UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE
TRANSPORT POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE
9 February 2006
(2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.)
MINUTES
Chair
Present
Apologies
Secretary
Professor Temple, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Resources)
Mr Banks, Mr Barnard, Ms Harrup, Mr Nightingale, Ms Patel, Mrs Provan
(substituting for Mr Blackshaw), Dr Rich, Mrs Totman, Mr Wakeman.
Mr Blackshaw, Dr Sellens.
Estate Management Administration Officer
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Noted
Mr Banks informed Sub-Committee that he would be replacing Dr Mackenzie as
the AUT representative.
STARRING OF AGENDA ITEMS
Noted
Agenda Item 9 was starred for discussion in addition to those on the agenda. The
unstarred items of the agenda were then deemed to have been received or noted
and approved by Committee as appropriate.
01/06
Minutes of the 7th November 2005 meeting
02/06
MINUTES
Approved
MATTERS ARISING
None
03/06
2020 TRAVEL PLAN CLUB UPDATE
Noted
The changes to First Bus services which reduced the service from the University to 04/06
North Station had not generated any negative feedback. Meetings with First
representatives were continuing, and as a result of these the company were
considering extending the 61 service to run on Sundays in the new financial year.
The 2020 Travel Plan Club were investigating the feasibility of establishing a new 05/06
bus route which would connect the University with the Hospital, avoiding the town
centre. Postcode mapping, lobbying of local councillors and consultation with
Essex County Council Passenger Transport were currently being undertaken.
An amalgamated bus route map had been produced and would be available shortly
for inclusion in induction packs, information leaflets and for publishing on the
web.
06/06
Negotiations were ongoing with One Railway regarding staff discounts for season 07/06
tickets. Postcode mapping information had been passed on and a further meeting
was planned to discuss the results of information feedback. There had not yet been
any discussions regarding discounts for daily tickets, however it was hoped that
the season ticket discounts may provide the impetus for these.
The student transport survey was being drafted for March, and Ms Harrup and Ms
Brook would be delivering a presentation on the work of the Travel Plan Club as
part of the University’s Tuesday Taster programme.
08/06
Mr Wakeman requested that timetable information be made available as soon as 09/06
possible after changes were announced. It was noted that this was dependent on the
individual transport companies providing the information within a reasonable
timescale.
CAR PARKING REGISTRATION & INCOME (TPSC/06/A)
Noted
Mr Nightingale reported to Sub-Committee that the installation of the system had
gone reasonably well, given that it was a far more sophisticated system than had
been originally envisaged. There had been no major difficulties since installation
until the recent decremental card recording system problems.
10/06
There were therefore no proposed changes to the mechanics of the car parking
registration and income system.
11/06
The overall reduction of vehicles registered for parking from the previous year was
approximately 350, a significant reduction. Since 2003, there had been a 15%
reduction in the number of vehicles registering to park on campus. Visually, the
number of vehicles on campus was reducing.
12/06
There would be more figures to report on general maintenance expenditure, these
had not been produced for the meeting due to staff sickness.
13/06
The income figures were inclusive of VAT, which would need to be deducted.
There were no figures for clamping income as this had not yet been re-introduced.
It was believed that the increased fee would reduce the income collected in
comparison to previous years. It was noted that the costs of patrol staff time in
responding to machine faults were not currently included in expenditure.
14/06
Mr Banks informed Sub-Committee that he received regular comments from his
members regarding the unreliability of the machines. It was noted that this created
excessive frustration amongst staff and introduced the possibility of the machines’
unreliability being utilised as an excuse for habitual lateness to work. Mr
Nightingale noted that the speed of information being received by the Estate
Management Section regarding faults was essential to them being dealt with
quickly and efficiently.
15/06
Action
Ms Brook to issue information note regarding drivers being able to purchase a
ticket for the next day after 4.30 pm the previous day;
16/06
Action
Mr Nightingale to issue information note regarding the introduction of the new
clamping regime;
17/06
Action
Recurrent costs and capital costs to be reported separately in future expenditure
reports to Sub-Committee;
18/06
Action
Registration figures to be publicised on web pages, including the 72 pre-paid daily
charge permits.
19/06
Action
Mr Nightingale to arrange for an article publicising the reductions in vehicle
registrations to be sent to Wyvern and The Rabbit, following input from the JTU.
20/06
CAR PARKING SYSTEM AND FEES 2006/2007 (TPSC/06/B)
Noted
Mr Nightingale commented that there had been significant debate the previous
year surrounding the level of the student fee and that it had been seen to be
relatively low. The barrier fee had not been increased the previous year. It was
noted that salary increases during the year would have increased the automatic
deductions for car parking, therefore it was felt to be reasonable to accept these
increases.
21/06
Approved
To accept the increase of the student fee to £20 per annum, and increase the barrier
car parking fee to £26 per month.
22/06
REQUIRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS FOR FUNDING IN 2006/2007 (TPSC/06/C)
Noted
Approved
It was noted that items iv to vii were temporary measures to bring the areas
indicated to an acceptable standard for parking. Mr Nightingale commented,
however, that the University should not be devoting green areas of land to car
parking. It was further noted that some users park in these areas when the main car
parks are not full. There were Health and Safety issues surrounding users parking
in muddy areas. Planning permission may be required and may raise implications
with the Borough Council.
23/06
Results of the tender processes for projects would be reported to Sub-Committee.
Agreement was requested to the prices quoted within the overall sum and that any
savings on the sum in the paper would be returned to the ring-fenced funding.
Expenditure on projects would be reported to Sub-Committee.
24/06
Projects i, ii, iii, viii, ix and x to be funded from ring fenced car parking income.
25/06
Projects iv – viii were rejected
26/06
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX TRANSPORT STRATEGY (TPSC/06/01)
Noted
Members were requested to send any amendments to the strategy to Ms Brook for
inclusion before the next meeting.
27/06
DISSEMINATION OF TRANSPORT ISSUE INFORMATION (Minute 07/05)
Noted
This issue was concerned with the most effective way of disseminating such
information to staff without regular access to e-mail.
28/06
Agreed
Issue to be discussed at Heads of Section, as this was predominantly an
administrative issue.
29/06
BIKE4WORK SCHEME (TPSC/06/03)
Noted
Ms Harrup tabled a supplementary paper with further details on the scheme and the 30/06
Home Computers initiative and recommended that Personnel, Finance and legal
representatives for the University meet with the organisations providing the
services to determine whether the schemes would be viable for the University. It
was noted further information would be required on take-up, the resourcing
required to run the schemes and the financial implications.
Ms Brook to request feedback on similar trials via EAUC mail list and Mr
Nightingale to request same on AUDE mailing lists.
31/06
Post meeting note : In the Chancellor’s Budget in April 2006, it was
announced that the Home Computers Initiative was being withdrawn with
immediate effect.
32/06
LOCAL INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE CYCLING AND WALKING (TPSC/06/04)
Noted
Ms Harrup tabled a supplementary paper and appealed for volunteers to assist.
33/06
Action
Ms Brook to e-mail draft annual plan for cycling to the cyclists e-mail lists.
34/06
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Action
Agenda item for next meeting to be other suggested projects for ring-fenced 35/06
income.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Noted
Thursday 6th July 2006, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm, in Room 5A.330
36/06