Overview and Scrutiny Committee
26 June 2012
Agenda Item No____18________
FINAL REPORT OF THE JOINT PUBLIC TRANSPORT TIME AND TASK LIMITED
PANEL
Summary:
This report introduces the final recommendations of the
joint Public Transport Time and Task Limited Panel.
Conclusions:
Recommendations:
That Members consider the report and make any
recommendations to Cabinet or Full Council.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
All
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Mary Howard, Democratic Services
Team Leader, Tel.01263 516047, mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk
1.
Introduction
1.1
The report, attached at Appendix B, summarises the outcomes of the Joint
Time and Task Limited Panel and made recommendations to the Overview
and Scrutiny Committee at Broadland District Council to endorse and
recommend to Cabinet.
1.2
The Joint Panel consisted of four Members from Broadland and four
Members from NNDC – Ms V R Gay, Mrs B A McGoun, Mr R Reynolds and
Mr T FitzPatrick. The Panel had met 6 times. During the review the Panel had
met with the Assistant Director of Travel and Transport Services at Norfolk
County Council as well as the Portfolio Holder for Planning and
Transportation. The Panel had also questioned parish and town councils,
community transport providers and bus operators (appendices C, D and E)
2.
Final Report
2.1
Recommendations
The report went to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Broadland
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
26 June 2012
District Council on 29 May 2012. The recommendations covered matters that
were achievable for both District Councils and purposely avoided the more
strategic areas, where the County Council was the lead transport authority.
The recommendations were as follows:
a) The Council could do more to raise the profile of Community Transport
Schemes available including what the benefits are to using community
transport
b) Consider ring-fencing funding to support community transport
schemes and encourage new providers to come forward. Schemes
that would assist local businesses to pick up employees would be
particularly supported.
c) Provide supported funding or sponsorship to community transport
providers to obtain new vehicles
d) Ensure that transport providers are aware of the Bus Service
Operators Grant and help them to meet the criteria to apply
e) Ensure that Parish/Town Councils are informed with the correct
information about services available e.g. up to date bus timetables,
factsheets on SureStart services and how to access them, community
buses, particularly evening services and the Kickstart moped scheme;
and encourage them to disseminate the information proactively.
f)
The Council to support and encourage Community Transport
Providers to reach out to young people who need a service in the
evenings in order to attend groups/clubs/socialise with each other.
g) Persuade Bus Operators to provide double decker buses on the most
popular and logical routes to maximise patronage. For example X29
Norwich to Kings Lynn/Fakenham.
h) Provide bus timetables at local shops/village halls/central notice
boards/libraries/schools/doctors surgeries not just parish councils.
Providing the information where people are most likely to access.
Timetables for Bus Operators and times/contact information for
Community Transport Providers displayed together. This should
include information within the bus stops of which buses stop there.
i)
Relax criteria to achieve funding for community transport schemes,
providing bespoke support to applicants to help them to complete a
successful application form.
j)
District Councils to support Community Transport Providers with their
long-term running to enable the service to remain sustainable and
deliverable e.g. charitable trusts/cooperatives etc
k) District and County Councils to provide more positive advertising of
the uses of public transport and how to access it. This to also include
basic information operator information and a link to ‘Travel Line’ on the
Council’s website
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
l)
26 June 2012
Ask the Leader to write to the Government outlining the consultation
undertaken and request them to consider an alternative regulatory
framework and public transport funding systems that is accessible to
both voluntary sector and private sector.
m) The Council to encourage Bus Operators to provide safer collection
points in areas where the main roads are dangerous and instead take
the bus through village centres to collect patrons instead of bypasses
etc (where possible).
n) County/District/Parish or Town Councils to consult with communities
to fully identify their needs and find ways of providing community bus
sharing schemes and supporting voluntary drivers to provide the
service to begin with, for example through Neighbourhood Planning
exercises.
o) Negotiate with Bus Operators to be consistent in how they provide
information and what they include with it. A lot of information is
bundled together which do not relate and causes confusion.
p) Support and promote the new river ferry service being provided from
the old power station to Trowse (Broadland/City area).
q) Convey to any public transport provider that it is important for drivers
to be courteous, welcoming and helpful. These simple behaviours are
extremely valued by service users and can influence their use of the
service.
r) Encourage Community Transport Providers to use regular bus routes
in addition to providing bespoke trips for individuals.
s) Consider the provision of service delay information direct into bus
stations/bus stops and in addition, the Councils to provide those
updates on their social media outlets. This could be achieved through
partnership liaison with the Police, Fire Services, Highways Agency
and County Council.
2.2
Decision
Members agreed
(1)
to request that Cabinet endorse the recommendations above;
(2)
that a progress report be made to the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee in six months time and that Cabinet review the
recommendations in 12 months time to ensure implementation.