Agenda item

Draft Strategy Document to follow

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways asked Cabinet to consider the request for a consultation regarding the draft Passenger Transport Strategy and any subsequent actions with regard to approval of the strategy.

£30 million was spent on passenger transport and it was clarified that every part of the transport system would be reviewed. The aim of the consultation was to find out what sort of transport people wanted, what they were prepared to pay and what support the Council could give. For home to school and social care transport the Council was looking to provide a rationalised system based on Best Value and cost effectiveness. Community transport needed to cover rural areas whilst bus services needed to ensure increased demand through improved marketing and a reliable and punctual service. The transport system needed to be integrated and efficient and would need to cope with an increase of around 200,000 people. It was accepted that it was a challenging task and that ambition and innovation would be required.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills explained that the consultation would be extended by a week, up to 13 weeks, to allow schools the chance to contribute to the consultation after they returned from the summer holidays. There were certain statutory duties detailed in the Education Act 1996 regarding providing transport for school pupils that would continue to be met, as well as ensuring compliance with the Public Sector equality duty and there would be a full impact assessment.

In the ensuing discussion the following main points were made:

·       It was essential for tax payers that the transport budget was spent wisely and efficiently

·       The fact that the consultation was looking at all forms of transport was welcomed and rationalisation was a good idea

·       Social Care Transport was an important issue and the allegations that certain buses were not supportive to people with learning disabilities and that more flexibility was requested would be investigated

·       The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care suggested that best practice in other areas should be considered and this view was echoed by a Member from outside the Cabinet who felt it was necessary to get bus companies to copy best practice

·       Malvern Chase community dial a ride bus and Tenbury Transport Trust was praised for setting up and running their own services

·       During the Libraries consultation the availability of transport had been brought up as an important issue

·       It was pointed out the public transport needed to be supported by the public and if usage was not consistent the services could not be maintained

·       Fran Oborski declared an Interest in that she was Chair of Wyre Forest Diamond Bus Users group. She said residents expected to have an accessible bus service to take them to school, work or hospital but some areas such as Habberley estate were denied that. She felt that school buses should pick up Members of the Public if they had capacity and that it was very important to consider special needs transport. The fact that subsidies were decreasing each year while drivers wages and other costs were increasing also needed to be considered. She pointed out that some councillors were sponsoring buses out of their divisional funds

·       Another member from outside the Cabinet was disappointed that there was not more detail in the consultation document and felt that people would find it difficult to respond to such a high-level policy document. She asked if a Councillor briefing could be arranged so that local members had more details. She felt it was a difficult time for rural transport as it could not always pay for itself.  The Cabinet Member responded by clarifying that the consultation was asking people what they wanted rather than telling them what would be provided. The details would be provided after the consultation

·       A member from outside the Cabinet felt that the strategy was an excellent starting point. He felt that the community knew what they wanted but were also aware that they may have to compromise. Upton Town Council had put in for a route to Worcester with support from Councillors and the service had become a success. He hoped that this consultation would lead to a sustainable blueprint for transport services

·       The Chairman pointed out that Worcestershire was a growing county so there was a market opportunity to grow passenger transport services. Integration with rail services also needed to be considered.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

(a)  endorsed the request to undertake a public consultation with all stakeholders on the draft Passenger Transport Strategy commencing on 13 June 2019 for a period of 13 weeks, the results of which will inform the recommended Strategy and development of policies to be considered by Cabinet in November 2019, with key areas covered including:

(i)    Home to School Transport;

(ii)  Public Transport;

(iii)Community Transport;

(iv)Social Care Transport;

(b)  agreed that the Director of Economy and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education and Skills, be authorised to finalise the consultation papers;

(c)  agreed that the Director of Economy and Infrastructure be authorised to undertake the consultation process;

(d)  receives a further report in November 2019 for formal approval of the Strategy having regard to the outcome of the consultation; and

(e)  noted that a review of the operational policies in relation to the transport report will follow once the Strategy is finalised.