Mandatory & Local Performance Indicators
10.7 Each LTP performance indicator has a robust methodology and includes a quantifiable base year and target year figure set against a time-series trajectory covering the period of the plan. Full details of Kent's LTP targets are presented in Tables 10.4 and 10.5. Kent's LTP will continue to be measured against key outcome performance indicators, therefore enabling KCC to assess the real and measurable improvements in the quality of life for local people as well as improvements to local transport services and the effective delivery of LTP objectives
10.8 Kent's mandatory LTP indictors consist of nine existing Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) that featured in the first round of LTPs and a series eight new indicators that reflect the LTP's shared priority objectives of tackling congestion, improving accessibility, improving safety and improving air quality. With the exception of indicator LTP7 (Congestion), Kent's LTP includes all of the mandatory performance indicators prescribed by Government in December 2005. The Government's mandatory indicators and shared priority objectives present local authorities with a clear understanding of Government's transport priorities for the future, enabling Kent to identify specific links between national objectives and its own long term vision for Kent. The mandatory indicators relate closely to Kent's local transport priorities over the five year period of the LTP and also relate to Kent's wider objectives as set out in its Community Strategy "The Vision for Kent." In particular, they reflect the delivery of the County's two major growth areas, Kent Thameside and Ashford, and the regeneration needs of East Kent. They prioritise the need to tackle the occurrence of congestion and journey time delay on busy urban and inter-urban routes whilst improving access to key services for those living in isolated areas and amongst social excluded groups.
10.9 Three of the seventeen mandatory indicators are based on a specific criteria, such as an urban population threshold or the existence of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and are therefore only mandatory for some LTP authorities. These include; indicator LTP6 (Peak hour traffic flows), LTP7 (Congestion) and LTP8 (Air Quality, AQMAs). Of these indicators, Kent meets the criteria for indicators LTP6 and LTP8, therefore they are included this Plan. LTP7 (Congestion) has not been included as Kent does not have a single urban area that meets the Government's 250,000 population threshold for monitoring.
10.10 Kent's local performance indicators complement its mandatory performance indicators and reflect the County Council's vision for transport, economic development and housing growth in Kent more closely. They also focus on the wider social, economic and environmental issues faced by Kent in the longer-term and the need to ensure Kent's growth and regeneration agendas are delivered in a sustainable manner. Whilst there is a clear distinction between mandatory and local performance indicators in the LTP, it is the County Council's belief that, in order to demonstrate the full effectiveness of the Kent's policies and strategies, both categories of performance indicators should be considered together. Kent's local performance indicators also comprise a base-year figure and a time-series trajectory covering the period of the LTP. The rationale for choosing local performance indicators is based on an assessment of the County Council's overarching transport objectives and priorities and an assessment of what outcomes they ultimately achieve.
10.11 Several local performance indicators, including KLTP1, 2, and 6, focus on specific parts of the County, rather than the County as a whole. This approach to setting certain local indicators has been adopted to assess the impact of those measures that are specific to certain parts of the County.
10.12 For instance, KLTP1 reflects the work of the Folkestone Walking Strategy, Kent's first town specific Walking Strategy. The strategy is now in its fourth year and, through an ongoing programme of consultation, partnership working and local highway measures, has improved the town's key pedestrian routes considerably. KLTP1 sets an ambitious target to increase pedestrian flows into the town centre by a further 10%. The County Council's progress towards this target will act as a good indicator as to whether the Folkestone Walking Strategy, and its associated measures, have been successful in achieving their desired outcomes. Furthermore, the lessons learnt from the Folkestone Walking Strategy will provide best practice guidance for the rest of the County and, as a result, increased levels of pedestrian activity can be achieved elsewhere in Kent.
10.13 Performance Indicator KLTP2 will monitor household accessibility in Ashford, Dover and Tunbridge Wells to their local town centre. Through improve partnership working in these particular areas, Kent is currently exploring opportunities to improve local bus services, which would have a direct impact on improving local accessibility. Again, this approach will enable the County Council to measure the impacts of the proposed improvements and provide good practice for other public transport terminals in Kent.
10.14 Performance Indicator KLTP6 measures cycling trips in Ashford, one of Kent's principal growth areas. The indicator will enable the County Council to ensure that Ashford's growth agenda, in terms of housing and employment, incorporate sustainable transport measures and adhere to Kent's sustainable redevelopment policies and objectives. As with KLTP1and KLTP2, this approach will provide evidence of good practice, which will be used to promote cycling in new developments across Kent in the future.