To inform Committee about the coordination of transport services including those provided by the voluntary sector.

The Committee were informed about the co-ordination of transport services including those provided by the voluntary sector.

The Interim Transportation Manager presented his report which informed of: public transport contracts; home-to-school transport; social care transport, and transport provided through the voluntary sector.  The report also highlighted some of the opportunities or barriers for integration including the integration between public transport and Adult Social Care transport.

On scrutinising the report the following principal points were noted:

• The extension to 16-18 learning, due to be implemented in 2013, had the potential to have a major adverse impact on pupil transport budgets.
• The Committee noted the complexity, arising from the government policy on parental choice for schools, in arranging efficient and economic school transport.
• Adult Social Care provided transport for social care clients on the basis of individual need (taxi/voluntary car/ minibus etc) which depended on what was determined by their individual care package.  It was reported that the Scrutiny Review of Day Care Opportunities may provide more information on this aspect of transport.  The Committee requested a report on costs and efficiencies identified through the Scrutiny review.
• It was commented that many pupils may decide to cycle to school if routes to school were safe and cycle facilities were provided.
• It was thought that there had been a drop in the number of volunteer drivers in the voluntary sector.  This had probably been due to a narrowing of the gap between allowances paid and the costs of fuel and maintenance. 
• Public transport contracts were usually for 3 years and normally contained a clause to take account of inflationary factors e.g. fluctuations in fuel prices.
•  The typical cost of transporting a statemented pupil to schools by taxi was £20.00 per day - not including any escort costs.
• An average of £1.53 per journey was paid to public transport contractors.  It was commented that the public should be made more aware of this subsidy and more use of public transport should be encouraged.  Comment was made regarding the need for subsidised bus services to include appropriate information for passengers identifying the Council’s financial support for the service.  It was confirmed that such notices were routinely included on supported services.
• Questioned on the possibility of co-locating transport facilities, such as rail and bus, the Interim Head of Transportation reported that the Leominster Taxi Bus scheme had operated until funding for the scheme had run out.  He reminded Members that a seminar entitled ‘The future of bus services’ was due to be held on 23rd March.

§         The Low Floor Bus Project which was funded through the Council’s Local Transportation Plan and contributions from the Countryside Agency had enabled the Council to support a step change in the quality of the rural bus fleet in the County, providing fully accessible vehicles well in advance of DDA requirements. These newer busses also had the benefit of improved fuel efficiency and hence a reduced carbon footprint.

§         The Director of Environment and Culture referred to the earlier carbon management report which stated that the Council’s Joint Management Team had recently resolved that:- ‘All major projects and briefs to consultants should require calculation of lifetime carbon costs for options to enable better management of emissions and that major contractors be required to show a commitment to environmental management as part of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) process and provide the Council with data for our carbon inventory so progress with our reduction target can be checked’.

§         In relation to school transport the Admissions and Transport Manager reported that the government were currently assessing the American style Yellow Bus scheme.

RESOLVED That subject to a report on efficiencies identified through the review of day care opportunities being programmed for the June 2009 meeting the report be noted

At this point the Committee adjourned for 8 minutes and resumed at 11.09am