AGENDA ITEM NO: 6
REPORT TO: Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee
REPORT OF: Lee Robinson, Strategic and Performance Director
REPORT NO: LR/04/12S
DATE: 25 January 2012
CONTACT OFFICER: John Mooney (Tel: 729725)
SUBJECT: Supported Public Transport Policy
1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.1 To seek comments of the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on the draft Supported Public Transport Policy, and update them on progress relating to Community Transport.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1 The draft policy for supporting public transport (appendix 1 attached) is designed to ensure that the Council prioritises its funding for supported bus services, and manages the performance of the network, taking remedial action against poorly performing services. New criteria for measuring the effectiveness of services has been designed and all existing services will be measured against the criteria. The new system is based around subsidy per passenger (the figure is generated by dividing the annual cost of the service by the annual number of passenger trips and is used by many authorities). We will rank our services green, amber or red, depending on the level of subsidy per passenger. Once the policy is agreed and implemented services ranked red (where subsidy per passenger exceeds £2) will require remedial action to improve their performance, which may include rerouting, shortening of the route, replacing with Community Transport, or, if all other options have been exhausted, and patronage is still very low, withdrawn.
2.2 The latest table for supported bus services is included within the appendices of this report. It reveals that a number of services are still “in the red” category. Operating within the guidelines of the draft policy, officers will review options for these services in detail, and bring a further report back to this committee.
2.3 There is a significant opportunity, and appetite, to increase the provision of community transport. Existing schemes provide vital services for residents, but are restricted to geographical areas or certain groups of passengers only. It is proposed that a new Borough Wide scheme will be designed and implemented, subject to Member approval. It will be funded by reallocation of budgets from other existing transport services and will develop its own revenue streams, meeting the significant unmet demand identified as part of this project.
2.4 The draft policy has been informed by a detailed consultation programme that involved engagement with many community groups, stakeholders and members of the public. There was a general understanding from respondents around the need for the Council to prioritise its funding for services. There was particularly strong support for the development of a new Community Transport service.
3. RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 That Members note the consultation responses and comment on the draft policy
3.2 A further report is brought back to Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, (when the implementation plan for Community Transport is fully developed) containing the final policy and alternative proposals for those services currently in the red category.
4. INFORMATION
Background
4.1 Appendix 1 is the draft Supported Public Transport Policy for the Council. This covers public transport that the Council directly funds, and sets out for the first time criteria to ensure that we measure the effectiveness of the network and prioritise our spend to where it can give most benefit. It also sets out our plans for the development of a much needed enhanced community transport service that will deliver efficiencies and also improve access for residents with disabilities or those living in geographically isolated areas.
4.2 There is no statutory requirement for the Council to fund any public transport services. It does so to support other national and regional transport objectives, and also support our own corporate objectives around the environment, education and supporting the economy. The policy document sets out why we should support public transport, and also indicates the type of services we will support.
Proposed new criteria for supporting local bus services
4.4 The Council has never had any criteria to determine which services it should support. However, with budgetary pressures, and external factors such as rising fuel costs, it is important that a decision making aid is implemented and used consistently, to determine the level of Council intervention. The best barometer to test the effectiveness of bus services is subsidy per passenger. This is measured by dividing the annual cost to the Council of the service, by the annual number of passenger trips. The subsidy per passenger figure will usually be between £0.10 (most popular services costing relatively low sums) and £5.00 per trip ( poorly used expensive services).
4.5 The policy sets out a simple ranking system (green, amber, red) to manage the network. Services ranked green (low subsidy per passenger) are considered good value for money. Services ranked amber have higher subsidy per passenger and require constant review and management to either increase patronage or reduce costs. Services ranked red would not normally be retained in their current form, as Council subsidy for every passenger trip exceeds £2.
4.6 Under the new system, officers would be required to monitor the network much more, measuring performance of services, and taking remedial action in partnership with bus operators and the community to reduce costs or increase patronage (i.e. improved performance management).
4.7 Members will have the opportunity to review actions taken and also review up to date performance tables of services on a regular basis. A report will be brought to Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny committee every six months that sets out the latest performance of all services, details of actions taken by officers to tackle services in the amber and red categories, and results of local consultation on specific services. Members will also receive reports on requests for new services and any actions taken.
Current performance of services
4.8 The updated performance table is attached as appendix 3. This gives a strong indication of the current performance of services, based on subsidy per passenger. However, in all instances, before any final action is taken against poorer performing services, on bus surveys will be undertaken to validate electronic ticket machine data supplied by operators.
4.9 Eight services were identified in June 2011 as being in the red category. These were subject to on bus surveys, and this has validated general poor performance. Of these eight, one service, the D23 off peak service to Coed y Glyn has improved significantly. This service is now in the amber category, at £1.52 subsidy per passenger. Its future performance will be monitored, but it is no longer “at risk”. One other service, the early morning late afternoon service 13 from Brymbo to the Town Centre and on to the Industrial Estate, is improving in performance significantly. It was the worse performing service, at £3.95, but patronage is steadily increasing and it is now at £2.10. This service is used by residents travelling to work for early morning shifts, and withdrawal would have significant consequences. No further action is proposed at present, other than to monitor the performance.
4.10 Officers will commence development of proposals to take appropriate action to improve their performance, through a combination of rerouting, reduction in subsidy, identifying alternatives (such as Community Transport), integrating with other services, or, if all else fails, possible withdrawal. The detailed on bus surveys will be analysed to examine alternatives for passengers. In all cases, appropriate consultation will take place with affected Members, Community Councils, and affected passengers. The actions proposed by officers will be brought back to this committee early summer.
Community Transport
4.11 There are a number of community transport schemes in Wrexham, all operating independently from each other. The detailed community engagement process revealed significant unmet demand, and also a strong appetite for a new borough wide service.
4.12 Such a service is feasible, and can have core funding from reallocation of existing transport budgets, particularly from some spend on Special Educational Needs and Social Care Transport. The policy sets out the vision for such a service, which could become the centre for all issues relating to accessibility for Wrexham residents. The types of service it will operate includes; dial a ride, social car schemes, community group bookings, transport for education and social care, and travel training.
4.13 Regional activity is underway to determine the feasibility of a North Wales wide community transport scheme. However, it is unlikely that full regional agreement would be reached within the next six months for such a regional service. The final Outline Business Case for the regional service will be completed by the end of January 2012. After that date, informed by our detailed consultation, evidence of unmet demand, and the regional findings, a detailed implementation plan will be developed for the Wrexham service, that ensures priority is given to Wrexham residents, but the scheme is future proofed for possible expansion sub regionally or regionally.
Consultation programme
4.14 Consultation took place on how we should prioritise our spend on public transport, and our suggested approach for community transport. The consultation plan, with results, is attached as appendix 2. Our key message throughout the consultation was “We are seeking views on how we should prioritise our spending on subsidised bus services and community transport. Demand for transport services is increasing, in a period of strong budgetary pressure. We need to ensure our money is properly targeted, so residents can access important services”.
4.15 The consultation took place through October and November, involving Community Groups and Community Councils, other stakeholders, and residents. The methodology for consultation, and results is set out in the appendix.
4.16 The main conclusions to be drawn from the consultation are as follows;
I. For supported public transport, many consultees, particularly groups, understood the need to prioritise provision of services in these challenging times. There was support for the principle of ranking services green, amber and red. In terms of prioritising types of service, those serving education and employment were ranked as more important to prioritise.
II. It is clear that there is strong support to develop community transport in the borough. Groups cited many examples of unmet demand, and also cited the need to integrate all resources more effectively. There was a general understanding of the need to charge for services, in order to ensure their future. Many responders suggested that a lack of a service was much more of an issue than the cost of it.
III. Understandable concerns have been expressed about withdrawing individual services, particularly relating to service 146 from Whitchurch to Wrexham, where it is understood that patronage is low.
5. EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5.1 The equality impact assessment has been completed (ref EIA/00555) with support from the Council's Equality Manager. Anaction plan has been developed to record and address the equality risks identified as far as can be anticipated at this time, including those arising from the cumulative effect of other policies and a range of transport related proposals.
5.2 Equality monitoring was undertaken as part of the consultation. This is also available for viewing within the Equality Assessment System and Index.
6. RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
6.1 The budget for those services ranked in the red category (not including the improving 13 service) is £60,000. Detailed proposals will be developed by Officers relating to those services in the red category. There is a target saving of £15,000 (reduced from original savings requirement of £30,000) against subsidised bus services for 2012/13. Savings from those actions will contribute to required savings from the Council’s Transformation Programme.
7. LEAD MEMBER COMMENT
7.1 The Lead Member has been consulted, and supports the recommendation to develop the plan for Community Transport, and develop proposals to improve our poorer performing bus services.
BACKGROUND PAPERS / LOCATION / WEBSITE INFO.None
- 5 -