Decision details

Following an open tender to replace contracts expiring in April 2013, contracts are to be awarded for a number of supported bus services

Note: Appendix A of this report is exempt from publication.  A public interest test has been conducted and is attached showing the reasons for this.

The Cabinet Member agreed that:

1.  A contract for the Mon-Sat evening journeys on service 376 between Bristol and Wells shall be awarded to First on a net subsidy basis.

2.  A contract for the Sunday and Bank Holiday evening journeys on service 376 between Bristol and Wells shall be awarded to First on a gross cost basis.

3.  A contract for the Mon-Sat evening journeys on service 178 between Bristol and Radstock shall be awarded to First on a net subsidy basis.

4.  A contract for the Mon-Sat evening journeys on service 178 between Bath, Midsomer Norton and Paulton shall be awarded to Wessex on a net subsidy basis.

5.  A contract for the Sunday and Bank Holiday evening journeys on service 178 between Bath and Midsomer Norton shall be awarded to First on a net subsidy basis.

6.  A contract for Bank Holiday journeys on service 173 between Bath and Wells shall be awarded to First on a net subsidy basis.

7.  A contract for the Sunday and Bank Holiday journeys on service 678 between Bristol, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, and Writhlington shall be awarded to First on a net subsidy basis.

8.  A contract for the Mon-Sat evening journeys on Services 1 and 6 in Bath shall be awarded to First on a net subsidy basis.

9.  Contracts for the Mon-Sat evening, Sunday evening, and Bank Holiday journeys on Service 13 in Bath shall be awarded to First on a gross cost basis.

10.  Contracts for the Mon-Sat evening, Sunday, and Bank Holiday journeys on Service 17 in Bath shall be awarded to First on a net subsidy basis.

11.  A contract for the Tuesday only daytime return journey on service 834 between Chewton Mendip, Bishop Sutton, and Weston super Mare shall be awarded to CT Coaches on a gross cost basis.

12.  The contract with Abus for operation of the 42 Park & Ride service is extended for a further twelve months on a de minimis basis.

These contract awards largely retain the current pattern of journeys on these services whilst generating significant and worthwhile savings for the Council.  The contracts specified offer good value and the tender process has delivered competitive bids.  The recommended awards secure cost savings across a substantial part of the contract portfolio from April 2013.

The operator of the contract for the 42 P&R service has invested in new vehicles for the service, which was not a contractual requirement.  The proposed reduction in contract price protects the Authority from potential cost increases from April 2014; and the discount is considered to be favourable compared to likely results from bus tendering if and when the Government implements its proposals on Bus Service Operators’ Grant.

A range of alternative service specifications were considered in respect of the tendered routes.  Opportunities to group bids and incorporate journeys with other timetabled services were available to Operators.