Agenda item

The purpose of the report by the Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support is to consider the outcome of the re-tendering the subsidised bus service contracts in Portsmouth to be awarded for three years from Sunday 27 March 2016.

N.B. - a decision on this item is not subject to call-in due to the implications this would have (to enable routes to be run with the 56 day notice period with the Traffic Commissioner), as agreed by the Monitoring Officer and in consultation with the Chair of Scrutiny Management Panel.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation:

(1)  Notes the current financial pressure as a result of the concessionary reimbursement;

(2)  Gives approval for the award of contracts for supported bus services to operate for 3 years from Sunday 27 March 2016 in accordance with Appendix A.

(3)  Acknowledges that the bus services outlined in Appendix B contain a list of tendered services and that some of those services will be run commercially (at no cost to the council) and the remainder are the tendered bus routes that are the least value for money. Therefore it is recommended that they are no longer financially supported;

(4)  The Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support is given delegated authority to remove bus stop infrastructure from redundant routes as appropriate;

(5)  The Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support is given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation for any variations to the contract award within procurement rules and overall approved budget for the Traffic and Transportation Portfolio.

The Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation:

1.    Noted the current financial pressure as a result of the concessionary reimbursement;

2.    Gave approval for the award of contracts for supported bus services to operate for 3 years from Sunday 27 March 2016 in accordance with Appendix A.

3.    Acknowledged that the bus services outlined in Appendix B contain a list of tendered services and that some of those services will be run commercially (at no cost to the council) and the remainder are the tendered bus routes that are the least value for money. Therefore it is recommended that they are no longer financially supported; with the exception of the 19/19A service which will be retained.

4.    The Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support was given delegated authority to remove bus stop infrastructure from redundant routes as appropriate;

5.    The Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support was given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation for any variations to the contract award within procurement rules and overall approved budget for the Traffic and Transportation Portfolio.

N.B. This decision is not subject to call-in due to the timing implications this would have on securing bus routes in the city, as agreed by the Monitoring Officer and in consultation with the Chair of Scrutiny Management Panel.

The Director of Transport, Environment & Business Support presented this report which was in response to budget pressures and the effect of supporting the concessionary fares scheme which had meant there was a need for a comprehensive review and retendering of the bus services.  It was noted that this would not be subject to call-in due to the timescale for the routes to be let and this had been agreed with the chair of the Scrutiny Management Panel.

The retendering had brought forward changes by the bus services.  Some of the services would run commercially which was welcome.  There was consideration being given to the most appropriate routes to continue via tender.  Regrettably some routes would no longer be provided with a bus service, as detailed in the appendix B.

A deputation was made by Councillor Lee Hunt voicing his opposition to the reduction of subsidised bus services though he was glad that the concessionary fares were continuing and that there was some opportunity for commercial routes to be run.  He was concerned that at a time when people were being encouraged to use other forms of transport than their cars,  bus services were being reduced.  His solution would be for reinstatement of the residents' parking scheme which had brought in funding in MB and MC zones to help with these alternative modes of transport. 

Councillor Darren Sanders then made a deputation stating that to cut congestion people should have the opportunity to use the bus routes and he was concerned that in north Milton there were a lot of elderly and vulnerable who would be affected by the proposed changes to the buses especially with the No 19, 13 and 14 in Baffins ward which was adversely affected. He had met with the director of First Bus with Councillor Stagg to try and help mitigate the situation.

In response Councillor Ellcome reported that he had also met with the director of First Bus.  The No 13 and 14 were not being cut but there were changes to this route.  He also pointed out that £4.5 million was paid regarding concessionary fares which was a national scheme so there could not be cuts there and he was concerned himself regarding the No 19 route and he acknowledged the help of Dial a Ride in aiding vulnerable people.

Councillor Stagg voiced concerns regarding the re-routing of the No 13 and 14 and felt a lot of elderly people would need to walk a long way to access the continuing services.  It was reported by officers that the longest walks to routes were at Port Solent, but the X4 route is used there.  Councillor Chowdhury raised the issue of the connectivity to Portsmouth College for students and it was noted that this would still be served by the rotating 13/14 route. 

Councillor Ellcome wished to support the recommendations with the exception of the No 19 and No 19A which he wished to retain with funding needing to be covered within his portfolio's finances.

At the end of the meeting Alan Cufley and Councillor Ellcome placed on record their thanks to Danny Johnson for his work to the city council over many years and his help and support to the cabinet members with his extensive knowledge of the bus routes and operations in the city.

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation:

1.            Noted the current financial pressure as a result of the concessionary reimbursement;

2.            Gave approval for the award of contracts for supported bus services to operate for 3 years from Sunday 27 March 2016 in accordance with Appendix A.

3.            Acknowledged that the bus services outlined in Appendix B contain a list of tendered services and that some of those services will be run commercially (at no cost to the council) and the remainder are the tendered bus routes that are the least value for money. Therefore it is recommended that they are no longer financially supported; with the exception of the 19/19A service which will be retained.

4.            The Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support was given delegated authority to remove bus stop infrastructure from redundant routes as appropriate;

5.            The Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support was given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation for any variations to the contract award within procurement rules and overall approved budget for the Traffic and Transportation Portfolio.

N.B. This decision was not subject to call-in due to the timing implications this would have on securing bus routes in the city, as agreed by the Chair of Scrutiny Management Panel and in consultation with the Monitoring Officer.