Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee recommends the adoption of Option 3 (support             subsidised routes on the core bus network and implement alternative,    sustainable local travel arrangements in communities not on the core         network) within four            geographical areas of the County;

(b)       That the Committee recommends to Cabinet the approval of the       proposed service levels on the strategic core bus network; 

(c)        That the provision of an in-house minibus service to support the local        travel             arrangements, where it was cost effective to do so, be supported;

(d)       That the Committee recommends to Cabinet approval of the proposed        approach for dealing with historical non-statutory school transport arrangements that had been identified during the service review;

(e)       That the Committee recommend to Cabinet that the school transport           provision for siblings be given further consideration; and 

(e)       That the Committee recommend the adoption of Option 2 as its preferred   pricing structure for a concessionary bus pass, with a review to be        carried out on the impact of the increased cost after one year.

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) introduced the Outcome of Public Consultation on Public Transport and School Transport Anomalies report which provided details of existing subsidised bus routes and the outcome of the bus network review consultation exercise that had been undertaken to consider those services and deliver an affordable and sustainable public transport service in the future.   

Bus Network Review

            The Transport Programme Manager reported on the bus network review.  To facilitate the review, an eight week public consultation process had been carried out with the public, elected Members and town and community councils who were invited to provide feedback on the proposals.  The four options which had been presented for consideration were:-

·         Option1 – stop subsidising bus services completely;

·         Option 2 – do nothing and continue to support the existing subsidised routes in place as they were currently;

·         Option 3 – Support subsidised routes on the core bus network and implement alternative, sustainable local travel arrangements in communities not on the core network; and

·         Option 4 – Support subsidised routes on the core bus network and introduce a demand responsive service for communities not on the core network.

            Elected Members and town and community councils predominantly supported Option 3 but it was recognised that there was no ‘one size fits all’ and transport salutation would need to vary from one area to another depending on local need and demand.  Under the preferred option, local travel arrangements on the non-core network were intended to be provided by smaller minibus vehicles, which were better suited to the nature of the routes in rural areas.  Proposed routes had been identified for the local travel arrangements which were attached as an appendix to the report.

            The Transport Programme Manager concluded that it was proposed that the intended change in service provision would be introduced from 1 October, 2018 on a phased approach and a proposed implementation plan and timetable was attached as an appendix to the report.

            The Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside explained that there had been a number of changes to the commercial bus network by bus operators which had impacted on communities and left potential gaps in service provision; this was not within the control of the Council.  However the Council had a statutory duty to keep the bus network under review and intervene when appropriate.    

            Councillor Paul Shotton thanked officers for the report and for the extensive consultation sessions carried out.  He said that following the consultation exercise, as shown within the report, there seemed to be a consensus for Option 3 and that this option tied in well with the new transport arrangement for Deeside Industrial Estate.  He asked if a contractor had been identified to deliver the Deeside Shuttle Service.  The Chief Officer responded that the Council had received Welsh Government (WG) and EU funding to purchase four 16-seat minibuses and five Low Carbon Emission Buses (LCEB) with the LCEB intended to be deployed on the existing Deeside Shuttle Service.  Deeside Shuttle Service would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11