feasibility of connection.

7.4

The Environmental and Heritage Service (EHS) seeks to improve air and water quality and to enhance the natural and built environment. Disadvantaged people may have fewer opportunities than others to enjoy or appreciate the environment. EHS will consider how this might be addressed by its education strategy.

7.5

Finance Division plays a crucial role in advising of the New TSN implications of resource allocations.

7.6

The Central Policy Management Unit has a pivotal advisory and support role in the development of departmental New TSN policy.

Business Area:	Local Government Division
Social need to be tackled:	Multiple disadvantage in all NI District Council areas
Desired outcome:	Reduction in social need across a range of social and economic indicators
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 41 To incorporate into the formula for the calculation of the resources element of General Exchequer Grant to District Councils, factors which will take account of relative socio-economic disadvantage.	a. Completion of the review of the formula and the introduction of the new arrangements for the financial year 2001-2002.
DOE 42 To make District Councils more acutely aware of New TSN and its objectives and to encourage them to skew resources towards those in greatest social need.	a. By January 2000, to highlight through Local Government circulars and other means, the need for District Councils to give greater consideration to New TSN when drawing up annual spending priorities. b. To issue advice and guidance to District Councils on monitoring arrangements by March 2000. c. To suggest to Councils how to incorporate and give due consideration to New TSN as part of economic investment appraisals undertaken for capital projects by March 2000.

Business Area:	Water Service
Social need to be tackled:	The 1% of houses (mainly in remote rural communities) which do not have a public water supply
Desired outcome:	A reduction in the number of houses not connected to the public water supply system
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 43 To seek to provide a public water supply, where requested by the householder, to some of the 1% of houses currently without a supply.	a. To establish details of the number and locations of houses not connected to the public water supply system by end January 2000. b. By April 2000, to consider the technical and financial practicability of providing a public water supply to existing rural properties currently without a supply.

Business Area:	Environment and Heritage Service
Social need to be tackled:	Environmental awareness in disadvantaged communities
Desired outcome:	Improved opportunities for educational and awareness activities
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 44 Targeted inclusion of disadvantaged groups in education and awareness activities.	a. Consider opportunities for focusing educational and awareness activities on disadvantaged areas or groups. b. Education strategy to include specific measures targeted on disadvantaged communities and groups. Measures included in Agency strategies by March 2000.

Business Area:	Finance Division
Social need to be tackled:	Lack of resources for those in social need
Desired outcome:	Increased resources for those in social need
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 45 Identify and highlight to the Department’s Top Management Group, the New TSN implications of public expenditure reallocations as identified by Budget Holders.	a. Request Budget Holders to identify any New TSN implications of bids for additional resources and possible budget reductions in future public expenditure reviews and in-year monitoring rounds and highlight these in submissions to the Top Management Group. b. Respond to Public Expenditure timetable as requested by the Department of Finance and Personnel. In year monitoring July, October, December and February.

Business Area:	Central Policy Management Unit and Top Level Management New TSN Working Group
Social need to be tackled:	Targeting of social need
Desired outcome:	Improved targeting of social need
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
DOE 46 Changing the Departmental culture.	a. To implement Departmental New TSN training programmes for Divisions and Agencies by March 2000. b. To ensure that Agencies and Divisions have mechanisms in place for keeping relevant staff informed of developments, including the highlighting of progress and good practice in team briefs, as appropriate.
DOE 47 Changing strategic and corporate management.	a. To examine on a yearly basis the content of all strategic and corporate policy documents to ensure the inclusion of New TSN principles and activities.
DOE 48 Establishment of New TSN monitoring system.	a. All Divisions, Agencies and NDPBs to receive assistance from Departmental statisticians and economists to prepare effective New TSN monitoring systems to determine the impact and effectiveness of New TSN activities by January 2000.
DOE 49 Establishment of the machinery to drive forward action on New TSN.	a. Provision of ongoing guidance to NDPBs on training and on the implementation of New TSN Action Plans. b. Provision of regular monitoring information to the New TSN Departmental Working Group to help it oversee the implementation of the New TSN Action Plan.
DOE 50 Maintain an ongoing awareness of developments in New TSN both within DOE and other Departments and ensure effective communication processes are in place to share knowledge.	a. Through the existing mechanisms of an in-house magazine and staff briefing, keep staff informed of any developments and highlight examples of progress and good practice.