Archived decisions

Contact: Kevin Ings, ext 6986 [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for the purchase of two new Optare vehicles and the introduction of new Cango services in the Test Valley and New Forest areas of Hampshire using the award of £808,894 from the Rural Bus Challenge fund announced on 21 January 2004.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aims 1 (Maximising life opportunities) and 5 (Improving services) of the Corporate Strategy by introducing new Cango services in the Test Valley and the New Forest.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not accepting the award.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Background

7.1 The introduction of the first Cango services around Andover involved converting four existing bus services to demand-responsive services and integrating these with school contracts. With an initial passenger base to build upon and the finance used to support the previous services, the longer term sustainability of these services is now looking promising.

7.2 A similar approach has been used to introduce services in Leigh Park, New Forest and more recently Basingstoke and Deane. It is now proposed to roll this process out further with the introduction of one-vehicle operations around Fordingbridge and Romsey as part of the County Council's new approach to providing public transport in rural areas.

8. Rural Bus Challenge Bid 2003

8.1 Hampshire County Council's efforts to improve access to public transport in rural villages through the introduction of the Cango services have been recognised by the Government with the award of £808,894 from the Rural Bus Challenge fund. The award was announced on 21 January 2004 and funding is available for a three year period from 1 April 2004.

8.2 The successful bid `Hampshire Cango: Fordingbridge/Romsey' sets out the County Council's detailed strategy for introducing flexible, demand-responsive services which are integrated with conventional, statutory and community services. By combining accessibility analyses, consultation, feedback and local market knowledge, the bid identified further areas that were suitable for the introduction of new Cango services.

8.3 The money awarded through this year's Rural Bus Challenge bid will be used to introduce two new Cango vehicles, with these broadly operating in each of the following areas:

(i) north and north-west of Romsey; and

(ii) north, north-west, east and south of Fordingbridge, with a service to Ringwood and connections to Salisbury.

8.4 The sum awarded will cover the purchase cost of two new Optare vehicles, the additional call centre costs arising from operating these new services and set up costs involving new bus stop infrastructure, together with the majority of the contract prices for operating these services. The sum awarded is as follows:

Capital Costs

Two Accessible Vehicles 140,000

Livery and destination boards 3,000

Bus stop infrastructure 80,350

Mobirouter software 8,850

Setting up costs 33,076

Contribution to Quality Network Review 20,000

Total 285,276

Revenue Costs

Staffing 71,524

Call centre costs 30,909

Revenue support net 351,976

Management 29,209

Publicity 40,000

Total 523,618

The revenue support will be supplemented by contributions from the County Council and fare revenue from the services themselves. The County Council's contribution will come from the subsidies currently going into the existing bus services which are converted into Cango services, and the school contracts which are placed on the services.

8.5 Approval is sought for the purchase of two new Optare vehicles and the introduction of new Cango services around Fordingbridge and Romsey. The Optare vehicles have been identified as the only vehicles which meet the County Council's detailed specification for these services. The vehicles are purpose-built and the combination of their design, seating capacity and wheelchair accesses within the overall vehicle dimensions make them the most appropriate vehicles for operating Cango services in the deeper rural areas of Hampshire.

8.6 The actual operating areas and service details will be determined following a quality network review in each area. The costs of this exercise can be funded through the successful Rural Bus Challenge bid, `Hampshire Cango: Fordingbridge/Romsey' and the monies which the County Council can recycle from existing transport arrangements which will be incorporated into these new Cango services.

8515/KI