Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Sandra Pentelow (0113) 2474792  Email: sandra.pentelow@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

78.

Late Items

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

Minutes:

The following late items were accepted by the Scrutiny Board (City Development)

 

Item 7 

·  Leeds Scrutiny Inquiry into Bus Service Provision – Submission by ABOWY 

·  Tower Transport – On the buses

·  Tower Transport – Public transport tendering in the Netherlands

 

Item 8 

·  Draft Scrutiny Inquiry Report – Digital Inclusion

 

79.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting

 

80.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted by Cllr Paul Wadworth, Cllr Chris Townsley, Cllr Maureen Ingham and Cllr Jeanette Walker. Cllr Maureen Ingham was substituted by Cllr Mary Harland and Cllr Jeanette Walker was substituted by Cllr Catherine Dobson.

 

81.

Minutes - 30 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2016.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Scrutiny Board (City Development) meeting held on 30 March 2016 be approved as a correct record.

 

82.

Inquiry into Bus Service Provision - Session 4 pdf icon PDF 38 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which outlines the focus of the 4th session of the Scrutiny Inquiry into Bus Service Provision.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and member Development submitted a report which outlined the focus of the 4th session of the Scrutiny Inquiry into Bus Service Provision.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

·  ABOWY Charter, the route to great public transport

·  htc group, Bus franchising: the real opportunities, April 2016

·  htc group, Practical bus franchising, the Jersey model

 

The following supplementary information was presented, minute 78 refers:

 

·  Leeds Scrutiny Inquiry into Bus Service Provision – Submission by ABOWY 

·  Tower Transit – On the buses

·  Tower Transit – Public transport tendering in the Netherlands

 

The following representatives were in attendance to respond to Members queries and comments.

 

-  Andrew Hall – Head of Transportation, Leeds City Council

-  Tom Gifford – Project Manager WYCA

-  Neale Wallace – Bus Services Manager WYCA

-  Cllr Richard Lewis – Executive Board Member, Regeneration, Transport and Planning

-  Keith McNally – ABOWY

-  Paul Matthews – First

-  Nigel Featham – Arriva

-  Alex Hornby – Transdev

-  Stephanie Elsy – Tower Transit

-  Dai Powell – htc group

 

The key areas for discussion were:

 

·  The opportunities for franchising under the Buses Bill and the perceived benefits that would bring with regard to competition, network improvement and innovation. Reference to this working effectively in other areas globally with transport authorities.

·  The perceived risk of franchising with regard to funding, passenger growth and improving reliability.

·  The opportunity for working collaboratively in partnership under the Buses Bill and the developing partnership model by Operators and WYCA to enhance existing bus service provision

·  Reflection on the current system in Leeds and the semi regulation of the industry currently

·  The need to improve the voice and influence of passengers and non-bus users in defining networks and improving provision.

·  Transport focus survey results stating increased customer satisfaction

·  The need for integrated and simplified ticketing.

·  Air quality and the introduction of additional ‘Euro 6’ compliant vehicles in the autumn.

·  The impact of congestion on bus punctuality, car use, incentives to make bus travel more attractive and meeting customer demand/expectations. Providing an aspirational service.

·  The importance of delivering the basic expectations of reliability and punctuality.

·  The lack of competition in Leeds and how the Buses Bill may increase competition and introduce new operators into the market.

·  The reduction in services and increased fares historically. Aspects of operating commercial organisations with regard to profit margins, the cross subsidy of other areas of the country and improving reputation. 

 

RESOLVED

a)  The report and all information provided were noted and considered as evidence for the inquiry. 

 

83.

Scrutiny Inquiry Report - Digital Inclusion pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development with regard to the Scrutiny Inquiry into Digital Inclusion.

 

Inquiry Report To Follow

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and member Development submitted a report requesting the consideration and agreement of the draft Digital Inclusion Scrutiny Inquiry Report.

 

The following supplementary information was presented, minute 78 refers

 

·  Draft Scrutiny Inquiry Report ‘Powering Up the Leeds Economy through Digital Inclusion’

 

The following representatives were in attendance to respond to Members queries and comments and communicate the relevant advice.

 

-  Sandra Pentelow – Principal Scrutiny Advisor

 

The key areas for discussion were:

 

·  Advice provided by the Deputy Chief Executive Strategy & Resources relating to limited capacity and resources in financially stringent times.

 

RESOLVED

a)  The Scrutiny Board agreed the report following the inquiry into Digital Inclusion

b)  That a formal response to the report be received in the next municipal year

 

84.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To agree the Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s draft work programme for the current municipal year.

 

The draft Scrutiny Board (City Development) work schedule for 2015/16 and the Executive Board minutes for 9 March 2016 were appended to the report.

 

Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Advisor responded to Member’s queries and comments.

 

RESOLVED

a)  The Scrutiny Board noted the content of the report and agreed the revised work programme.

 

85.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Minutes:

A meeting of the Scrutiny Board (City Development) will be held in May 2016. Exact date and time to be confirmed.

 

(The meeting concluded at 12:05pm)