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1. Summary

1.1 This report considers progress on the implementation of the Action Plan for the Cross-Cutting Passenger Transport Best Value Review. The Committee is requested to note the changes to the Plan and agree the implementation programme for the coming year.

2. Information

2.1 This cross-cutting review of transport pulled together conclusions from the reviews of transport in the areas of Education, Social Services and Environment, setting up arrangements to improve the future coordination of transport procurement. Given the complexity of both the service and the arrangements for delivering it across the public sector as a whole, the recommendations aimed to set up the mechanisms for improvements over the following two to three year period.

2.2 The outcome report from this review recognised the challenge to ensure that momentum is maintained and creative approaches continue to be put forward to develop joint cross-service initiatives. This was in contrast to the previous practice of running relatively discrete passenger transport activities, which was unlikely to maximise the potential to address the underlying issues of congestion and social exclusion in the most effective way. The outcome report noted that this would require concerted efforts from both officers and Members over the next two years.

2.3 In summary, the review's main recommendations sought to:

(i) establish patterns of transport in sample urban and rural areas in order to take action to improve integration across a wide range of partners;

(ii) integrate Social Services transport with Environment/ Education arrangements;

(iii) make best use of the bus strategy currently being developed;

(iv) identify more flexible approaches to home to school transport;

(v) consider experimenting with a County Council bus fleet in order to increase competition in the market;

(vi) ensure that modernised Member arrangements allow transport to be considered in a cross-cutting way; and

(vii) improve communication, in particular the role of parish councils.

2.4 Implementation of the review's recommendations has been undertaken by the individual service departments in consultation with colleagues and guidance from the Officers' Steering Group. The group has also updated and reappraised the appropriateness of a number of the action points. The revised action plan is attached as Appendix 1; recent achievements are highlighted in italics and are described in outline in Appendix 2.

2.5 A subsequent review of the outcome report by the Audit Commission highlighted the importance of maintaining progress on an integrated approach to tackling intra- and inter-departmental issues. Accordingly, the Officers' Steering Group has been reconvened and is now meeting regularly to ensure both, that the original proposals are implemented and new ideas are generated for future evaluation.

2.6 In this latter respect, the original action plan proposed that there should be greater Member involvement in the development of new ideas to meet the cross-cutting agenda. Accordingly, it was proposed that a Member champion be nominated to input into the Steering Group's deliberations and help guide this process. After consultation with key Members, Councillor Tim Knight has agreed to perform this role.

2.7 Subject to the Committee's view, it is proposed that the Steering Group will now continue not only to monitor progress on the original action points but also to identify and explore new initiatives that can make better use of the County Council's own transport passenger provision. This will involve the exploration of new initiatives with external partners, as well as cross-departmental issues. Emerging proposals will be presented to the relevant Executive Members and will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis by this Committee.

Recommendation

That the Committee notes the progress made on the Action Plan of the Passenger Transport Cross-Cutting Best Value Review and agrees the amendments to the future programme.

7318/PNB