Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Panel Members Dan Boatright-Greene and David Ross, from Cabinet Members Richard Morris and Mike Rouse and from Rachel Hill (Assistant Director, Major Projects and Waste).

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 22 September 2023). Further details are available on the Council’s website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed in this agenda and on the website.

None.

Previously circulated.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

The Panel received a report which provided an update on Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) and Community Transport (CT).

The Assistant Director for Highways & Transport Operations (Assistant Director) highlighted that with the challenging background of commercial bus operations in the county, going forward DRT and CT were seen as vital sustainable components towards trying to ensure that residents could have access to a transport option, especially in rural areas. Worcestershire on Demand (WOD) was the Council’s DRT operation, with an initial trial having taken place in Bromsgrove and a further trial currently taking place in Malvern.

The following points were raised by Members as part of the discussions:

Demand Responsive Transport

·         In response to a question about the use of the Bromsgrove on Demand (BOD) service, the Head of Transport Technology (HTT) advised that the usage of the service was fairly constant; whilst there had been a reduction in requests for transport, there had only been a very small decrease, less than 3%, in actual journeys taken. The HTT confirmed that it was a flat fare of £2.50 per journey.

·         The Assistant Director explained that when DRT was in a robust position, it could then be reviewed as to how it could dovetail with existing bus services. This was currently a transitional piece of work and there was no intention to degrade current services at this stage, with the whole process needing careful thought. The Assistant Director added that DRT had filled a gap with commuters travelling to Bromsgrove station and that this would have had a positive impact on air quality in that area.

·         A query was raised about the cost of DRT per passenger compared to commercial buses. The HTT advised that an overview of this was currently being carried out. Whilst it was difficult to do a precise like for like, it was felt sufficient data was now available so that a comparison could be made. Once the work was completed the outcome would be shared with the Panel.

·         The flexible nature of the DRT system was highlighted compared to fixed bus services. Reference was made to the use of use of trip attractors in the Malvern scheme which could be used to boost user numbers.

·         A Member raised the need for additional bus stops to be provided on main commercial bus routes, for instance in proximity to where new housing estates had been built. The Assistant Director advised that the funding situation relating to the S106 planning agreement would be checked in this regard. The Panel was assured that the team were always keen to highlight any additional potential usage to bus operators and the Assistant Director agreed to follow this up.

·         A related issue was raised about there being bus stops in some locations which were unused because no bus companies were currently operating those routes. The HTT advised that a review was to be carried out which would include this issue and details would be reported back.

·         In response to a request, the HTT agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Performance – Quarter 1 (April to June 2023)

The Chairman enquired about the progress being made towards this Panel having access to Power Bi. The Lead Analyst advised that he would liaise with the Chairman following the meeting, with a view to arranging an informal demonstration for the Panel.

The Panel raised a number of queries relating to the performance data as follows:

Condition of Street signage

A Member raised concern about the poor condition of some street signage in her area, in that they were dirty and falling over. Other Members agreed that they also were noticing similar issues. The Assistant Director advised that inspection of street signage was part of the Highway Contractor’s core service and covered under one of their regular inspection schedules. He would contact the Highways Contractor to highlight the concerns that had been raised. In the meantime, Members were encouraged to continue reporting these matters to the Directorate in the usual way.

Waste Composting

In order to improve waste composting levels, a Member asked what the next steps would be to engage the public. The Member referred to a free magazine provided in her area offering advice to residents on these issues, which she felt was really helpful. The Assistant Director advised that there was a dedicated resource allocated for promotional activity to reach the wider public and it was confirmed that further avenues would be explored.

Countryside Access - Volunteer Groups

The Chairman highlighted the significant benefits to be gained by the Council from the effective use of volunteer groups and for the volunteers themselves from their involvement in the groups. He was keen to see their further development. The Assistant Director acknowledged the significant number of issues resolved by the volunteer groups and he would encourage their further expansion.

Pothole Defects report graph

The Chairman referred to the new pothole defects graph and the Lead Analyst advised that this enhanced graph had been introduced to provide more detailed information and some context around the clarifications. 

Highways Development Control cases

A query was raised on the June figures as to why, despite less cases being received, there was a reduction in the number of cases completed that month. The Lead Analyst advised it was likely to relate to the complexity of the cases involved, or staffing issues, but he would check and report back to members.

Waste collected across Worcestershire

Members discussed the reasons why Worcestershire’s figures for waste collected (kg per head of the County’s population), were relatively high compared to other counties such as Oxfordshire. The Lead Analyst highlighted that a difference with some of the best performing authorities was that they carried out extensive collections including food waste. A Member explained that roadside collections represented only 38% of the kg per head figure, with the remainder coming from a variety of sources including bulky waste and commercial waste.

Greenhouse Gas emissions

A Member asked whether methane emissions were monitored separately, given its damaging impact. The Lead Analyst agreed to check  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

The Panel considered its current work programme, and no changes were required.

It was agreed that the situation with regard to the approval of the S278 Scrutiny Task Group report would be checked to clarify when the Cabinet would be reconsidering the report.

The Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board (OSPB) had asked Panel Chairman to invite Panel members to make suggestions for topics for the next Scrutiny Task Group. All suggestions would be considered at the next OSPB meeting on 19 October. Members were asked to forward any ideas that they wished to be considered.

In response to a Member’s question about a school street policy, the Assistant Director agreed to follow this up.