Agenda item

Following the Briefing Note circulated on 26 February 2020 on the Government's funding for 'a better deal for bus users', the committee will be updated on:

·       The outcomes of a further consultation process with members, town and parish council asking how Wiltshire should spend the £671,171 allocated to Wiltshire for improving bus services

·       How Wiltshire intends to spend the £1.2m grant allocated after its successful bid for Rural Mobility Funding (RMF)

·       and how the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is being developed

Note: Reports to follow

The Select Committee considered a report of Jess Gibbons, Director for Communities and Neighbourhood Services which provided detail about a National Bus Strategy for England, and associated funding, aimed at improving and increasing bus usage.

The Select Committee receive a request from Colin Gale, on behalf of the Pewsey Community Area Partnership, to speak on the Strategy.  The Chairman welcomed Colin to the meeting and asked him to speak. The Select Committee noted that PCAP welcomed the restoration of the Pewsey area bus service. Their main concern centred around the £1.2m funding available and the potential for limited improvements to the service, and a  request for detail surrounding the allocation of costs of the call centre. Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Street Scene and Flooding and James Salter, Head of Passenger Transport confirmed that additional funding was available and that it was the intention of the proposals that the bus operator would be responsible for the costs of the call centre.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland introduced the report and explained that the Strategy for England is a central government policy aimed at improving and increasing bus usage. It required Local Transport Authorities to work in legal partnership with local bus operators to achieve this growth. It was noted that the Council had successfully bid for £1.2m to enhance the demand responsive bus network in the Pewsey Vale.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland and Head of Passenger Transport responded to a number of questions and comments from the Select Committee which included the following areas:

·       The use of electric buses to achieve the key objective of carbon reduction. It was noted that the larger bus companies had committed to coming on board with the use of electric buses in the future.  Long term plans were emerging, and a number of bus groups had committed to not purchasing diesel powered buses in the future. One challenge included the distances travelled by electric buses, especially in Wiltshire and its rural landscape. 

·       Potential for initial free bus travel to encourage greater use of the service. The Select Committee noted that this would be included in the marketing and ticketing of the service.

·       Possible issues with the early termination of the of the Rural Mobility Fund contract. It was noted that the current contract contained a 3-month termination clause which the current provider had accepted.

·       The Rural Mobility Fund was a hybrid model and a long term strategy.  Fares and timetabling were dependant on the needs of the community.

·       The use of alternative vehicles to buses in more rural areas, for instance taxis and minibuses, to meet transport needs. Flexible approaches would need to be considered further although some schemes were currently in operation, for instance, a route from West Ashton into Trowbridge.

·       Park and Ride Schemes in Salisbury would be reviewed alongside the Parking Strategy.

·       Use of empty sites as transport hubs to include EV charging stations. It was noted that a joined-up approach was necessary for all modes of transport and Cabinet would be considering the Council’s EV Charging Strategy in October 2021.

·       There was a decline in the number of bus passengers of 1%-2% year on year. 

Resolved: To note:

1.    the intention for Cabinet to agree the Subsidised Bus Service Fund be committed as defined in the table in paragraph 21.

2.    the progress on the Rural Mobility Fund (RMF) project and that a further progress report will be submitted in the future.

3.    the emerging ambitions outlined in the Wiltshire Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which will form the backbone of our future Bus strategy – Connected Wiltshire – and is to be submitted to the Department for Transport by 31 October.