The Impact of Central Government Policies on Local Authorities’ Transport Expenditure and Provision. 2: Analysis of Trends in Local Transport Expenditure Since 1979.

This report presents results from the second stage of a research project, funded by the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, which aims to assess the impact of recent changes in central government policies and powers in relation to local government finance upon local authoritiesf transport expenditure and outputs and upon their approach to addressing local transport problems and needs. A previous Working Paper (Sanderson, 1988) reviews relevant changes in government policies and financial control mechanisms and identifies major research issues. The results presented in the present report derive from an analysis of data on trends in local authoritiesf transport expenditure relative to Government's spending plans and expenditure provisions over the period since 1979/80 which attempts to identify the impact of changes in government policies and controls. Conclusions from this analysis will provide the basis for a more detailed examination of information relating to a small sample of local authorities from which a better understanding of cause-effect relationships will be obtained. The results from this latter stage of the research will be published in a third working paper.