Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation on the Regional Bus Strategy. 

That the presentation be received.              

The Director of Environment provided a background on the Regional Bus Strategy and introduced Mr. Iwan Prys Jones from Taith. 

Mr. Jones provided a detailed presentation on Taith – Regional Bus and Community Transport Strategy, the main features of which were:-

• Regional Bus Network Strategy
• Wales Transport Planning Framework
• Network Strategy Contents
• Regional Passenger Transport Hierarchy
• Journey to Work Analysis - key flows (2001 Census)
• Journey to Work Analysis – Containment (2001 Census), Flint O-D Pairs (2001) and Mold O-D Pairs (2001)
• Key Employment Areas – Wider Region
• Employment Growth Areas
• Average Annual Daily Traffic (2011)
• Journey to Work – Public Transport Mode Share (2011)
• Bus Routes connecting key centres and frequencies
• Car/public transport journey time comparison
• Key issues for public transport
• Next steps

Councillor Carolyn Thomas asked whether any funding had been carried over from the previous year.  She said that some ambulance service provision was provided by Community Transport and queried whether this was still to be undertaken and whether funding could be sought from the Health Board.  She referred to complaints that she had received about speeding buses and the services running late and asked who complaints should be referred to.  She also commented on the shuttle bus service and asked if its use was to be reviewed.  Councillor Thomas also requested that the presentation slides be emailed to the Committee. 

In response, Mr. Jones said that a small allocation had been carried forward from the previous year but as yet, cut backs on the services had not been as anticipated.  He said that a review of the reimbursement rate for the concessionary travel scheme was to be undertaken by WG which could have consequences for bus services within the County.  He added that a significant amount of work was required with the Health Board to develop the issue of community transport operators providing ambulance service provision.    

In response to the issue of alleged speeding buses by Councillor Thomas, the Transportation Manager said that any complaints about this specific service should be reported to the bus operator or North Wales Police directly as  this was a commercially operated bus service, however, the Transportation Manager noted that she was due to meet the bus operator responsible for running this service this week and would draw Councillor Thomas’s concerns to the operator during that meeting.  She added that she was aware of issues about reliability of some services, the Transportation Manager noted that this item would also be drawn to the bus operators attention this week.  On the issue of the shuttle bus, the Transportation Manager said that a survey would be undertaken.  Mr. Jones also added that Taith would monitor the services so that regular problems on certain routes could be identified and reviewed which could result in funding to an operator being reduced. 

Councillor Paul Shotton said that bus services were profitable on coastal routes but the rural areas relied on the services, however he felt that there was a communication issue as up to 50%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40