Issue - meetings

To receive a report that highlights the findings of the consultation and changes proposed for individual services.

1.            The Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Mr Balfour, introduced a report that  sought Members endorsement or recommendations to the proposed decision to implement the package of supported bus service initiatives as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report.

2.            The Head of Public Transport, Mr Lightowler, highlighted the findings of the consultation that ran between 21 March and 15 May 2016 advising that there were 424 responses received; 276 responses were to specific initiatives in the consultation document and 63% of the respondents used the services affected and 175 of the respondents identified themselves as being in a protected group as per the EQiA.  He advised that the key message was the need for change.  However there were some concerns that may have reflected a lack of understanding of exactly what the proposed changes entail suggesting a need to reassure users – including providing reassurance around alternative provision.

3.            Mr Lightowler agreed to provide information about  the alternative timetables for those services where that was not included in the consultation.

4.            Concerns and questions were responded to by Mr Lightowler and Mr Balfour as follows:-

Ÿ  Mr Caller questioned what was being proposed in the recommendation of the report as the revised timetables had not been received by the public as part of the consultation.  He considered that he might vote against the recommendation as it stood.  Mr Balfour expressed his regret that Mr Caller did not feel properly informed.  He suggested that Members had the opportunity to ask him or the Corporate Director, Mrs Cooper questions before the meeting.

Ÿ  Mr Lightowler in response to the question of what efficiencies would be used to ensure that the budget for supported bus in 2016/17 would be delivered, explained that Public Transport had built up a reserve, through efficient management of spend and by delivering a BSOG surplus.  Mr Lightowler explained that when BSOG was devolved from DfT to Kent, for supported services, rather than just pay the same amounts to the operators as DfT, Kent re-ran the BSOG calculations in conjunction with the operators and this generated a surplus, Operators were happy with this arrangement and under the devolved ruled any BSOG surplus could be re-invested in Public Transport.  It was this reserve said Mr Lightowler which would be used to fund any gap. 

Ÿ  Mr Lightowler confirmed that the EQiA, both for the whole package and for each individual route was produced by working closely with the Equalities Team, using their advice, and had been reviewed by them.

Ÿ  Mr Lightowler explained, in response to a question re reputational issue with the operator (service 12RL alternative provider) that in the case of service 12, the alternative to service 12RL the service had reliability issues in the past; running late and breaking down.  There was now a strong programme with new engineers to resolve the vehicle issues.  The problem was that bus services were like retail, once a service got a reputation it was hard to remove, even when  ...  view the full minutes text for item 189