Contact: Alison Hull, ext 6919 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

That approval be given to:

(i) award tenders for new four year bus subsidy contracts for the Winchester area at a cost of £708,290 per annum, which will result in the current bus network being maintained; and

(ii) reinstate service 67 timetable (Winchester-Petersfield) which was reduced in September following the 2007 subsidy review in the summer.

2. Reason

2.1 The current Winchester area bus contracts expire on 30 March 2008. This decision will enable the continued provision of public transport services which give access to employment, education, health, retail and leisure facilities for the widest section of the community, whilst containing expenditure within the budget available.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The area review considered a number of options for delivering local services which consisted of varying mixes of local bus and community transport services. Others were rejected on the grounds of not achieving best value for money nor providing good accessibility .

3.2 An option for a reduced cost alternative timetable on service 67 (Winchester to Petersfield) was put forward by one operator. This would represent a cost saving of approximately £40,000 per annum. It is not however recommended to accept this proposal on the grounds that it would provide a lower quality service for the following reasons:

(i) reduced timetable;

(ii) the timetable would result in a clash with service 17 between West Meon and Petersfield;

(iii) passengers travelling between Winchester and Alresford would be adversely affected. Tickets would not be interavailable between the two operators on the service 67/64 and X64; and

(iv) another operator has offered to reinstate the full 67 timetable which was operated before the County Council subsidy review in summer 2007 as part of its tender price for service 67.

3.3 Service 6A Winchester to Hyde and Abbotts Barton. Since the reduction to this service in October 2007, passenger use of the two remaining journeys per day has been very encouraging. Tenders were sought that would have provided an additional round trip per day. However, this would require an additional subsidy of £2,500 per annum on top of the current cost of £3,580 per annum. and is therefore not recommended.

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

1549Decn/AH