Issue - meetings

Purpose of report:  To provide an update to the Select Committee on the progress of the Surrey Connect Digital Demand Responsive Transport service (DDRT).

Witnesses:

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth

Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Growth, Land, Property and Infrastructure

Lucy Monie, Director for Highways and Transport

Paul Millin, Assistant Director for Strategic Transport

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The Chairman asked what could be done to increase the number of registered users of the Digital Demand Responsive Travel (DDRT) Service. The Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained that the number of people using the service varied across the different DDRT zones, primarily due to population differences. Every household and business received publicity about the DDRT service before it started. Ongoing promotion and publicity were needed, which was part of the communication plan being developed. Local initiatives were being looked at to try to encourage greater ridership, such as through discounts and group travel offers.

2. A Member asked how successful the DDRT’s communication plan had been. The Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained that numbers were rising in terms of people subscribing and using the scheme. Work was being done with the communications team, and the University of Surrey to see how to increase DDRT usage.

3. A Member raised that Mole valley’s DDRT service was set up as a door-to-door service, rather than a stop-to-stop service, and asked if this remained. The Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained that this was part of the learning. DDRT was offering essential door-to-door trips but was now only offering a stop-to-stop service. If a new ‘stop’ was desired, it could be assessed and made available to residents. The Stop-to-stop service made services more available for residents.

4. A Member raised that between 10-15% of the cost of running DDRT services was recovered. The Member asked what the realistic cost recovery ambition was once the services were established, and if there was an indication of how much, per journey, the Council was subsidizing for the Mole Valley District.  The Assistant Director for Strategic Transport noted that DDRT was not introduced to become a commercial offer. DDRT was successful in areas with relatively low levels of public transport. As DDRT became more established and optimised, it was reasonable to achieve between 20-25% of cost recovery in running the service.

5. A Member asked what proportion of the £4.85 million (m) budget for DDRT was being funded through government funds, and if there was any further Government Rural Mobility Funding available. The Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained that the Rural Mobility Fund grant, allocated to Mole Valley’s DDRT service, was a 2-year grant finishing in May 2024, and would be fully utilised. Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Phase 2 funding was the other source of funding, where around £2.4m would be applied for DDRT for the current and next financial year of 2025/26.

6. The Member asked if the DDRT funding was sustainable, and if the Council could continue the service if there was no further government funding. The Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained that there had been transparency over what the current costs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16