Agenda item

The Service Manager for Scrutiny and Democratic Services introduced the item and reminded Members that the Panel had commenced the review at the last meeting and had identified its remit as follows:-

“to consider the current gaps in local bus provision within Ashfield and its impact on social exclusion issues and the health and wellbeing of residents including consideration of any environmental sustainability issues in relation to future bus provision.”

The report outlined an overview of bus provision from a regional and national context and detailed the local community transport schemes currently available within Ashfield.  Members were now being asked to examine any potential gaps in service and how this was currently impacting upon the residents of Ashfield.

Vicky Williams, Director of Commercial Services at Trent-Barton, attended the meeting to offer a commercial operator perspective in relation to local bus provision and criteria for selecting subsidised routes.  Members acknowledged that County Council funding for subsidising bus services through commercial operators had generally reduced over recent years although an additional County funding round of £683,000 had just been announced.  The funding was being offered to endeavour to improve bus punctuality, better quality replacement services and expanding the selection of routes to customers.

In relation to particular challenges being experienced by commercial transport operators, the Panel were advised that the effect of Brexit had already increased engineering costs for Trent-Barton and turbulence in the oil market had seen increases in fuel prices.

However, congestion on the roads remained the biggest challenge alongside roadworks that were now taking longer to complete.  Issues with punctuality and journey destination times had a direct impact on reduced patronage and customers having continued trust in the service to arrive on time.  Rush hour was now covering 3pm until 7pm, which added to congestion and delays on the roads.

Trent-Barton endeavoured to work with all local Councils to ascertain hotspots and areas of need and advised that the County Council were very proactive in working with the commercial bus operators as required. 

In relation to S106 funding contributions, these were a welcome addition to funding streams already available and the C1 and C2 service that currently served the Rolls Royce estate in Hucknall had been made possible from S106 contributions from the Developer.  It was however, noted that new roads required adoption by the Highways Authority prior to the bus operators being able to access them and provide a service to the area.

Panel Members took the opportunity to discuss the matter and considered amongst other things:-

·         the ongoing reduction in funding to commercial bus operators to subsidise routes and the changing priorities from the fund providers to provide for electric vehicles and priority ticketing;

·         how Trent-Barton was currently tackling emission reductions and acknowledging that many of their vehicles had been updated with the help of Euro VI funding and start/stop technology;

·         the substantial cost of providing new, fully electric buses, the desire to buy from UK manufacturers whilst recognising the current limitations regarding mileage capability to be obtained from the batteries provided (around 150 miles per charge);

·         how routes were earmarked and subsidies applied for via the County Council;

·         concerns surrounding the current Trent-Barton App and its unreliability in giving real-time information regarding bus arrivals, with confirmation that the company were endeavouring to access a solution by enabling drivers to log more accurate real-time information and expanding the capability to extract data from the newly installed ticket machines;

·         the success of the C1 and C2 routes in Hucknall and the possibility of extending the service to evenings and weekends;

·         the possibility of the 3’s service being extended through Bestwood Village and acknowledgement that a more demand-led community bus service might fit the profile of residents better;

·         the importance of bus routes being accessible to industrial estates and business parks to enable people to get to and from work as required and acceptance that many differing shift patterns were now in existence.

To gain a community transport perspective, two representatives from Our Centre, Matthew Pike and Elden Skinner, attended the meeting to assist Members with their review.  They advised that Our Centre started in the 1980’s and were now a registered charity that provided community transport services to rural areas and residents with disabilities and isolation issues.

Our Centre relied on community-based funding and donations to ensure that the organisation remained viable.  Routes and services provided would fluctuate dependant on ‘demand’ and it was an ongoing challenge to work with other bus companies to ensure that their community bus service bridged the gaps in provision (including hospital, school, day centres and shopping trips) and kept the District and its residents connected.

Having been asked the question, Members were advised that Our Centre generally advertised their services through the following:-

1.    ‘Notts Help Yourself’ website (which provides signposting for a vast range of support services);

2.    Ashfield Voluntary Action (AVA);

3.    social service referrals;

4.    internet searches;

5.    word of mouth recommendations. 

In relation to current challenges being faced by the organisation, congestion again was an ongoing issue but not as problematic as the transport services provided were not usually required to adhere to a strict arrival timetable.  Accessing ongoing funding was a continued challenge but officers continually endeavoured to source the necessary finances and build robust working relationships with other providers to ensure gaps could be bridged and services provided where necessary.

Members thanked the representatives from Trent-Barton and Our Centre for their attendance at the meeting and commented that the discussion had been extremely worthwhile and informative.

RESOLVED that

a)    the information/responses proffered by Trent-Barton and Our Centre as part of the Panel’s review discussions, be received, noted and welcomed;

b)    that in readiness for the next meeting of the Panel in June/July 2020, the Service Manager for Scrutiny and Democratic Services be requested to extend an invite to the following:-

·         Nottinghamshire County Council Transport Manager

·         Lee Anderson MP

·         Mark Spencer MP

·         Christine Sarris – Assistant Director for Planning and Regulatory Services.