Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Key contact: Nigel Foxall, Corporate Performance and Information Manager
Fleet profile: 45 vehicles and 54 essential/casual car users
Business: Manages the Lee Valley Regional Park, London’s biggest open space
Locations: Enfield

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is responsible for managing London’s biggest open space. The 26-mile long, 10,000-acre linear park, stretching along the banks of the River Lee, from Ware in Hertfordshire, through Essex, to the Thames at East India Dock Basin presents employees with a daily management and development challenge.

Environmental management plus a duty to develop and preserve leisure, recreation, sport and nature are prime responsibilities of the Authority, so efficient use of vehicles is vital.
In 2008 the Authority will reap the benefits of a ‘root and branch’ review of its entire vehicle fleet, including private vehicles used for business purposes, known as grey fleet. The comprehensive review comprises of an Energy Saving Trust Green Fleet Review coupled with the findings of an internal audit.

Both provide recommendations that will cut capital costs, reduce the size of the vehicle operation through better usage, lower the organisation’s transport carbon footprint and bring safety benefits. According to Nigel Foxall, the Authority’s Corporate Performance and Information Manager: “The results have put our transport operation on a professional footing that will bring numerous benefits to the organisation and the environment.”

Authority gears up for a lean, green fleet
The Authority’s internal audit make a number of recommendations for improved management of business vehicles, which travel some 100,000 miles a year within the confines of the Park. While this was being carried out, Mr Foxall contacted the Energy Saving Trust for information about carrying out a Green Fleet Review.

The Green Fleet Review resulted in a range of recommendations to radically overhaul and transform the Authority’s grey fleet. Fifty four employees have essential/casual car user status, driving around 51,600 miles a year; however the fleet is now in the process of being transformed into a lean, green operation.

Instrumental in pushing changes through was the newly-established Vehicle Management Project Team, chaired by Nigel Foxall. Its first priority was to draw up a report for Authority members to ensure buy-in at a strategic level.

With ongoing help from the Energy Saving Trust a comprehensive fleet policy was compiled for the first time. The implementation process started with:
• The introduction of software to manage and track vehicle and fuel use
• Best practice and duty of care measures, such as licence checks and compiling private use vehicle documentation

“The Green Fleet Review is tailored to individual company needs, so other organisations can achieve what we have. I would recommend the service to all businesses that want to
reduce their environmental impact and run a fleet that is truly fit-for-purpose.” Nigel Foxall, Corporate Performance, and Information Manager, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

More changes ahead
With the planning and development phase complete and approval obtained from senior management, 2008 will see the Authority implement further measures to truly “green” its transport operations. Planned activities include:
• A new vehicle replacement programme
• A six month biodiesel trial and assessment of electric vehicles
• Possible use of a single manufacturer policy to meet vehicle requirements
• Centralised control of fleet vehicles and the use of computerised fleet management reports to reduce capital and operating costs
• The appointment of an accident management and fleet management company
• Driver risk assessments and driver training – starting with Mr Foxall!
• Encouraging car sharing and video conferencing

Fleet put on a professional footing
Mr Foxall said: “We have completely transformed the fleet. Policy documents and procedures are in place for all drivers, and our vehicle acquisition policy is controlled and focused. We have occupational driving health and safety procedures and record keeping in place.

“We are undoubtedly reducing our carbon footprint because we have fewer vehicles. These will become increasingly cleaner in the future as new, lower carbon vehicles gradually replace existing units. The whole fleet is being used much more efficiently and we have introduced organisational and management controls to our transport operation. We have also put safety initiatives in place.”
 
Implementing recommendations covering vehicle operation and acquisition, environmental policy, insurance, fuel reimbursement and cost, and health and safety is a big, yet achievable target. Mr Foxall said: “We are on a massive journey but we now feel that our fleet is on a professional footing. The Green Fleet Review was core to the project.

We are not a big fleet and we don’t travel many miles but we care about the environment. We wanted to reduce our carbon footprint and the Energy Saving Trust was able to help.
“The Green Fleet Review is tailored to individual company needs, to other organisations can achieve what we have. I would recommend the service to all businesses that want to reduce their environmental impact and run a fleet that is truly fit-for-purpose.”

Source: Energy Saving Trust