Agenda item

Inquiry into Advancing Bus Service Provision - Tracking of Scrutiny Recommendations/Desired outcomes

To consider the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support, Director of City Development and West Yorkshire Combined Authority which provides an overview of the progress made in response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Board detailed in its inquiry report ’Advancing Bus Service Provision’, published 17 May 2017.

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support, Director of City Development and West Yorkshire Combined Authority set out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny inquiry into Advancing Bus Service Provision.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

-  Andrew Hall – Head of Transportation

-  Paul Matthews – First, West Yorkshire

-  Councillor Kim Groves – WYCA – Chair of Transport Committee

-  Dave Pearson – West Yorkshire Combined Authority

-  Andrew McGuiness - ABOWY

-  Paul Turner - Transdev

-  Councillor Richard Lewis

 

The Board was given a presentation on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Bus Strategy.  Key issues highlighted included the following:

 

·  The strategy complemented the inclusive growth policies across West Yorkshire.

·  Growing the number of bus passengers and steps to do this.

·  Work with the Bus Operators to deliver the strategy – the Bus 18 initiative and progress made to date.

·  How to use legislation within the Bus Services Act to improve services – partnership working and franchised networks.

·  Next steps – developing the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance and action plan to affirm commitments; the role of Leeds City Council in the development of the highways network.

 

Further issues highlighted from the Bus Operators included the following:

 

·  Reductions in the changes to bus services.

·  Ticketing – more access to information and changes to how tickets are paid for – mobile phone and contactless payment ticketing.

·  Investment in low emission vehicles.

·  Agreement with the bus operators to accept each other’s tickets.

·  Disruption - more discussion with other local authorities and highways providers was needed.

·  Success of the Bus 18 Scheme and particularly engagement with young people and the availability of half fare tickets for those in school uniform.

·  Work with the Council – highways; economic development and aligning services to new developments.

 

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

 

·  The £3million transport levy reduction faced by WYCA

·  Complaints made to Elected Members regarding reliability of services.

·  Congestion being a problem, particularly in and on routes into the City Centre.  There were proposals to make improvements to the corridor routes into the city.

·  Connectivity – not all routes were commercially viable and relied on subsidies.  This was a particular problem in accessibility to some employment zones.

·  Use of Section 106 funds.

·  Review of the bus network.

·  Performance – this was looked at on a route by route basis to consider how improvements could be made.  Performance was often affected by unpredictable events on the highways network.

·  Improving real time information provided on apps and screens at bus stops.

·  There had been some signs of growth in bus patronage over the past year.

·  Problems with lack of public transport being a barrier to accessing employment and training and how to tackle this.

·  Contingency arrangements for passengers in instances where the last bus on an evening has not arrived.  It had been agreed with bus operators to cover taxi fares.

·  Further issues that affected reliability included drivers running out of permitted riving hours due to congestion and vehicle breakdowns.

·  Franchising of services – This was only available if approval could be sought from the Secretary of State.

 

Members considered the tracking status of the scrutiny recommendations/desired outcomes as outlined in the report.  Members took account of the information presented and discussion with regard to the position status of each of the desired outcomes.

 

RESOLVED – That the position statuses as outlined in the report be agreedas follows:

 

Recommendation 1 - 4

Recommendation 2 - 4

Recommendation 4 - 4

Recommendation 5 - 4

Recommendation 6 - 4

Recommendation 7 - 4

Recommendation 8 - 4

Recommendation 9 - 4

 

 

Supporting documents: