Councillors and committees

Agenda item

LOCAL TRANSPORT REVIEW: DRAFT CABINET REPORT

Purpose of the report:  Scrutiny of Services and Budgets/Policy Development and Review

 

The Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board is asked to review and comment on the Local Transport Review draft cabinet report, ahead of it being shared with Cabinet on 23 June 2015. 

 

 

Minutes:

Witnesses:

 

Paul Millin, Travel and Transport Group Manager

Nick Meadows, Project Consultant

Ian Boast, Assistant Director for Environment 

Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning     

 

Key points raised during the meeting:

 

1.    Officers reported that there had been positive contribution from residents to both consultations of the local transport review. One of the key issues highlighted during the consultation was the bus route to St Peters hospital.

 

2.    The Chairman of the Board questioned that if - as offices had explained within their summary of the report – the proposal will be continually refined up until it is taken to Cabinet on 23 June 2015, how will the Board remain fully informed as to what will be going to Cabinet. Officers assured the Board that any changes would be minor, but that a copy of the final recommendation will be circulated among the Members of this Board by 19 June 2015 prior to it going to Cabinet.

 

3.    Members expressed the need for a platform to voice opinions on specific issues and concerns with regards to local transport. Officers recognised this and assured members they would assess the options for such a platform and report back.

 

4.    One Member spoke of a petition against alterations to route 22 that was not mentioned within the second consultation report. Officers stated that they were not aware of this petition but that they would be willing to factor it in to the results of the second consultation report. It was noted that some bus services on average had two users daily. 

 

5.    Members discussed the impact on patronage from the proposed changes and questioned officers on how these impacts could be measured. Members felt there needed to be a means of reporting resident’s issues with services. Officers stated that determining impacts on patronage from specific initiatives is very difficult as changes often come with a series of new measures. Officers assured the Board that regular reviews of the service would be administered.

 

6.     Members questioned officers over what measures were in place to increase users on existing services. Officers informed the Board that smart ticketing and real time passenger information formed part of a drive to increase the number of passenger on existing services.

 

7.    Members questioned officers over what measures were being taken to improve connectivity between bus and train services, as some Members felt this would increase patronage. Officers stated that they were working with South West Trains to improve connectivity and assured Members of their commitment to improve this.

 

8.    The Board congratulated officers on the level of hard work and the breadth of the consultation.

 

 

Recommendations:

 

a)    The Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board reviewed and commented on the Local Transport Review draft cabinet report, ahead of it being shared with Cabinet on 23 June 2015.

 

b)    The Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board  agreed that the Travel and Transport group manager circulate to all members of EPEH and those members directly affected by the changes to the bus routes, the recommendations that will be submitted to Cabinet as part of the local transport review by 19 June 2015.

 

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