Archived decisions

Contact: Kevin Ings, ext 6986 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines the key services which are provided by the community transport sector in Hart and provides an update on work which is being undertaken to review their future funding levels and format. It also details the North Hampshire Bus Infrastructure which will be introduced on route 3 during 2005/06.

2. Background

2.1 Until recently it was generally acknowledged that community transport services were less well developed in Hart than in other areas of Hampshire. However, a number of new initiatives have taken place during the last 12 months to improve this situation:

(i) Hart Community Transport Scheme

This district-wide community transport scheme, based at Hart Voluntary Action, was set up in June 2003. The scheme employs a Transport Organiser funded by the County Council, Hart District Council and the Countryside Agency at a cost of £33,370 in 2004/05. It provides a group minibus facility to voluntary and statutory organisations, support and advice to local organisations providing transport, including MiDAS driver training, and operates a number of transport services detailed more fully below. Plans are currently being developed for minibus brokerage in the district.

(ii) Hart Call and Go Services

The Hart Call and Go services were introduced in September 2003 following a previous consultation exercise with interested parties which identified the need for these services. The Call and Go service operates two demand responsive accessible minibuses on Monday to Friday of each week which enables people to access retail and health facilities in Hart and to designated destinations outside of the district including Basingstoke and Frimley Park Hospitals. A description of how the service operates is set out in the attached appendix. The services are currently funded through a consortium, including the County Council, District Council, Countryside Agency and a number of parish councils. The first year operating costs for this service amounted to £78,637.

2.2 In addition to these new services the Rushmoor and Hart Dial-a-Ride scheme has been operating in Hart for a number of years, serving the parishes on the eastern side of the district. The cost of providing the service in 2004/05 is £53,476 and this is funded by the County Council (50%), Hart District Council (25%) and Rushmoor Borough Council (25%). A description of how the service operates is detailed in the appendix.

2.3 The County Council's latest Cango service was introduced in September 2004. Whilst this largely operates in the districts of East Hampshire and Basingstoke and Deane some areas of Hart are served by this facility. This includes the parishes of Greywell, Odiham, Long Sutton and South Warnborough with services being provided on six days a week to Odiham and Basingstoke. The Cango service is being funded through a previously successful Government funded Rural Bus Challenge bid. A description of how the service operates is detailed in the appendix.

3. Review of Community Transport Services

3.1 The County Council has been working closely with Hart District Council to undertake a "fast track" review. This has considered the performance of the Dial-a-Ride and the Call and Go services in order to determine the future focus of services in the district and identify how the existing resources might be best utilised in the future. This review has involved consultation with a number of key stakeholders.

3.2 Closer inspection of the services show that the Hart Call and Go services provided a total of 5,629 passenger trips during the first year of operation. New services are often slow to build their patronage and consequently, based on the performance towards the end of the first year's operation, this is predicated to rise to 10,488 passenger trips per annum in the second year. The service has 583 registered users of which 303 have used the service.

3.3 The Rushmoor and Hart Dial-A-Ride service is expected to provide some 7,700 passenger trips in 2004/05. However, only 300 of these trips are being undertaken by Hart residents. This was previously 700 trips and consequently there has been some transfer of users to the Call and Go service. The service currently has 468 registered users of which only 70 live in Hart.

3.4 It is very clear that the Call and Go service has to some degree grown at the expense of the Dial-a-Ride Service. This is probably because the Call and Go service is more frequent and flexible. Those trips still being undertaken on Dial-a-Ride are largely those which could not be met through the existing Call and Go service. A significant number of these trips take place on a Saturday when Call and Go does not currently operate. The conclusion therefore was that in the future the emphasis should be on ensuring the development and sustainability of the Call and Go service over the Dial-a-Ride service.

3.5 Feedback from stakeholders suggested that there was also a need to review the way in which the existing Call and Go service was operated. There were some suggestions that the service was not flexible enough. Suggested improvements identified included extending the hours of operation, extending the days of operation, extending the eligible passenger groups and reviewing the vehicle size. Clearly, all of these areas have resource implications.

4. The Way Forward

4.1 Following the "fast track" review the following has been agreed as a course of action:

(i) The existing funding provided by Hart District Council for the Rushmoor and Hart Dial A Ride service will be reallocated to support an enhanced Call and Go service, which it is proposed will be extended to serve as far as possible the existing Dial-a-Ride customers who live in Hart.

(ii) The County Council will work in partnership with both Hart District Council, Hart Voluntary Action and the parish councils in Hart to secure improvements to the existing Call and Go service. These improvements will concentrate on the issues highlighted in paragraph 3.5 and will include looking at the feasibility of operating the Call and Go service on Saturdays.

(iii) Performance figures and future long term funding arrangements for the Call and Go service will be reviewed again in September 2005, when the Countryside Agency start-up funding comes to an end.

5. North Hampshire Bus Infrastructure, Yateley - Route 3

5.1 During 2005/06 a Quality Bus Partnership will be developed with Surrey County Council and Stagecoach for route 3, which operates between Aldershot, Camberley and Yateley. Improvements will include raised boarding kerbs, bus stop clearways, new bus shelters and bus stop poles, with provision for real-time information at major bus stops should fund permit. Low-floor accessible buses have recently been introduced to the route. Strong patronage growth is anticipated.

Recommendation

That the results of the Community Transport Review and the actions arising from it be noted.

232/KI

APPENDIX

NEW FAMILY BRANDING

Demand responsive transport services in Hampshire are now being promoted as part of a family of services to highlight their role in the wider network of transport services.

The three tier branding covers:

_ Cango services which operate as registered public bus services and are available to any member of the public. People generally need to pre book to use these services which are based in Andover, Burghclere, Alton and the New Forest. Cango services also have visual `bus stopping points' in each of the main settlements being served. These services are provided by commercial operators.

_ Call and Go services are aimed at two groups of people. Firstly they are available to those people who have a disability or sensory impairment which makes using buses difficult. They also provide transport in those situations where people have no public bus service or limited access to one. Passengers must register and meet one of the criteria for using the service and all journeys must be pre booked. They have no bus stops but people can be picked up from a convenient location, or from outside their house. Call and Go services currently operate in Hart and Havant and are provided by voluntary organisations. They are a hybrid service between Cango and Dial-a-Ride.

_ Dial A Ride services can only be used by people who have a disability or a mobility/sensory impairment which makes using buses difficult. All users must register to use the service and pre book their journeys. Passengers are picked up from their front door and can normally travel to most destinations, with the exception of hospital appointments. Dial-a-Ride services operate in most of the district council areas in Hampshire and are provided generally by voluntary organisations.

Hampshire County Council provides funding for all of these services. Cango services are largely funded by the County Council, whilst Call and Go services and Dial-a-Ride services are funded in partnership with other organisations including district councils.

All of these services operate using wheelchair accessible vehicles and all drivers receive disability awareness training.