Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillor Les Kew had sent his apologies to the Panel. Councillor Brian Webber was present as his substitute for the duration of the meeting.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Mr John Eke made a statement to the Panel regarding a 7.5T HGV Weight Restriction for The Street, Stowey. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

He explained that The Street is a busy, steep, narrow and twisting road with several pinch points made worse by poor oncoming visibility. This makes HGV traffic exceptionally dangerous to other road users including vehicles, school transport and the many cyclists, horse riders and walkers. He added that HGV traffic causes substantial road and property damage, obstructs traffic and undermines the environment and local amenities.

He informed the Panel that the narrowest part of the road at the lower end of the village was only five metres wide and insufficient room for a lorry and car to pass at crawling speed let alone two lorries at greater speed. He said that the screeching of brakes and near misses was a common occurrence.

He spoke of how he had lived at the lower end of Stowey for 44 years, during which time the impact of HGV traffic had steadily worsened. He added that the situation had become exacerbated by HGV Sat-Nav routes through Stowey, growing airport traffic and use of the Street as a ‘rat run’.

He explained that in January, yet again a 6 axle lorry hit and damaged the wall outside of his house whilst trying to avoid a smaller lorry coming up the road, the third such HGV accident outside our house in the last 6 months. The incident was reported to the B&NES Traffic Department but repairs are still awaited.

He said that representations had been made on numerous occasions in the past for HGV traffic to be banned from using the Street in Stowey, except for local access and that his colleague Alana Weeks would deal with that in her presentation.

Mrs Alana Weeks made a statement to the Panel regarding a 7.5T HGV Weight Restriction for The Street, Stowey. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

She informed the Panel that on October 3^rd 2000 the B&NES Transportation Sub-Committee resolved to introduce a 7.5T HGV Weight Restriction on 3 roads near Stowey Quarry including The Street. She added that the proposal was included in the 2000 / 2001 Capital Programme.

She said that the grounds for the decision were the unsuitability of The Street for HGV traffic, namely damage and costs caused by HGVs, road safety and pollution. She added that the resolution was not implemented, apparently because an employee left B&NES and that whilst this was a governance issue it was also an opportunity and asked for the resolution to be implemented forthwith.

She then spoke of Stowey Quarry and how B&NES had never intended for the 100 quarry lorries per day to use The Street. She said that the 1997, 2007/8 and proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

The Cabinet Member will update the panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions

Councillor David Dixon, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods addressed the Panel. He wished the Nurseries team of Royal Victoria Park good luck at the Chelsea Flower Show where they would be exhibiting their ‘The Herbs’ display.

He said that as part of the BID City Centre cleansing contract more gull proof sacks would be used across the City. He added that the solar compact bins were working very well still and would soon have signs on them regarding gulls.

He commented that he was aware of at least one interested party that may want to take up the offer of a Trade Food Waste collection service.

He said that the new toilet facilities in Monmouth Street were due to open later in the week.

He stated that following a decision at Cabinet £1m of funding had been agreed to enhance open spaces, including facilities to improve and add further skate parks.

The Chair asked for the Panel to be updated with work regarding Urban Gulls at its July meeting.

Councillor Liz Richardson commented that following a recent Cabinet meeting she had noticed two bin bags in the street and was concerned that they might be left out for too long. She asked who she should have reported this to.

Councillor Dixon advised her to contact Council Connect if she noticed something similar in the future and to take a photo if possible. He added that it would depend on the nature of the waste as to who would then need to be contacted. If it was deemed to be trade waste then the business would be contacted to see who their collector was. If it was residential then this may need to be monitored to ensure it is not put out too early. He added that he was keen to talk to residents further about waste / gulls and possibly have local champions.

Councillor Caroline Roberts, Cabinet Member for Transport addressed the Panel. She said following the agreed Cabinet report on Supported Bus Services members of the public were reminded to use services if they were to have them retained in the future.

She stated that the Bath Transport Strategy document had been formally launched and was expecting the LDF Steering Group to discuss it in due course.

She announced that the Kelston Road now had a temporary footpath / cycleway in place and that further news was expected to be announced in June.

She said that the planned works for Rossiter Road and Widcombe Parade were due commence in June.

She commented that a new bike hire contract would commence within the next two weeks.

She announced that the Dorchester Street bus gate trial had now concluded.

The Chair asked if she had any suggestions as to how best to communicate to the public the importance of using rural bus routes.

Councillor Roberts replied that the routes could be highlighted in the forthcoming Transport Strategy work.

The Chair asked when a decision on the next steps with regard to Dorchester  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Paul Matthews, Managing Director of First, West of England will give a presentation to the Panel regarding the recent consultation on fares and other matters.

Paul Matthews, Managing Director of First, West of England gave a presentation to the Panel regarding the recent consultation on fares and other matters. A copy of it can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

First West of England

·  Carrying 50 million passengers per annum

·  Operating 100 local bus routes

·  Partners with West of England (WEP) Partnership in the Greater Bristol Bus Network (GBBN) project

·  Successful bid with WEP for Better Bus Area 2 (BBA2) – devolution of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG)

·  Excellent relations with all WEP authorities and Wiltshire and Somerset councils

The Bristol Experience

·  We received 7,000 responses to the consultation in Bristol which led to substantial changes to fares in the city and the creation of a new Inner and Outer zone for day, weekly and monthly tickets

·  The results were introduced in November 2013: they have been well received by all, including politicians

·  Now have simple fare structure

·  92% of customers saw a reduction in cost of travel

·  50% off for children

·  30% off for 16-21 year olds (with ID card)

Outcomes in Bristol

·  Value for money score (PF survey) shown big improvement

·  Media neutral to positive

·  60% of customers now believe our fares are fairer

·  Up to 10% passenger growth, revenue the same

The West of England consultation on fares

·  Commitment given to conduct further consultation in rest of West of England at time of Bristol launch

·  Need to look at how people travel, and what they want from their buses, so we can design the best solution

·  Have to balance any changes to fares with the costs we face, and ensure we make a profit

The B&NES context

·  More commercial operation of early evening and Sunday services

·  Route simplifications

·  Some higher frequencies on core corridors (173/178/184/379 MSN/Radstock to Bath)

·  Further network review underway to remove loss making services

·  Working with B&NES on alternative day coach parking arrangements

The West of England consultation on fares

·  Questionnaire - online and hard copy. Available from a number of locations, and on-buses

·  16 roadshows being held to ensure people know, special events for councillors and MPs

·  Dedicated website: www.fairerfaresforall.co.uk

·  Consultation period 1 February – 16 March, 1900 responses

Summary of results of consultation

·  90% of those buying singles or returns considered the prices to be quite -32% (25%) or very -58% (71%) expensive

·  74% thought children and students should receive discounts

·  21% wanted a ‘smart card’

·  Desire to retain multi journey ticket

Current Status

·  Internal validation of proposed strategy underway

·  Expected conclusions to be announced within the next three weeks

·  Implementation expected 22 June

Smart cards

·  Full online, on bus and Travel centre top ups from July

·  Bath and other West of England period products on to smart cards in August/September

·  Multi operator cards (Avon Rider family) from August/September

·  Mobile ticketing for students expected from new academic year

Councillor Lisa Brett commented on the work of the Bath Expert Improvement Panel that had been setup and how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

A report on a new Transport Strategy for Bath is to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 14th May. The report and draft Strategy is attached and is expected to be agreed for consultation. The Panel are invited to consider the report to Cabinet and the draft Strategy. 

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport introduced this report to the Panel. He informed them that the draft strategy was launched at the Bath Conference on 30th April and had been endorsed by the Cabinet to go out to consultation at its meeting on 14^th May.

He wished to highlight the vision within the draft strategy to the Panel.

Bath will enhance its unique status by adopting measures that promote sustainable transport and reduce the intrusion of vehicles, particularly in the historic core.

This will enable more economic activity and growth, while enhancing its special character and environment and improving the quality of life for local people.

He explained that the high proportion of walking shown by mode share surveys (around 30%) indicates that this is a primary means of travel in the city, indicating that there is potential to expand and improve walking opportunities and hence substituting for some car journeys. In 2011, walking accounted for 35.1% of all journeys to work made by people living and working in Bath.

He said that the strategy proposed to continue the progress made in Bath to relocate long stay parking at Park and Ride sites, thus reducing vehicle movements into the constrained city centre. He added that better management of HGVs within the city was required and that further work is needed to identify suitable facilities for coach drop off and pick up and replacement coach parking facilities.

He stated that the Council was interested to hear the views of the public on this matter and hoped a whole range of initiatives would come forward. He said that the consultation would commence in June.

Mr David Redgewell, South West Transport Network addressed the Panel. He stated the need for consultation documents to be available at the bus station for the public to access and asked that the views of passengers be actively sought.

He commented that a West of England Rail Panel would be welcomed, an East of Bath Park & Ride was essential and that coach parking must be addressed.

On the matter of Dorchester Street he said that further work and views needed to be considered if the bus gate were to be reintroduced.

He stated that he felt that public transport was key to the forthcoming Enterprise Zone and that for this strategy work be successful there must be joined up working and cross party agreement.

The Chair commented that it was a shame that the strategy had received some negativity since the launch. She added that she herself had been expecting a more thorough strategy to be presented to the Cabinet.

Councillor Douglas Nicol commented that he would like to see more of a priority within the strategy to be given to walking, cycling and public transport. He added that he would like to see the Park & Ride services running later into the evening, using them as a place to transfer visitors to the city that arrive by coach and for Park & Ride services to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel.

The Chair introduced this item to the Panel. After a brief discussion reports were requested for the July Panel meeting on the following subjects:

·  Urban Gulls Update

·  7.5T HGV Weight Restriction, The Street, Stowey

·  Air Quality in B&NES