Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

There were no declarations of members' interests.

The report by the Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support considers the current tendered bus services contracts in Portsmouth that were awarded for a maximum three years (1+1+1) from Sunday 27 March 2016.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Traffic &Transportation:

(1)       Notes the patronage figures for the current tendered bus services;

(2)       Approves the termination of the current subsidised service / tendered service contract for service 19/19A to end on the 26th March 2017 to enable savings of future contract costs;

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

The Cabinet Member for Traffic &Transportation:

(1)       Noted the patronage figures for the current tendered bus services;

(2)       Approved the termination of the current subsidised service /tendered service contract for service 19/19A to end on the 26th March 2017 to enable savings of future contract costs;

(3)       Agreed that the Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support be given delegated authority to remove bus stop infrastructure from redundant routes as appropriate.

Alan Cufley, the Director of Transport, Environment & Business Support, introduced his report which set out the background to the review and paragraph 4.1 set out the patronage figures for the routes under review and at paragraph 4.2 the level of subsidies received for the tendered bus routes. At paragraph 5.2 of the report the usage of the No19 route was found to be an average of 66 people per day (across 10 journeys).  It was confirmed that the Nos 13 and 14 First bus routes also serviced Portsmouth College.  If the 19/19A service was removed other services were available within an average of 490 metres, and some of these alternative services ran with greater frequency.

Deputations in opposition to the proposal were made, with points including:

i)          Jeanette Smith - the no19 covers most of the Baffins ward and PCC's Sustainable Travel Plan encourages the use of public transport.  Many roads will be left without a public service and there should be a full impact assessment as many elderly people would be cut off.

ii)         Richard Adair - Many people in Southsea relied on buses, some of whom don't own cars and don’t have family nearby to give lifts.  The 19/19A service connects to the city centre and an important route. Public Transport use should be encouraged for the city's sustainability.

iii)       Councillor Darren Sanders - he thanked officers for taking down the Neville Road bus shelter.  The 19/19A service provided good links across the city and the reasons of cost could also apply to No.16 and No22 services, especially at weekends.  Many roads would be losing access to a bus service.  Baffins ward councillors had met with the provider to suggest a re-routing (via Hayling Avenue) to save costs but preserve the service, and he asked that a temporary extension be made on this basis.

iv)       Councillor Lee Hunt - Bus services should not be taken away when the council is trying to encourage people to use public transport rather than cars.  Funding could be made available to support the No.19/19A service, such as through reinstating residents' parking schemes that generated income. Removal of the service would lead to isolation and taking the only service running along Winter Road.  He asked if Dial-a-ride would be subsidised?

Councillor Stuart Potter, as a Spokesperson, asked if public taxis could be used in a way to take concessionary fares.

Councillor Lynne Stagg, as a Spokesperson and ward councillor, then spoke in support of the No.19/19A service as it was the only service to go right across the city (covering 9 wards). She was concerned that Stride Avenue would be cut off from where it was hard to access other routes, and it would have a big impact on Stubbington Avenue and its surrounding roads.  The elderly represent half of the concessionary fares and they have further to go, on low incomes.  The usage figures showed that the No.19 service was better used than the No.16 service, and sustainable transport was being promoted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The report by the Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support seeks to provide the consultation responses to the proposal under Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) 13/2016 to enable an informed decision to be made.

RECOMMENDED that the 'Portsmouth City Council (KA Old Portsmouth) (Residents' Parking Zone Amendment) (No.13) Order 2016' be implemented as advertised, reducing the free parking period within the KA zone residents' parking bays from 2 hours to 1 hour.

The Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation agreed that the 'Portsmouth City Council (KA Old Portsmouth) (Residents' Parking Zone Amendment) (No.13) Order 2016' be implemented as advertised, reducing the free parking period within the KA zone residents' parking bays from 2 hours to 1 hour.

Councillor Fleming had received written deputations which were circulated, which included an apology from Ward Councillor Rob Wood that he could not attend this meeting.

Pam Turton, the Assistant Director of Transport, Environment & Business Support, presented this report and explained the background of ensuring that the parking zones were working effectively.  The report set out the results of the consultation on reducing the period of free parking from 2 hours to 1 hour, and consultation responses were reproduced in full at Appendix B of the report.  Objections to the proposal had been received from some businesses in Old Portsmouth and the Anglican Cathedral whose users would be affected.

Deputations were made in support of the proposal, whose points are summarised:

i)             Mr Dobson, Friends of Old Portsmouth Association (FOOPA)  - the reduction in free parking was welcomed by the residents for their improved quality of life with encouragement of sustainable alternatives to visiting cars (but this would not affect blue badge holders) and improved air quality.  He referred to a business parking refund project in Dorchester, and he felt it would benefit the taxi trade.  The Church of England also has carbon reduction targets.

ii)            Anna Koor, spoke as a resident who does not run a car and pays for visitor scratch cards and she felt that people should pay for parking on the highway and public land.  The cathedral volunteers should be reimbursed by the church, as everyone had to be treated fairly. She supported the reasons given in the officer's report and the future air pollution mitigation.

iii)           Angela Page from the Spice Island Association supported the proposal as a positive measure to reduce the parking in Old Portsmouth by shoppers using Gunwharf and to encourage other means of transport and reduce car use.  The Landrover BAR and Hotwalls had encouraged more tourists and there is reduced parking available at the Camber.

iv)           Tony Davenport, also from Spice Island Association, thought that the restriction on free parking would release spaces needed for local residents.  The also referred to a Council of London scheme in which some streets had specific hours restricted to residents' parking only which he hoped would be looked at by officers.

(Mr Davies had been due to speak but was not present due to travelling back from work)

Councillor Lynne Stagg, Spokesperson, recognised that the majority of residents were in favour of the proposal which aimed to alleviate parking problems in the area, so she also supported this.  Councillor Stuart Potter, Spokesperson, felt that this would also help the local economy with a higher turnover of vehicles.

Councillor Jim Fleming, as Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation, reported that within the main Council budget £40k had been set aside for an area study for parking in Old Portsmouth, and this could include looking at Mr Davenport's suggestion. Whilst the officers' proposal would make it more difficult for parking for Cathedral users this was in a residents' parking zone, so the residents had to be first  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.