COMMUNITY TRANSPORT VEHICLE GRANTS

Community transport schemes in Hampshire are of great benefit to many people and are a key contributor to improving accessibility and reducing isolation, especially in areas that are not well served by existing bus services or for those who do not have their own transport. In order to provide a more secure basis for the future funding of these schemes, thus enabling them to sustain and develop their services whilst supporting the LTP objectives of accessibility and social inclusion, a draft Community Transport Development Plan has been prepared. The draft Plan has been out to consultation with other County Council departments, district councils, health organisations and the community transport sector in Hampshire. The draft Plan is currently being revised and the final Plan will be fully integrated into the work that is underway to produce an overall Passenger Transport Strategy for the next LTP to be published in July 2005.

To date £524,762 from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) for 2001/03 has been used to assist with the capital costs for 10 accessible mini-buses at community transport schemes across the county. A further £495,000 was approved in March 2004, contributed to by local district councils, primary care trusts, community transport schemes and a successful Rural Bus Challenge bid. The funding was used for continuing support to various community transport schemes through the provision of nine accessible mini-buses.

Community transport schemes have been given a further boost by a decision taken on 12 October 2004, which approved the allocation of a further £625,000 from the LTP which will support the purchase of accessible mini-buses via the provision of grants to individual schemes. The decision supports Aims 1 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy (Maximising life opportunities and Improving services). The allocation of the grants has been based on a number of guiding principles and the following funding programme for 2004/05 has been drawn up:-

Basingstoke Community Transport 4 vehicles

Eastleigh Voluntary Transport Scheme 4 vehicles

East Hants Community Transport 1 vehicle

Fareham Community Action 2 vehicles

Rushmoor Voluntary Services 1 vehicle

New Forest Community Transport 2 vehicles

Winchester Area Community Action 1 vehicle

Greyfriars 1 vehicle

These vehicles will be purchased and owned by the nominated schemes and the operating costs will be covered by the community transport schemes through hire charges to organisations using the vehicles and income from contracts for providing specific services. This will also cover some of the future vehicle replacement costs. The utilisation of these vehicles will be covered under the terms of new service agreements which will ensure that vehicles comply with all necessary legal and safety requirements. The service agreement will also cover situations such as the disbandment of the transport scheme or if the vehicle is disposed of and not replaced.