Agendas, Meetings and Minutes - Agenda item

Agenda item

Worcestershire Passenger Transport Strategy Public Consultation

Minutes:

The Chairman explained that this agenda item had been due for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board (OSPB) the previous week but had needed to be referred to this Panel. Members of the OSPB had been invited to the meeting.

 

Paul Smith, the Council’s Transport Operations Manager had been asked to provide an overview of the draft Worcestershire Passenger Transport Strategy, which was being consulted on, so that the Panel could provide feedback to the consultation.

 

The Transport Operations Manager had prepared a presentation to summarise development of the draft Strategy, consultation on which had commenced on 6 June and would run until 13 September, thereby giving more time for schools to contribute. The consultation document was intended to set out and gain feedback on a wide range of themes which it was believed would inform the Strategy and the future for passenger transport. The draft Strategy was not at all set in stone. 

 

Members had been actively engaged and been sent a list of activities. So far, 98% of consultation responses were digital, however officers wanted to reach all groups of people and had liaised with the Council’s Corporate Equality and Diversity Manager about this. Copies had been placed in locations such as libraries and tourist information centres and themes had been incorporated into the Summer roadshows.

 

The key objectives were:

·         to create an inclusive Passenger Transport Strategy

·         to provide a network which offers access to key services (rural and urban)

·         to ensure a sustainable network

·         assessment of the impact of the Bus Services Act 2017

·         clarity about where, when and how the Local Authority would determine subsidising services

 

The consultation was going very well, with approximately 600 responses so far, and around 9000 anticipated. Analysis of feedback would include themes from narrative comments; early insight pointed to the need to maximise assets for example use of school transport, the need to raise the profile of community transport, the latter of which was therefore being included in the Summer roadshows, along with carshare schemes.

 

The Chairman invited comments and the following main points were raised:

 

·         Panel members reported positive feedback from residents that the consultation was clear and informative about the issues being considered.

·         The Transport Operations Manager agreed with a point from a Panel member about the importance of linking bus and rail services, including with the Birmingham transport network. It would also be important that services were complimentary and avoided duplication.

·         A Panel member reported feedback that buses of appropriate size for the route were important.

·         A Panel member had found community transport leaflets helpful and the Transport Operations Manager agreed more work was needed to promote services as publicity tended to be promoted to the known market.

·         In a response to a query about linking new and existing bus and cycle routes to business development sites, this was something the Officer hoped to discuss more with bus operators.

·         A member from outside the Panel sought reassurance that affordable housing would not be held back by lack of bus services, since she was aware that a recent planning application had been turned down on these grounds. The Officer was not aware of particular issues and highlighted that S106 funds were there to be bid for – officers were trying to promote this, as well as working to make such services sustainable in the long-term.

·         When asked about whether franchising may provide the Council with more control, the Transport Operations Manager said that franchising was available in mayoral cities, but that a quality partnership was likely to be the best option for Worcestershire.

·         A Panel member asked what could be done to convince new people to use buses, even as an alternative for example on wet weather days.  The Officer agreed, hoped that the consultation would help and advised that technology (smartphone use) and increased marketing would be key, however it was important to get the basics right first such as a reliable service. The Panel welcomed the development of technology and marketing around bus use and asked to be kept informed, which the Officer hoped would be within 12 months.

·         When asked what other opportunities were being considered, the Officer said there were a range of areas of generic benefit, such as branding and cross-operator tickets, however from a commercial perspective there were many things the Council could not do.

·         A member from outside the Panel who was on the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board (OSPB) spoke about the cost effectiveness of the motability scheme and asked about schemes in Worcestershire. He was advised that the scheme was not available to those over 65 however the Council was absolutely encouraging carshare schemes, which may also pick up those with additional needs.

·         The OSPB member also referred to his work alongside another local member following the loss of bus services in Malvern which it was hoped would lead to a community bus scheme and the Officer undertook to check progress.

·         When asked what consideration had been given to other councils’ work, the Panel was advised that desk top research had been done into best practice nationwide, and further research would be completed into community transport schemes.

·         The Chairman referred to rural transport work by Lincoln University which had been circulated to the Panel and would be forwarded to the Officer.

·         Regarding community transport, a Panel member suggested there would be merit in consolidating access to the various schemes, and the potential for electric vehicles to reduce costs, along with volunteer drivers.

·         A member from outside the Panel suggested that the way forward may be tailored solutions for those who needed it, since large parts of bus timetables had been lost.

 

Summing up, the Chairman was pleased that the Worcestershire Passenger Transport Strategy was being reviewed as a whole, and incorporated areas such as commerciality, community transport, an ageing population and rurality. He was pleased with the response to the consultation so far, and was reassured that consideration would also be given to themes from narrative comments. He asked that officers ensure copies of the consultation be made available at locations like The Hive, and for the Panel to be kept updated.

 

Comments were invited from others present and from members these included a suggestion for regular press releases during the consultation, a note of caution about integrating transport to school with wider services because not everyone wanted to travel together, and also the need for consideration about the disparity between towns and rural areas, given the need for bus services in rural parts.

 

The Chairman agreed that regular press releases would be helpful.

Supporting documents: