Agenda item

That the Scrutiny Committee welcome the proposals to introduce new legislation for bus services in Wales, but notes some of the risks and challenges highlighted in this report.

In presenting the report the Transport Manager explained that Welsh Government (WG) were seeking feedback on the White Pater proposals which would fundamentally change the way that bus services were governed and operated in Wales.  A detailed overview of the WG vision and the public consultation undertaken was given together with information on the current legislation (Transport Act 1985 and 2000) and the Council’s responsibilities.  Background information on the commercial bus providers was given with details of the review of the core network which were to hubs, main towns and public interchanges supported by the council with fewer services operating especially in rural areas. He also provided information on the impacts of deregulation over the years as regards services and the financial support provided by the Council and WG Network Support Grant.  The pandemic had highlighted the vulnerability of the services and the impacts because of decreasing passenger numbers. 

            The Transport Manager then reported on the WG initiatives to enable the regulation of bus services across Wales, which were outlined in the report.  Details of the list of measures and how these would be implemented with WG, local authorities and providers, and include measures to combat climate change and emissions.  Local Authorities felt improvements were required but had concerns regarding the level of funding available to support this as well as provisions for rural services.  Referring to the WG Questionnaire he provided detailed information on the key financial implications and risks and confirmed that comments from this committee would be fed back.  

            The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Economy agreed with the concerns raised and reported on his online petition to WG “Buses for People and not Profits” with former Councillor Carolyn Thomas.  He felt that this initiative was trying to undo the damage of deregulation with its focus on social equity and reducing emissions but that there were unanswered questions around rural communities.  He understood the impacts on small bus operators (SME) especially around school transport and that WG could intervene and take funding from one scheme and to provide to another without local authority input.  The authority could be a high contributor with resources going elsewhere and wondered if all the routes in our rural communities would be prioritised when it operated in practice.

            Councillor Mike Peers raised several concerns regarding the provision of the core network of buses and cross border services and the need to ensure rural communities maintained their services.  The ambiguity surrounding the pooling of resources was also concerning.  Referring to the train services he felt that the Wrexham to Bidston line, including the Deeside Parkway could be a useful hub but that the issues at Castle Cement were causing problems.  

            In response to the Wrexham Bidston line, Deeside parkway and Castle Cement concerns the Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) reported on the Transport for Wales (TFW) bid in the levelling up funding to enable funding for Deeside Parkway, which would address the signalling at Castle Cement and allow two extra trains to run without impacting their freight services.  This capital bid would be submitted once the portal was open.  He provided information on the unsuccessful borderlines bid last year which included a park and ride facility at Penyffordd.  The bid had been changed and would be re-submitted but that round 2 of levelling up would be more competitive but a decision would be received by the autumn.

            The Transport Manager thanked the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Economy and Councillor Mike Peers for their observations regarding the reallocation of funding especially as the authority had no control over how it was distributed.   The criteria were still unknown, and clarification would be sought on that.   If this failed and Flintshire was left without a bus service, the Integrated Transport System would fail as buses were an integral part of the various forms of transport.  This could result in an increase in car usage and CO2 emissions.

            Councillor Dan Rose understood what WG were trying to achieve with the one ticket for buses and trains etc. and asked if the authority would still be responsible for the active travel initiatives.   Would this eliminate the council’s powers to create extra routes around what was provided by WG?  In response the Transport Manager confirmed that active travel would be continuing as the authority worked closely with TFW and WG on strategic plans and cross border routes but that would have to link with the proposals and identification of transport hubs.  The Transport Area Co-ordinator confirmed that no clarification had been received on the impact of local transport arrangements which were wholly funded by Flintshire or the funding under franchise model. 

            The Chair commented that as the committee had not seen the final response only the concerns raised, he suggested that the second recommended be removed. This was agreed by the committee.

The change in the recommendations was moved and seconded by Mike Peers and Roy Wakelam

RESOLVED:

That the Scrutiny Committee welcomed the proposals to introduce new legislation for bus services in Wales, but noted some of the risks and challenges highlighted in this report.