Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

12 December 2001

Project Appraisal: Public Transport Information 2002

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 7

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION 2002

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

DECEMBER 2001

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2002

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2001/02

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Dec 01

(at Dec 01

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

-

-

Works

125

125

Fees

-

-

125

125

Less developers/

-

-

other contributions

125

125

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

125

(b) Other

125

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

125

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

Nil

Nil

Capital charges

7.5

0.012

TOTAL net expenditure

7.5

0.012

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

This project was instigated by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) (formerly Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions) as a requirement on local authorities to deliver their part of a national 'one-stop shop' for public transport information. The DTLR made available capital funding through Supplementary Credit Approvals for 1999/00 and 2000/01 to establish the service initially, with ongoing funding being required through ring-fenced funds from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) settlements.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

This project will contribute to the development of the national public transport information provision and the Traveline enquiry.

Details of scheme and design standards

For the purposes of this project, Hampshire County Council formed a local consortium with Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council and the four major bus operators, Stagecoach South East, First Hampshire, Solent Blue Line and Wilts & Dorset. The consortium formed part of the south-east regional grouping, comprising authorities and operators to the east of Hampshire as well as Reading and authorities to the north and east of London. The operators and authorities worked in partnership on the project with the local authorities responsible for assembling the data that the service is based upon and the operators being responsible for paying the costs of the calls to the regional call centre.

However, progress within the south-east in assembling data was slow and the costs of running the call centre were high in relation to other regions. The Hampshire Consortium became increasingly dissatisfied with the way the south-east region was operating and began to investigate alternative options open to it. The Consortium considered a number of options, including looking at delivering the service itself as an independent consortium, but concluded that investigating joining the south-west region was the most favourable option open to it. The database supplier has developed a more robust way of storing and accessing data, including a mapping element to assist enquiry clerks. The call centre is combined with the national rail enquiry service which offers economies of scale and the management structure is more inclusive in the way transport operators and local authorities work together. The regional approach offered by the South-West Region (SWPTI) will provide a more cost effective way of delivering the service. The service will also provide journey planning at a stop by stop, rather than timing point level and other enhanced standards that are due to be introduced for 2002.

A formal approach has been made to the board of SWPTI which was accepted in principle on 24 October 2001. The DTLR has also been approached and does not have an objection to the proposal. Negotiations are currently in hand to reach an agreement that a transfer to the south-west region would be on the basis of the Hampshire Consortium joining the region as a full partner. The contracts with the database manager, Action Information Management (AIM), and the call centre would be held through SWPTI on behalf of the consortium, rather than separate contracts.

The ring-fenced LTP funds will be used to start up the service, including transferring data where possible from existing sources. It is anticipated that use will be made of the existing database for Hampshire supplied by Xephos and that mapping information on routes and stops will be sourced from the County Council's Geographic Information System and accessibility model. In the meantime, calls for Hampshire enquiries will continue to be sourced from the south-east call centre. However, it is anticipated that the transfer period will be kept as short as possible, with the new arrangements in place by spring 2002.

The system will adhere to the national standards already set and will aim to develop the new standards that are due to be issued for 2002. These will include fare information, stop by stop journey planning and the provision of an internet web site with comprehensive public transport information.

Environmental impact

Not applicable

Land requirements

Not applicable

Statutory procedures

The County Council has a duty to provide the services offered as part of this national facility and aims to do so in a way which provides best value. The move to the south-west region has been consulted upon with the authorities and operators involved through the Consortium meetings.

Public consultation

Not applicable

Facilities for the disabled

Not applicable

Maintenance implications

The County Council will fund its element of the database creation and project start up through the LTP funds (£125,000 for 2001/02). Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council will fund their own costs through their own LTP settlements. At present costs to the Hampshire Consortium have been apportioned 75% to the County Council, 25% to Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils. The consortium is currently assessing this split with the likelihood that costs relating to SWPTI will be apportioned according to population. An oral update will be given at the meeting.

The work on updating and maintaining the database will be undertaken by a dedicated officer at the County Council.

The costs of the calls to the call centre will be met by the transport operators. In the longer term the local authorities will need to meet the costs for updating and maintaining data for use by SWPTI and the regional call centre.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Not applicable

Sustainability

This project improves access to information about travel by sustainable means.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Not applicable.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

None