MINUTES of the meeting of the COMMERCIAL BUS OPERATORS TOPIC GROUP held on Monday 27 March 2006 at 2.00pm

ATTENDANCE

Members of the Topic Group

N K Brook, A Mitchell, M Downing, R G Prowse, I E M Tarry (Chairman)

Others in Attendance

D A Ashley, Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Partnership

M Perkins, Executive Member Planning Environmental Health – Welwyn Hatfield

Officers

John Sykes, Integrated Transport Services Manager

Steve Ferns, Head of Passenger Transport Operations

Gill Borg, Transport Commissioning & Planning Manager

Natalie Rotherham, Scrutiny Officer

Neil Terry, Democratic Services Officer

Phillipa Brent-Isherwood, Community Project Team Lead – East Herts

Mike Beckham, Transport Manager – Welwyn Hatfield

1. / MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Topic Group agreed the minutes as an accurate record of the meeting held on 28 February 2006.
2. / DISTRICT COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS FROM
2.1 / EAST HERTS DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phillipa Brent-Isherwood attended the meeting as a representative of East Herts District Council.
What service providers are operating in East Herts?
·  Phillipa will feedback to the next meeting.
The issues facing East Herts are as follows:
·  Sheltered Housing Schemes – locality of bus stops to such developments
·  Inter operator communications – same number buses with different providers and routes (No. 333) / PB-I
2.2 / WELWYN HATFIELD COUNCIL
Mike Beckham and Mandy Perkins attended the meeting and provided the Topic Group with an insight into services within Welwyn Hatfield.
80% of services are provided by two providers:
·  Arriva The Shires
·  UNO Bus
It was noted that very few complaints have been received in Welwyn Hatfield but the few that are relate to:
·  The types of bus used
·  Frequency of service
·  Services being withdrawn at short notice
As a recent example the Topic Group were notified about the removal of service 403. The notification of route closure was received but only at the point where the service was being withdrawn.
Members of the Topic Group asked the following questions:
What is the quality of signage on the buses like?
·  In Welwyn Hatfield bus signage is very clear.
Are the buses accessible?
·  The quality of buses in the Welwyn Hatfield area are good.
3. / BUS USER GROUPS PRESENTATIONS
Sylvia White from the Wormley Residents Association attended the meeting to provide views of bus users from the Wormley area.
The Topic Group noted that bus services were not direct from Wormley to Chase Farm but routes travel via Waltham Cross and Enfield.
The nearest Pregnancy Unit has been moved to Lister Hospital which additionally creates difficult journeys for people with reduced mobility.
It was noted that the dial-a-ride initiative does not extend to Wormley.
The Topic Group were provided with costs of taxi fares from Wormley to local hospitals and informed of the financial impact of regular visits.
4. / ACS PRESENTATION
Gill Borg circulated a handout providing further details of the relationship between Public Transport and ACS clients.
The Topic Group noted that MENCAP have undertaken significant market research especially focusing on drivers notifying passengers of when the next stop is.
Steve Ferns and John Sykes will be meeting with a Bus Operator regarding passenger notification and invited Gill Borg to attend. The Topic Group requested a summary of this meeting.
The Topic Group would like Gill Borg to attend the next meeting with the Bus Operators.
John Sykes informed the Topic Group that East and North Herts patients were screened for travel to Hertford, QEII and Lister hospitals.
The Topic Group wished to know which services will be moving to Hatfield. Natalie Rotherham to feedback at a future meeting. / SF / JS
GB
NR
5. / INFORMATION ITEM - TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER
Natalie Rotherham informed the Topic Group that arranging a meeting with the Traffic Commissioner was proving difficult.
The Traffic Commissioner has forwarded the following information booklets:
·  Local Bus Service Registration – Guide for Operators
·  Public Service Vehicle Operator License – Guide for Operators
It was agreed that a copy of these booklets will be circulated to the Topic Group.
The Topic Group agreed that it was still important to meet with the Traffic Commissioner and agreed to travel if necessary.
Steve Ferns informed members that applications for route changes will be made online in future. The Topic Group noted that Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) may receive notification of route changes more quickly under an electronic system.
The Topic Group agreed to investigate the role of the Traffic Commissioner in Scotland compared to that in England.
The Topic Group also considered whether to lobby Government about the Traffic Commissioner role. / NT
NR / NT
NR / NT
6. / DISCUSSION ITEM - LOCAL BUS OPERATORS
Could the Hertfordshire Bus Strategy Booklet be reworded as a recommendation of the Topic Group?
·  It was noted that Intalink is undertaking this activity.
The Topic Group requested feedback from future Intalink meetings. The next meeting is due to be held on the 11 May 2006.
Has HCC held Bus Surgeries as detailed in our Bus Strategy?
·  The surgeries have not been held at this stage. / JS / SF
7. / CONSIDERING THE FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME – CONTENT OF MEETING AND DATES
Next Meeting
The Topic Group would like to identify key issues for discussion with the Bus Operators. Working lunch to be arranged prior to the meeting.
The Topic Group will develop a list of proposed recommendations.
Future Meetings
The Topic Group are keen to meet with more of the Bus User Groups. It was agreed that meetings later in the day or evenings could be considered. The following Members will investigate contacts for Bus User Groups in their districts:
·  Rob Prowse – St Albans
·  Michael Downing - Stevenage / NT

Neil Terry

Democratic Services Officer

March 2006

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