Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Campsall, Fox and O’Neill.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 13th December 2023 were approved.

For information, disclosable pecuniary interests and registrable interest relate to entries that are included or should be included, on a councillor’s register of interests. Non-registrable interests relate to any other matters.

No disclosures were made.

No declarations were made.

No questions were submitted.

To note the scrutiny scoping document for the panel, updated following the last meeting of the panel.

Considered and discussed, the scrutiny scope document for the Panel, updated following the last meeting.

AGREED that the panel notes the scoping document.

To discuss the provision of bus services and to include the reliability and demand of bus services.

In accordance with the scrutiny scope document (key tasks), there was a discussion with public transport providers, including the reliability and demand of bus services.

In attendance were Christian Allen-Clay (General Manager - Kinch Bus), Ross Hitchcock (Head of Commercial – Trent Barton), Toby France (Head of Commercial - Arriva) and Andy Allen (Network Manager - Arriva). The following summarises the discussion:

       i.          There were a number of factors affecting bus service provision in the community which were not under the control of bus companies. Some examples of these non-controllable factors included road works, congestion, the planning of new estates and highways designs and staff sickness. Bus companies held regular internal meetings to look at future service issues (for example, before school term dates) and monitored services daily to identify more immediate issues and to find solutions. Representatives from local bus companies also attended regular Enhanced Partnership meetings with Leicestershire County Council and other partners to discuss challenges. Bus providers aimed to limit disruption to services and to prevent bad service experiences as much as possible.

      ii.          Bus services were primarily measured in punctuality and reliability. GPS technology was used to identify the location of buses every 20 seconds and this information was used to plan future timetables and make amendments to services where necessary.

    iii.          Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were used by bus service providers to measure performance. There were controllable measures that affected bus services, such as replacing buses that were out of service, and uncontrollable measures, such as road works and staff sickness. In addition to formal performance monitoring, customer feedback was important as it provided an idea of issues not picked up by monitoring equipment.

    iv.          It was highlighted that communications about road works and other issues on the roads were not always communicated to bus companies in good time, to allow them to proactively respond.

     v.          It was difficult for bus service providers to communicate service issues to customers. It was possible to use tracking apps to inform customers, although not all bus users would access apps to track bus services.

    vi.          There were recruitment and retention issues across the sector and a shortage of skilled bus drivers and engineers. It was time intensive to train bus drivers and an enhanced medical was required prior to training. Bus companies were actively trying to recruit more people into in-house training programmes and were present at careers fairs and on recruitment websites. It was suggested that recruitment drives aimed at women may be beneficial.

  vii.          Bus companies were experiencing supply chain challenges and there were problems with the availability of parts for buses requiring repairs. It was possible for bus companies to loan vehicles to other companies in the event of an emergency. However, drivers were used to specific vehicles so this was not preferred.

 viii.          It was highlighted that some new estates were difficult for buses to access as the road designs were not suitable for large vehicles. In addition to this, it was difficult for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To consider the report approved by the Leicestershire County Council Cabinet on 19th December 2023.

The report approved by the Leicestershire County Council Cabinet on 19th December 2023 was submitted (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The following summarises the discussion:

       i.          The Democratic Services Officer explained that officers at Leicestershire County Council were not permitted to participate in scrutiny at other local authorities, and so there would not be a representative from Leicestershire County Council available to attend a panel meeting. Leicestershire County Council had an Enhanced Partnership Board and an Enhanced Partnership Forum,  which enabled local stakeholders to provide input and suggestions on how the Bus Service Improvement Plan should best be implemented.

      ii.          It was highlighted that the Council had a representative on the Enhanced Partnership Board and the panel felt that it would be useful for that representative to attend a panel meeting and it was agreed that the Democratic Services Officer liaise with the representative to find a suitable date for them to attend.

    iii.          The panel felt that it was important to be able to feed recommendations into the plans for public transport developed by Leicestershire County Council. It was highlighted that one of the supporting principles of the Passenger Transport Police was that ‘Leicestershire County Council will engage with local communities that approach us, to identify any demonstrable and significant unmet demand for travel for the high priority purposes identified in PTP5. The Council will also work with these local communities to discuss ways of shaping passenger transport services to best meet local needs.’

    iv.          The panel decided that there was a need to identify a way of feeding into the public transport plans implemented by Leicestershire County Council.

AGREED

1.     That the panel noted the report.

2.     That the Democratic Services Officer liaise with the Council’s representative on the Enhanced Partnership Board to find a suitable date for them to attend a panel meeting.

A briefing note outlining the Section 106 processes, prepared by the Team Leader – Strategic Development.

In accordance with the scrutiny scope document (key tasks), considered and discussed, a briefing note by the Team Leader – Strategic Development outlining Section 106 Processes. The following summarises the discussion:

       i.          The panel felt that increased clarity was required regarding the use of Section 106 money. It was suggested that examples of Section 106 money usage would be advantageous to help the panel understand more thoroughly.

      ii.          It was highlighted that the ‘Improving Passenger Transport through Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus and Network North Funding’ report suggested using more flexible wording in Section 106 agreements. This would potentially mean that if a situation changed before the development was built, the contribution could still be used on other sustainable transport interventions to achieve the same aims, where other feasible options existed. Members felt that this approach may be beneficial for Charnwood Borough Council to consider. The panel felt that this could form a draft recommendation.

    iii.          The panel felt that it would be beneficial to ask the Team Leader- Strategic Development about the pedestrianisation of Loughborough Town Centre and whether this had been reviewed in terms of the impact on bus routes and bus reliability.

AGREED

1.     That the panel notes the information.

2.     That the panel notes the draft recommendation (wording to be confirmed): ‘That more flexible wording in S106 agreements be used’.

3.     That the panel ask the Team Leader- Strategic Development;

·       About the pedestrianisation of Loughborough Town Centre and whether this had been reviewed in terms of the impact on bus routes and bus reliability.

·       For an example of successful Section 106 monies usage.

To consider a further draft of the Public Transport Survey.

A report to consider a further draft of the Public Transport Survey, was submitted (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes). The following summarises the discussion:

       i.          The panel approved the survey but were concerned that respondents would not understand what ‘subsidised bus services’ were. It was considered to be advantageous to list the subsidised bus services in the survey. The Democratic Services Officer and Councillor Lawrence agreed to meet again to discuss a solution to this.

      ii.          The panel agreed that the survey should be reissued to ward Councillors and Parish and Town Clerks, and also local residents groups in Loughborough.

    iii.          It was agreed that the responses to survey be received by the panel at their meeting scheduled on 29th May 2024, due to the volume of work involved in issuing the survey and collating the results.

AGREED

1.     That the panel approved the survey and that the Democratic Services Officer and Councillor Lawrence should meet again to discuss the issue regarding the ‘Subsidised Bus Services’ questions.

2.     That the survey should be reissued to ward Councillors and Parish and Town Clerks, and also local residents groups in Loughborough.

3.     That the responses to surveys be received by the panel at their meeting scheduled on 29th May 2024

To schedule the key tasks in the scrutiny scoping document to be considered at the next meeting of the panel and to consider any work to be allocated to members of the panel in advance of the next meeting. Further scheduled meetings of the panel are:

27th March 2024

29th May 2024

10th July 2024

Considered and discussed, the key tasks in the scrutiny scope document and items raised during the meeting, to be considered at the next meeting of the Panel, and subsequent meetings, and any work members of the Panel would undertake in advance of the next meeting. The following summarises the discussion:

The panel made no changes to their work programme, other than those highlighted earlier in the meeting.

AGREED that the work programme be updated to reflect the discussions during the meeting.