Contact: Keith Willcox, ext 6997 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines the services provided by the Passenger Transport Group and details the work being undertaken in the Fareham area.

2. Background

2.1 The Passenger Transport Group (PTG) has 70 staff and 700 school escorts in the Design and Implementation Branch reporting to the Assistant Director (Design and Implementation). The Group, comprising five teams, is highly diverse with a wide customer base. The Group deals with the following:

(i) passenger transport strategy;

(ii) passenger transport infrastructure;

(iii) information provision;

(iv) community transport;

(v) subsidised bus services;

(vi) finance and contracts;

(vii) social services transport;

(viii) mainstream home to school transport provision; and

(ix) special educational needs transport.

2.2 The £20 million home to school transport (HTST) provision is undertaken by PTG on behalf of the Education Department.

2.3 The group's aim is to produce a top class passenger transport network and service provision for the residents and scholars of Hampshire and visitors to the county, allowing a greater modal shift towards passenger transport in a safe, efficient, reliable and affordable manner.

2.4 The overarching objectives are as follows:

(i) make public transport as widely available as possible;

(ii) maximise the use of passenger transport;

(iii) seek innovative approaches to transport provision;

(iv) ensure social inclusion with regard to public transport;

(v) ensure continuing improvements in quality of service;

(vi) maintain successful partnerships and build others;

(vii) ensure effective consultation; and

(viii) provide an efficient and innovative HTST service on behalf of the Education Department.

2.5 The Group is facing an exciting and challenging time. The Group needs to further address some concerns, for example, the improvement of Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) 103 Public Transport Information and BVPI 104 Local Bus Service Satisfaction, whilst in parallel playing a major role in the implementation of the Community Strategy, corporate objectives and in the development of the Local Public Service Agreement 2 (LPSA2), as transport is a cross-cutting issue. During 2005/06 there is a need to implement the Passenger Transport Strategy which will feature prominently within the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2. There is also a need to maintain the high standard of school transport provision for the County Council.

3. Strategy

3.1 A programme of improving the quality of passenger infrastructure on the Fareham to Gosport route was implemented in April 2004, using developer contributions. A number of new bus shelters, new bus stop poles with integral information cases, raised boarding kerbs and pavement `build-outs' have all improved access to local, high-frequency bus services within the Bridgemary area of Gosport.

3.2 In September 2004 the Executive Member for Environment approved a project to install real-time information at the busiest bus stops along the Fareham-Gosport corridor. Electronic bus departure information screens will be installed at Gosport bus station, similar to those installed at Fareham bus station. Implementation of both projects will be during 2005. A Quality Bus Partnership will be established as the `vehicle' to deliver these improvements and to seek added value from First, Gosport Borough Council and Fareham Borough Council.

3.3 Monitoring carried out to identify the effect of the `InfoMotion' personalised marketing programme, offered to households along the corridor during autumn 2003, suggests that the project has increased patronage levels by approximately 6%. The InfoMotion project will be implemented on the ten bus corridors in the county that have been identified as having the greatest potential for attracting new passengers.

3.4 Work is ongoing with First to produce a new Fareham and Gosport public transport area map. Commercial sponsorship is being considered. The map will provide details of all operators' services in the area.

4. Community Transport

4.1 Community transport schemes play an important role in meeting locally the transport needs of organisations and individuals which cannot be met through the existing conventional bus network. A report was submitted to the Executive Member for Environment in October 2004 for approval for LTP money to fund a replacement community transport scheme vehicle for Fareham Community Action. This vehicle replacement forms part of the County Council's overall approach for supporting and developing community transport schemes in Hampshire. Mini-buses, like the ones operated by Fareham Community Action, offer older people, disabled people and even younger people the opportunity to access a range of services and facilities within their local community.

5. Operations

5.1 Contracts for the subsidised bus services in the Fareham and Gosport areas are being re-tendered in 2005. Consultation has been carried out with the Borough Councils, schools and user groups on changes which are desired, but it appears unlikely that additional funding will be available for new services. Details of any changes will be available in June.

5.2 Plans are in hand to extend operation of the night bus service between Gosport and Fareham for a further year from April 2005, depending on the outcome of a review by Gosport Borough Council and continued funding from GOSE.

5.3 Minor changes to bus services were made in September 2004 to suit revised numbers of children entitled to free transport, travelling on season tickets on local bus services.

6. Special Needs Transport

6.1 Since 2000 the Passenger Transport Group has been managing a special project known as `Spend to Save'. This project looks at innovative transport solutions for school transport, with a view to improving quality whilst reducing costs. There are two key areas within this project, firstly `the school transport mini-bus scheme' and secondly `complete transport reorganisations by school'. Total savings county-wide to date are £1.4 million.

6.2 Schools in the Fareham area that have been involved in these projects over the period are:

(i) in 2000 Heathfield School with complete transport reorganisation, savings £58,623;

(ii) in 2002 St Francis School with complete transport reorganisation, savings £23,075; and

(iii) in 2002/03 Baycroft School with three mini-buses for school transport.

6.3 For September 2004, Portchester School expressed an interest in the mini-bus scheme but increased numbers travelling required a larger vehicle.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

9214/KW