Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 Executive response to O&S review of Council provided Passenger Transport

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 The Council Executive is asked to:

(1) consider the Panel's 'Passenger Transport Review' report and associated recommendations attached at Appendix 1

(2) formally agree responses to each of the Panel's recommendations as attached in the Executive response table at Appendix 2

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 These are detailed in Appendix 2

4 THE REPORT

4.1 A joint Overview & Scrutiny (O&S) Panel has undertaken a review of Passenger Transport Services managed by Bath & North East Somerset Council, with a view to recommending improvements to the ways in which these services are prioritised, developed and organised in the future.

4.2 In addition the review sought to explore opportunities around cost efficiency and increased income generation by considering:

(1) integrated planning and management of existing transport provision

(2) discretionary services

(3) additional transport provision

4.3 The panel has prepared a summary report in its findings with associated recommendations and a response table.

4.4 Relevant Executive members have discussed the recommendations and have agreed a response (Appendix 2) to the report and because of wider relevance to Council objectives and Improvement Priorities wish to refer the matter to the full Executive for formal agreement. Key responses to the O&S report are summarised below:

(1) Charging for school transport for pupils attending denominational schools

a) Review current discretionary policy of free transport for pupils attending denominational schools and consider charging for this discretionary service including options for partial contribution and full cost recovery. If charging is introduced, the option to allow free transport should be considered to ensure those pupils in greatest financial need are protected.

b) Schools, Governors, Diocesan representatives and Schools Budget Forum to be fully consulted and involved in the review. O&S panel members' involvement will be welcomed.

(2) Increasing Dial a Ride/voluntary community transport

a) More "social needs" mapping will be carried out to establish the need and value for money for Dial a Ride service Council wide (to include Bath), before the Council can commit to a particular scheme.

b) The Council will investigate opportunities for removing unnecessary bureaucracy for volunteer transport groups by discussing with volunteers their specific needs.

(3) Allocation of bus passes and travel tokens

a) The Government budget of March 2005 has announced free transport to the over 60's from 2006. No decision will be taken on this matter until there are further details on government proposals.

(4) Reduction of supported bus services

a) The Council will continue to review services and opportunities for alternative provision that will offer better value for money for the Council.

5 RISK MANAGEMENT

6 RATIONALE

6.1 Rationale for response to O&S report is contained within Appendix 2

7 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

7.1 When responding to O&S reports, the Executive has the following options:
(1) Accept the Panel's recommendation
(2) Reject the Panel's recommendation
(3) Defer a decision on the recommendation because a response cannot be given at this time. This could be because the recommendation needs to be considered in light of a future Executive decision, imminent legislation, relevant strategy development or budget considerations, etc.

8 CONSULTATION

8.1 Executive councillor, Overview & Scrutiny Panel, Other B&NES Services, Section 151 Finance Officer, Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer

9 REASONS FOR URGENCY

9.1 Not urgent.