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Issue

Issue - meetings

Enhanced Partnership Implementation

Meeting: 08/12/2022 - Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation (Item 46)

Implementation of Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme for bus services in Portsmouth

Purpose of Report

This report seeks approval for the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme for bus services in Portsmouth as approved by Cabinet on 21 June 2022 and following statutory consultation.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

 

1.    Notes the contents of this report.

 

2.    Notes that the Department for Transport require additional text in the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme.

 

3.    Approves the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme as attached.

 

4.    Approves the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme from 8 December 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Peter Shelley, Transport Development Manager, PCC Regeneration introduced the report.

 

Members Questions

In response to Members questions, officers clarified:

 

·         The additional text required for the Department for Transport was provided following the submission of the report on 30 June 2022 to clarify and explain in greater detail the reasons behind some elements of the report as it was originally written and made the intentions clearer for the Department of Transport.

 

·         The indicative funding allocation had become a real award subject to completion of the statutory consultation, which had been completed.

 

·         Bus stops within the city were being considered on a 'stop-by-stop' basis to assess how they fit into local parking situations.  The aim was to improve the environment from an accessibility point of view, both for the bus to stop as well as for passengers to board and disembark from the bus.  A bus boarder builds the pavement out so the bus can stop parallel to any parked cars and load passengers on and off without having to pull in and out.  This helps minimise delays to the service.

 

·         Core routes are the most well used routes.

 

·         There were two ways fare disparity between First Hampshire and Stagecoach were being dealt with.  The first was to introduce a more graduated fare scale to make both services more comparable.  The second was to introduce a range of value fares, for example, evening tickets, family tickets and job seekers tickets which would be available across both companies' services.  Some funding was available through BSIP to help with these initiatives.

 

·         Opposition spokespersons were to be briefed on discussions and decisions from the Partnership Board.

 

 

·         Conventional services were the traditional bus services.  Demand response services were similar to 'dial a ride' - a service which is more flexible in response to need.  Unserved communities include not just geographical communities but also groups that are not well reached by traditional services.  Funding was available to communicate with and reach out to these groups to better understand their needs and to ensure everyone had the best access to services in the city.

 

·         Early morning journeys had already commenced.  The future timetable of improvements was to be outlined on the programme board and in the stakeholder engagement group.  A solution would be discussed with the Communications team on how to best ensure Councillors are fully informed and kept up to date.

 

·         All buses running on regular services were Euro 6 and complied with the Clean Air Zone.

 

Members Comments

 

·         Councillors thanked officers for the thorough report and voiced the hope it will make a positive impact on the operation of bus services in the city.

 

·         Congratulations were offered for the second highest successful bid of any outside of a combined mayoral area.

 

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation:

 

1.    Noted the contents of the report

2.    Noted that the Department for Transport required additional text in the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme.

3.    Approved the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme.

4.    Approved the implementation of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46