Agenda item

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

28.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport regarding the mitigation measures put in place following the launch of the Reformulated Supported Bus Network (RSBN).

28.2     The Team Manager, Public Transport Services introduced the report. A lot of work has been undertaken to mitigate the impact of the changes brought about by the introduction of the RSBN and the address the concerns expressed at the time of the Cabinet report in December 2014. Fewer services and bus users have been affected than expected through the commercialisation of routes and other changes that have been made to services (e.g. through timetable changes and better connections to other services). The work with partners, such as Parish Councils, and providers has been a very positive development and has increased the level of understanding of the issues involved in bus service development.

28.3     The Committee thanked the officers for a thorough report, and discussed the following issues.

Dial-a-Ride

28.4     The Committee expressed some concern about the uptake and viability of these services. The Committee asked who was eligible to use these services and if it was possible to expand the publicity for them.

28.5     The Team Manager, Public Transport Services explained that these services are available to anybody who cannot use public transport (i.e. anyone who finds it difficult to use public transport). To use the service, you need to register will the Community Transport Operator first. There is a charge for using Dial-a-Ride services which is typically £2.50 for a single journey. They are not intended to compete with other services and are usually operated in conjunction with a number of organisations (e.g. for the Lewes and Newhaven area the Public Transport team works with Town Council and Community Transport provider).

28.6     The cost of Dial-a-Ride services is around £18 per passenger, and the costs a met from the main Passenger Transport budget. They are relatively expensive due to poorer utilisation rates as they are a door to door services and do not tend to carry as many passengers. In Eastbourne the Dial-a-Ride service typically carries 8 passengers a day. The Public Transport team are working to improve this with zoning and will review after six months. In many areas the accessibility of buses has been improved, which may have had an impact on the uptake of Dial-a-Ride services. In the case of Eastbourne there is also a very well developed network of commercial bus services.

Sustainability of smaller operators

28.7     The Committee expressed some concern about the financial viability of some of the smaller operators. It had heard, for example, that Compass was losing access to its depot in Lewes, which may lead to them ceasing to provide some services.

28.8     The Team Manager, Public Transport Services replied that it was important in the wider provision of bus services to have a mixture of smaller and larger operators. The department is in discussion with Compass to identify a suitable alternative operating base in Lewes.

Bus Operators ability to provide and change services

28.9     Any operator can provide a new service, or change an existing service, by giving 56 days notices of their intention to do so. The Public Transport team work continually with operators to improve services. This work includes discussing any proposals to change or provide new services, but it should be borne in mind that there is a finite time that a bus and it’s driver can operate. Route congestion can have an impact on service provision as operators have duty to operate service punctually. Where punctuality can be improved through bus improvement partnerships, it is sometimes possible re-invest the savings (e.g. Stage Coach were able to offer to operate a new service along the Bexhill to Hastings link road due to the improvement the link road made to the A259 congestion).

School services

28.10   Councillor Whetstone asked it of was possible to band the charges for home to school transport and link them to distance travelled rather than charge a flat rate. The Team Manager, Public Transport Services responded that these are ‘closed door’ services for schools and were essentially private buses for schools. As such the charging policy is set be the Children’s Services department.

28.11   ‘Closed door’ services are provided to meet a statutory need as part the duty to provide free home to school transport to the nearest suitable school for eligible children. The department will sell spare seats on these services and will try to get public bus services to meet the need where possible. In cases where the nearest school is full, the Children’s Services departments may pay for travel to a suitable school that that is further away.

Success of Mitigation Measures

28.12   The Committee congratulated officers on the work they had done to mitigate the impact of the introduction of the RSBN. The outcome has been far better than the Committee thought it would be. The Committee was satisfied that the mitigation measures put in place have been effective.

28.13   The Committee RESOLVED to:

(1)        Note the implementation of the reformulated supported bus network in conjunction with the priorities set out in the Public Transport Strategy Commissioning Strategy; and

(2)        Note the progress made in mitigating the effects of the reformulated supported bus network on local communities.