Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding the findings of the recent public consultation on delivering savings from supported public transport and recommending proposals for cost savings to ensure an effective supported public transport service from April 2019 within the reduced budget available.

To pre-scrutinise a report regarding proposals to make savings in passenger transport, prior to decision of the Executive Member for Environment and Transport in the afternoon.

The Select Committee received a report and supporting presentation on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport & Environment, regarding proposals to make savings in passenger transport (see Item 6 in the Minute Book). The report was due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at his decision day later that day.

Members heard that:

·         These proposals did not impact on home to school transport or social care transport

·         Savings were required from the passenger transport budget, and options had been considered to achieve this and consulted on

·         Consultation responses indicated a preference to maintain services on current days of the week and offer less journeys per day

·         Of 80 supported services 48 would need to be revised if these proposals were approved

·         In some cases, the operator was able to continue the service without the subsidy or with reduced funding

·         The biggest changes affected around 80 residents who were regular passengers on those services

·         It was proposed to cease providing funding to ferry services, and support bus services in those areas instead

Members commented:

·         Some Members indicated they were unable to support the proposals without the opportunity to understand the detail behind each service change

·         Other Members commented that the consultation had been good, with events held that provided detail on local impacts, and that the proposals offered the best way to make the required savings

·         A Member queried the level of detail in the impact assessment, including the potential impact on ambitions to encourage bus use instead of car use for environmental reasons

The Chairman proposed the recommendation as per the cover report, which was carried with eight in favour and three against:

RECOMMENDED:

The Economy, Transport & Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport in section 1 of the Passenger Transport Review 2018 report.