Highways Agency

EFFICIENCY

FORWARD THINKING AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ON THE MOTORWAY AND TRUNK ROAD NETWORK ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICES TO ROAD USERS.

Installing safety fences near Scratchwood services on the M1, junction 2.

The new aim and objectives for the Agency, reinforced by the long-term goals in "Transport 2010:The 10 Year Plan", are already increasing the focus of the Agency on outcomes rather than outputs. This has given added impetus to the delivery of high quality services that are efficient and responsive to the needs of citizens in line with the Modernising Government agenda.

The M1/A1 link, Leeds - one of our recent DBFO successes.

Major changes in transport policy over the first five years of the Agency's existence have led to the Agency's role being redefined over that time. It is to the considerable credit of our skilled and able staff that they have responded so well in delivering the enormous changes required of us. However, we know that we still have a great deal to do, that improvement is a continuous process, and that we need to apply the same innovative thinking to improving our internal processes as is applied on the motorway and trunk road network.

The majority of the targets set in 1999/2000 were achieved, including publishing a Green Policy statement and Action Plan, and meeting most of the Road User Charter obligations and Whitehall Standards. However, the Agency did fail to achieve two key targets. The Accounts were qualified and we therefore failed to achieve the target of publishing audited accounts in the Treasury Resource Accounting and Budgeting format. We are aiming now to publish on 21 March 2001. The Agency also failed to achieve Investors in People (I IP) accreditation although the assessment recognised the significant progress made towards achieving the standard.

We remain committed to achieving IIP accreditation in 2000 and have taken further steps to support our staff and provide them with the new skills and resources they need to deliver our changing business. The Agency's development and training team was strengthened during 1999/2000 by the appointment of local training advisers in each office. The Agency's central training programme was overhauled and updated and a range of new courses offered. These changes contributed to the Agency gaining I IP accreditation in October 2000.

During 1999/2000 other changes were introduced to enable the Agency to fulfil its network operator role more effectively and to prepare the organisation for the future. We strengthened the relationships with planning bodies by re-aligning the Agency's operational boundaries to match those of the Government Offices and regional planning bodies. This enables the Agency's Network and Customer Service teams to concentrate on developing relationships with these and other partners, while our Project Services teams focus on the delivery of programmes and schemes.