Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Executive Decision Record

1. The decision:

a) That the contract for Brijan service 7 be revised to reflect an amended contract cost of £73,391 per annum for the next six months only pending further review.

b) That pro rata contributions of £4,200 per annum from Eastleigh Borough Council be accepted towards this annual contract cost of £73,391 to maintain as high a level of service as possible and enable the cost to Hampshire to stay unchanged at £69,191.

2. Reasons for the decision:

2.1. To adjust the contract to reflect the withdrawal of funding by Southampton City Council.

3. Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. Fund the existing Brijan service 7 contract by sourcing an additional £26,457 per annum from the Public Transport budget.

3.2. Reduce the timetable to match the residual £69,191 annual contract price, which could lose a significant number of journeys for residents along the line of route.

3.3. To seek a replacement Community Transport service. Owing to the current significant level of patronage on service 7 and the length of route involved, there is no Community Transport scheme available to cope with the existing demand.

3.4. Withdraw funding from service 7 in total and redirect existing passengers on to alternative services. To do so at this stage would involve surrendering the combined contract for routes 8 from Waltham Chase to Eastleigh and 17 from Bishops Waltham to Petersfield which are provided jointly by buses on service 7. Some passengers in parts of Horton Heath and Bishops Waltham might be able to use other services to access alternative bus routes to Southampton, but the additional journey time of approximately 40- 50 minutes and the need to interchange in Fareham or Eastleigh would not provide a viable alternative for many users and would not allow arrival in Southampton before 0900 for some. Service 7 is used by 49,151 passengers per year, meets value for money criteria and many of the journeys are for employment or education. For much of the route, service 7 is the only bus so withdrawal of the service would severely disadvantage accessibility to wider services, increase social isolation and leave residents without any form of public transport service.

4. Conflicts of interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker: None.

4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted: None

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee: None.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent: Not applicable.

7. Statement from the Decision Maker: