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

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That a further grant of up to £11,500 be awarded to Yelabus, subject to a matching contribution from Hart District Council.

(ii) That this grant should be subject to the conditions set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report.

(iii) That the Basingstoke Community Transport Scheme should be tendered as part of the framework contract which is being developed for Dial-A-Ride and Call and Go services.

(iv) That single tender negotiations, using the criteria already agreed, take place with Test Valley Community Services for the operation of an area-wide community transport scheme in the Test Valley and that a new two-year contract be awarded from 1 April 2008.

(v) That the revised approach for utilising the community transport allocation in the Local Transport Plan Capital be approved.

(vi) That an additional payment of £4,500 be made to Community First, New Forest for the replacement of existing mopeds.

(vii) That an additional payment of £6,000 be made to Test Valley Community Services for the replacement of existing mopeds.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision will ensure that the current transport provided by Yelabus will continue in the short term and that this contributes towards maximising well-being in the district of Hart. It will also ensure that the arrangements for moving from service agreements to contracts can continue to be fully implemented and that the community transport allocation in the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme can be utilised.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The County Council could choose not to support the Yelabus grant application. However, this would almost certainly result in the organisation closing and many voluntary organisations and groups in the area being left without transport. The use of grants, partnership agreements, contracts using single tender criteria and competitively tendered contracts have all been considered against the background of the current procurement regulations and the County Council's Standing Orders. The general conclusion was that in future most community transport services would need to be procured through contracts.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - None.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor M J Kendal

Executive Member for Environment

1548Decn/KI