Catalogue description Department of Transport: Records of the Local Transport Policy Division: Registered Files (LOCTP and LTPOL Series)

The Local Transport Policy Division was set up in 1996 and was responsible for policy in respect of local authority transport functions and funding, urban transport policy outside London, relations with Passenger Transport Authorities (PTA’s) and Passenger Transport Executives (PTE’s) and the package approach to local transport infrastructure funding.

In 1997 the Division was organised in four branches:-

LTP 1 – Policy on local authority transport expenditure, including local roads

LTP 2 – Local authority transport capital expenditure, including guided buses and light and heavy rail outside London. Policy on European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant for local projects. Provided the Secretariat for the Public Transports Executives Group (PTEG)

LTP 3 – Management of the Transport Policy and Programme (TPP) system including Transport Support Grant (TSG) and the package approach to transport infrastructure funding and road grants under the Industrial Development Act 1982. In 1999 it became responsible for the Secretariat to the National Transport Partnership Meeting (NTPM). In 2000 it gained responsibility for local authority transport revenue expenditure, funding and maintenance of local roads, standard spending assessments and private funding for local authority transport functions.

LTP 4 – Land use planning issues, Regional Policy Guidance, rural transport policy and urban transport policies, including the inner cities. In 1999 it became responsible for local authority bridge strengthening. In 2000 it became responsible for the follow up action to the Local Transport White Paper. In 2002 this Branch gained responsibility for transport aspects of the Local Government agenda, including performance assessment.

In 2000 some re-organisation took place in LTP 1 and changes in responsibility were as follows:-

LTP 1 – Guidance on local authority transport powers and the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997

LTP 5 was created with responsibility for multi-modal corridor studies. In 2001 this branch lapsed, but was re-created in 2002 to handle public service agreements in local transport.

In 2002 an LTP 1B Branch was created with responsibility for policy on social exclusion, access and mobility issues following the Local Government White Paper.

The Division ceased to exist by 2006 with LTP 5 being the last operating branch.