Lead Member – Councillor Simon Jones – Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

            RESOLVED:

            That the proposal to undertake full stakeholder and public consultation of the draft Bus Strategy and service prioritisation process be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation presented the report that provided an update on the proposed Bus Strategy and service prioritisation process 2016 to 2021 and the proposal to undertake full public and stakeholder consultation prior to its adoption.

During the ensuing discussion the following points were made:

o   The Strategy was to be welcomed and it was anticipated that the current provision would be improved

o   Transport links with other forms of transport e.g. rail should be prioritised

o   The need to mitigate problems that occur because of cross border service providers

o   Need to recognise the importance of post 16 transport between Ludlow and Kidderminster

o   Community transport schemes – need to give consideration to the procedures and the merits of simplifying the process for voluntary groups.  Any assistance to such schemes to be welcomed. Contracts preferable to Service Level Agreements.

o   Recognition of the lifeline provided by community transport schemes

In acknowledging the comments made, the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation agreed that cross border subsidised routes were problematic and this resulted from the specific authorities having different procedures and rules.  Referring to community transport he commented that by moving to a fixed term contract a guaranteed income stream would be secured.  He commented that the Council paid a base grant to community transport schemes and a figure for each passenger.

RESOLVED:

            That the proposal to undertake full stakeholder and public consultation of the draft Bus Strategy and service prioritisation process be approved.