Issue - meetings

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to review the bus services supported by Portsmouth City Council in summer 2022/23 and to make recommendations for any summer bus services in 2023/24.

Recommendations

It is recommended that the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

1.    Delegates authority to the Assistant Director of Transport to undertake the procurement process and the award of a contract for a park and ride service (known as Southsea PR3), to operate in the July/August summer holidays, and on weekends in May, June and September, to be funded from the parking reserve, subject to value for money after consultation with the Section 151 Officer;

2.    Notes the registration of the commercial open top seafront Service 50 between The Hard and South Parade Pier between 28 May and 30 September 2023;

3.    Notes no additional journeys on the Service 25 are to be operated in summer 2023.    

Simon Bell, Principal Public Transport Officer, presented his report and advised that the purpose of the report was to review the bus services supported by Portsmouth City Council in summer 2022/23 and to make recommendations for any summer bus services in 2023/24.

Members' questions

In relation to Members' questions, officers clarified:

·         It was not the case that PCC always do an annual process for contracting summer bus services.  Last year was the first year that an open top bus service was contracted by PCC.  The service is a commercial one for this year.  This was the proposed third year for the Park and Ride service to Southsea.

The Chair stated she was in favour of the proposals.  She noted the need to commence communications earlier than previous years to ensure greater take up of the services.

Decision

The Cabinet Member:

1.    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Transport to undertake the procurement process and the award of a contract for a park and ride service (known as Southsea PR3), to operate in the July/August summer holidays, and on weekends in May, June and September, to be funded from the parking reserve, subject to value for money after consultation with the Section 151 Officer;

2.    Noted the registration of the commercial open top seafront service 50 between The Hard and South Parade Pier between 28 May and 30 September 2023;

3.    Noted no additional journeys on the Service 25 are to be operated in summer 2023.