Decision details

1.1.    That a grant of £3,000 be awarded to the East Hants Community Rail Partnership to contribute towards its operating costs as detailed in the grant application for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

1.2.    That a grant of £7,000 be awarded to the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership to contribute towards its operating costs as detailed in the grant application for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

1.3.    That a grant of £10,000 be awarded to the Lymington-Brockenhurst Community Rail Partnership to contribute towards its operating costs as detailed in the grant application for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

1.4.    That a grant of £6,500 be awarded to YelaBus for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, on the basis that, in addition to the Council’s normal conditions of grant, the following grant conditions will also be met:

That YelaBus will:

(i)    Provide a ‘group hire’ minibus operation under Section 19 Standard Permits, issued under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985 (as amended by the provisions in the Local Transport Act 2008), to enable eligible local and voluntary and community groups to hire minibuses at affordable rates.

(ii)   Maintain a pool of volunteer drivers so that minibuses can be provided for hire, complete with a Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) trained driver where requested.

(iii)  Ensure that charges made to passengers and vehicle hirers include an element of depreciation so that YelaBus accrues money towards replacing its vehicles.

(iv)  Provide quarterly activity and financial reports to the Council for the scheme.

(v)   Work with the Council’s Community Transport Team on community transport matters in Hart to identify the need for and assist in the development of local community transport initiatives.

1.5.    That YelaBus be advised that any future decisions on financial support for its scheme will need to be considered within the context of the longer term approach to supporting similar schemes in Hampshire which the council has now agreed.