Contact: Martin Robertson, ext 6997

1. Summary

1.1 This report follows consideration by the Committee on 16 October 2002 of the County Council's approach to the funding of local bus services. It follows up certain points raised at the meeting, details further work planned and scopes the basis of the proposed Bus Strategy which is currently under development.

2. Issues Discussed on 16 October 2002

2.1 Three key issues were considered - the level of funding provided, the criteria for support of services and ways of achieving better value from resources employed. For each of these the current position is as follows:

(i) The Level of Funding

The meeting received a presentation which indicated that Hampshire is approximately average in its spending on local bus service support when taken against ten comparator authorities, both per head of population and per passenger carried. Members were keen to understand what the pressures were like for other authorities in terms of the 2003/04 financial year. This is being progressed by asking an additional question of the comparator authorities and the information collected will be orally reported at the meeting. In addition, the Association of Transport Coordinating Officers (ATCO) is currently undertaking its annual price and expenditure survey across all UK authorities and the results of this will be known prior to the meeting. Again, an oral update will be given at the meeting.

The budget position for 2003/04 is very similar to the forecast estimates given at the last meeting, though slightly improved by efficiencies gained at Andover as part of the second phase of the Quality Network improvements. The current estimated over-commitment for 2003/04 will be orally reported at the meeting.

(ii) Criteria for Support of Services

The presentation given by the TAS Partnership at the last meeting set out some suggested alternative criteria for bus service support. Work is now under way to assess how the proposals made by TAS could be implemented and how this would impact on services on the ground. This final point is vital, it will be important to pitch the criteria carefully and to have good transition arrangements to avoid too much disruption to the existing network, whilst still bringing about tangible changes. As part of the above work, the parish needs assessment conducted by Steer Davies Gleave is being reviewed and will be updated by March 2003.

(iii) Achieving Better Value for Resources Involved

The CANGO demand-responsive services launched in Andover in July continue to grow in popularity and now carry around 50% more passengers than the previous conventional bus services. A graph illustrating this trend is attached as Appendix 1. The services are being amended slightly from early January to reflect usage patterns and feedback from users and driving staff.

Two further CANGO services are currently being established. A two vehicle scheme linking Leigh Park, Havant with employment centres and medical facilities was introduced in November. These are completely new services funded by the Government's Urban Bus Challenge Fund and it is therefore expected that uptake will be slower than in Andover. An oral report on the first month of operation will be given at the meeting.

The second scheme will be launched on 5 December 2002 and the one-vehicle operation will link Sway, Bashley and Tiptoe with New Milton and Lymington.

A bid has been submitted to the 2002 Rural Bus Challenge competition to allow the further roll-out of CANGO services in subsequent years. If successful, the funding received would allow the purchase of six vehicles to convert bus services in rural Basingstoke, East Hampshire and New Forest over a two-year period from September 2003. The routes would be planned following a roll-out of the Quality Network review process (see below). The outcome of the bid should be known in January 2003.

The second phase of the implementation of the Quality Network review around Andover will be introduced in January 2003. This will involve a reorganisation of most rural services with a reduction in resources and an improvement of some frequencies on certain services, including town services in Andover.

The second Quality Network review has now started in South-East Hampshire, taking in Havant, Petersfield, the Meon Valley and Waterlooville and will be completed in February 2003.

(iv) Other Issues Raised

On 16 October other issues were raised, many of which were of a localised nature which have been noted and will be actioned wherever possible. A few generic issues were raised which required a report back to the Committee, these being as follows:

Workplace travel plans: Members requested a report on progress on workplace travel plans in Winchester, both for the County Council and for other employers. These have been prepared and are attached as Appendix 2.

National Federation of Bus Users: Members expressed a wish to see the quarterly newsletter produced by the National Federation of Bus Users (NFBU). A copy of the latest issue has been circulated to all Members of the Committee. It is intended that copies of subsequent issues would be made available in the Members' Rooms. In addition, the NFBU has supplied a copy of its video entitled `A Bus User's Guide to the Bus Industry'. If any Member wishes to borrow the video, then this is available from Martin Robertson (extension 6997).

School hours staggering: Members wanted to be kept aware of progress on this initiative. An internal officer group has been formed with representatives of the Environment and Education Departments and the County Treasurer. Further work on costings is being developed before an approach is made to schools early in the New Year.

3. Bus Strategy

3.1 As agreed at the last meeting, one of the key outstanding issues in relation to this service area is the need to draw together the outcomes of the previous Best Value work and the deliberations of this Committee into a draft Bus Strategy which describes the Council's future approach to the service.

3.2 A suggested outline for such a Bus Strategy is attached as Appendix 3. Work is being undertaken to develop this, but any comments from Members would be valuable at this stage. A full draft will be prepared for the January meeting, for further comment before submission to the Executive Member for Environment for approval prior to consultation. This process will take slightly longer than previously planned, but it is important to gain general acceptance of the approach.

3.3 The key points in the proposed timescale are:

Draft to Environment Policy Review Committee - 22 January 2003

Draft to Executive Member - 11 February 2003

Consultation ends - 31 March 2003

Final draft to Policy Review Committee - 7 May 2003

Final draft to Executive Member - 20 May 2003

Recommendation

That the report be noted and Members invited to comment on the information provided, particularly in relation to the outline Bus Strategy.

7614/MR

APPENDIX 2

UPDATE ON HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL TRAVEL PLAN

The Travel Plan for Hampshire County Council staff was launched in June 2000 - initially as a pilot for Winchester based staff. The Employment in Hampshire Agreement enabled the Travel Plan to be widened to include all APT&C staff covered by the agreement. The plan includes several offers to staff, including interest free loans to purchase season tickets or bicycles for use for travelling to work. The uptake of these initiatives has been encouraging with 356 staff choosing to purchase public transport season tickets or to purchase bicycles by taking out an interest free loan. The Plan has also provided some secure cycle storage for the central offices, which includes secure and undercover storage for 16 bikes, lockers, changing cubicles and hanging space for wet clothes.

In response to comments received during the resurveying of staff in June this year a new car share database is being set up and will be launched in December. In addition to this two electric bicycles are being purchased in conjunction with the Sustainable Development pump-priming fund. These bikes will be available for staff to use for short journeys in and around the central sites in Winchester. These will also be available in December, although it is acknowledged that the time of year is probably not the ideal time to persuade people to cycle for business. However, budgets dictate that the money should be spent now so it is planned to re-energize the publicity for these bikes in the spring.

Last year's funding for the Sustainable Development Strategy also provided another boost for the Travel Plan with the provision of a Toyota Prius for the staff car pool. The Toyota Prius is an electric petrol hybrid car and is available for all staff to use for business. The additional bonus is that the car is also an automatic and therefore can be used by disabled drivers - a provision which previously was not available through the staff car pool. The Prius has a 65% usage rate with some customers asking specifically for this car.

The second staff travel survey, mentioned above, was undertaken in June this year and although direct comparisons cannot be drawn with the initial survey of 1998 (as the number of staff surveyed has increased) some interesting data was still collected from this exercise. The initial target for the plan was to reduce the number of staff travelling alone in their cars to work by 10% by June 2002. The second survey showed that despite a reduction in the overall number of staff travelling in by car of 5% the initial target reduction had not been achieved. However, more encouraging results were found in the qualitative section of the survey with 82% of staff who responded recognised the Travel Plan and knew what it was all about. The lack of funding and resources must be recognised as playing a part in the failure to achieve the initial target as well as the fact that only `soft' measures have been used with no harder measures, such as a parking review and restrictions, to act as catalysts to change staff behaviour. This area is currently being worked on and an update and way forward report on the Plan will be considered by the Corporate Management Team on 4 December 2002.

Winchester Workplace Travel Plans

Since 1998 workplace travel planning in Winchester has progressed as a partnership approach through the Winchester Commuter Forum to improve transport choices and road safety, promote health, encourage less dependency on cars, and share best practice in transport innovations. Participating organisations are drawn from the local authorities, educational establishments, the hospital, prison, the Police, transport operators and other local businesses. Details are included on the attached table.

With recent impetus from Government to promote workplace travel initiatives as part of measures and targets to tackle road traffic growth and reduce travel by car, the Forum and its participating organisations have been very active in developing measures to assist staff, students and visitors to travel into and around the City by other means. However, there has been regular criticism of Hampshire County Council for failing to lead by example and fully resource and implement its own Green Travel Plan (including `hard' measures) whilst it promotes other organisations to do so. Also, over the delays in implementing other park and ride sites that reduce the effectiveness of the Winchester Movement and Access Strategy, although the reasons are fully understood.

Particular initiatives include:

(i) Take up of advice from Hampshire County Council's Workplace travel coordinator facilitating other consultancy advice and opportunities for organisations to secure funding or discounts, eg through the Government's Cycle Challenge fund measures. King Alfred's College was successful in its bid; discounts on bulk purchase of season tickets. Also for the promotion of services to better meet user requirements, such as the additional stop provided on the Romsey-Winchester Rail link bus service outside the Hospital that also benefits the Hampshire Police Headquarters.

(ii) Free consultancy advice from Action Energy (formerly) ETSU taken up by the Hospital, Police Headquarters, King Alfred's College, and shortly to be taken up by Peter Symonds College. This service has overcome resource shortfalls and provided much needed assistance on green travel initiatives, development of travel plans, action planning, and funding preparation.

(iii) Providing comments on infrastructure proposals within the City, eg City Road, and Romsey Road.

Jointly contributing to:

(i) A Winchester-wide Car Share database through Liftshare.com led by Hampshire County Council.

(ii) Individualised marketing opportunity to encourage use of passenger transport along the Romsey Road. Employers and local bus and rail operators have pledged financial and resources in kind in a Hampshire County Council led bid to the Department for Transport. The outcome is expected in November 2002 for a January 2003 start.

(iii) European Demonstration Projects, such as PEPTRAN and MIRACLES.

Workplace Travel - Winchester City

APPENDIX 3

BUS STRATEGY - OUTLINE

OVERALL CONTEXT

To set out briefly the wider context within which we are seeking to impact. This will need to include the following elements:

Legislation

Government policy

Corporate Strategy

Local Transport Plan

Passenger Transport Best Value Review

Corporate Best Value Review of Transport

Public Transport Policy Review 2000

Bus operator policies within Hampshire

Current trends in the commercial bus market

Current pattern of supported services

KEY AIMS AND TARGETS

To explain what we are aiming to achieve in relation to both social inclusion and modal shift, within the resources available to us and within the context of the commercial market. To outline the relevant sections of the Best Value Improvement Plans and provide details of the performance indicators for this area of service.

Social inclusion - the best value review concluded that this was the primary aim.

The intention is to move the historic and subjective approach to service support to one where there would be to set minimum service standards for each community based on assessment of needs. The standards would be set for bands of community of similar size and characteristics.

Services would be provided, subject to services meeting two further criteria:

(i) revenue from passengers meeting a set proportion of costs of operation; and

(ii) the use of the service by a minimum number of passengers per hour.

Reference will need to be made to transitional arrangements.

Modal shift - the best value review concluded that this was an important secondary aim.

To make reference to both national and original Hampshire Local Transport Plan targets and then to explain the Public Service Agreement target (PSA) that the Council is now committed to.

Improvement

To make reference to the two Best Value Improvement Plans arising from the passenger transport review and the corporate review of transport.

Reference to national and local indicators for the service and current performance.

VISION OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

Taking the combination of the Council's aims and targets and the likely development of the commercial market and drawing from this a view of how the bus network will develop over the next decade.

This view suggests that there will be three tiers of provision:

(i) Primary routes (highly commercial and suitable for Quality Partnership or key in strategic transport terms);

(ii) Secondary routes (other bus routes, marginally commercial or supported); and

(iii) Tertiary (feeder routes - often provided by means other than a conventional bus).

Reference to the fact that bus operators generally support this view.

ACTIONS

A range of ways that the Council will seek to reach its aims, each referenced back to where they will impact.

This list (which is not yet exhaustive) will include:

Quality Partnerships

Quality Network development

Contracting supported services

Deployment of Rural Bus Service Grant

Innovation in service provision

Approach to Bus Challenge (Rural/Urban)

PSA `pump-priming' action

Links with other aspects of passenger transport strategy:

Passenger information and ticketing

Rail

Community Transport

Accessible Transport

Ferry services

Shelters/Interchanges

Workplace travel plans

School Travel Plans

Fares policy (including concessionary fares)

SHRT (Phase 1)

Wider SHRT development

European projects (MIRACLES, TAPESTRY)

Quality Contracts (as a future option)

CONSULTATION ARRANGEMENTS AND TIMESCALE

Consultation will be required with transport operators, parish and district councils, health sector representatives, other County Council departments, passenger interest groups, Government Office for the South East.

Timescale to be inserted following agreement.