Operational Delivery Group

DRAFT Minutes– 28th January 2026 11:00-13:00 (Online)

 

1.   Introductions and Apologies (Keith McNally)

In attendance –

Helen Malam – City of York Council

Tom Horner - City of York Council

Bob Rackley – York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Chris Mottershaw – East Riding Council

Duncan McIntyre – City of York Council

Paul Turner – Transdev Bus

Lara Thornton – City of York Council

Stuart Fillingham – East Yorkshire buses

Michael Moore – First Bus

Sam Fryers – City of York Council

Paul Moses – Arriva Bus

Andrew Clarke – North Yorkshire Council

Andrew McGuiness – CPT

Kayleigh Ingham – First Bus

Craig Temple – Connexions buses

Keith McNally – CPT  (Attendance for last 10 minutes of meeting)

 

 

2.   Minutes and actions from previous meeting (KM)

·        Engagement plan for recruiting more remote location drivers is still to be look at by BR.

·        Minutes have been signed off by the ODG.

 

3.   Mayoral Combined Authority update (BR)

a.   Funding update

·        Overall cash grant has been reduced by 300k from this financial year.

·        DFT have emphasised that Capital funding can not be moved over to revenue.

·        Mayor is keen to support public transport. Combined authority to submit paper to mayor and decision will be made on spend for next financial year.

b.   Bus network review

·        Work is continuing with this with ITP, looking at potential areas which require demand, work is ongoing.

c.   Rural Franchising Pilot.

·        Tender for this is due to close next week then it will be dealt with by consultants.

d.   Bus reform Study

·        Grant Thornton doing basic analysis at the moment and looking at specific details, will present options to mayor to ask which model will work best for him.

e.   BSIP Refresh 

·        Ideally the combined authority would like one BSIP and one Enhanced partnership for the combined authority.

·        Consultancy tender has just closed so will appoint someone in February for this.

 

4.   BSIP (TH)

a.    Bus stop improvements update

·        Working towards consolidating a report to DFT and partnership towards back end of the financial year.

·        202 new real time screens have been installed.

·        Major stop improvements at Strensall bus terminus and pool bridge farm.

·        30 new bus shelters have been installed.

·        5 seating upgrades

·        Looking to make further accessibility improvements at bus stops, CYC to approach combined authority with this.

·        Looking to realign stops on piccadilly to incorporate a castle kerb.

·        All operators to provide any suggestions for improvements to CYC.  

b.   City Centre Corridor update

·        Public consultation is now completed, Varies in persons events were held.

·        Overwhelming majority of people can understand why this is being done.

·        CYC worked closely with Key stakeholders on this.

·        The project is considered viable and will proceed to a trial phase. A small number of access issues affecting Bishophill residents need to be resolved first.

·        Looking to present this to Executive members in April. Further updates on this will be provided in performance group.

·        Potentially looking to roll this out late August/Early September, CYC aiming to get this in for Christmas.

c.   Park and Ride hubs update.

·        This has now all been approved and spend has been signed off.

·        Civils work is now at detailed design stage.

·        CYC working with first York colleagues on this.

·        Real time screens to be ordered within next couple of weeks.

·        There will need to be a planning application put in for Grimston bar and Rawcliffe which will make process slightly longer.

d.   Progress on EP commitments

·        Annual report for EP will be processed for March 2026.

5.   Operator updates

5..1.     Network changes

·        First – focusing on Lendal bridge closure at the moment. Uplifts will be in place for Easter.

·        EY – Punctuality and reliability changes, service 15 launched from Woodthorpe and Bishopthorpe into york on Sundays (Positive feedback so far).

·        Transdev – Working through options for Lendal bridge closure.

5..2.     Driver recruitment and retention

·        First – Good staffing levels

·        Arriva – Overstaffed in Selby depot. Industry wide issues with repairs to vehicles.

·        Transdev – Fully staffed with drivers and engineers.

6.   Group updates and actions

6..1.     EP forum

·        Refocused structure of forum last year to make the forum more strategic.

·        2 events will be held per year.

·        Next meeting will be held in March.

6..2.     Performance group

·        End of November had high congestion on network due to Black Friday weekend and rail replacement.

·        December 2025 figures show improvement on December 2024.

·        Marshalls seem to have helped throughout the Christmas period.

6..3.     Ticketing group

·        Group is potentially reviewing price mechanism which is something at First York raised.

·        Most operators now have mobile sales set up apart from First as the app upgrade has caused delays on this.

6..4.     Marketing group

·        Lendal bridge closure is going to be large project and there will be a lot of comms planned for this.

·        Rougier route consultation has now closed, strong support for projected and people do have awareness of congestion.

·        Christmas market campaign seemed to be successful, CYC focused on towns Make it York suggested as where visitors come from.

·        Concessionary pass campaign will be kick started again soon.

·        P&R improvements comms will be next big campaign.

6..5.     Infrastructure group

·        CYC is currently coordinating with JCDecaux and Bauer media to remove JCDecaux shelters and replace them with Bauer media shelters.

6..6.     Passenger Liaison Group

·        Meetings is being held on 16th February to discuss feedback that has been provided at Itravel events throughout 2025.

·        The guaranteed Wheelchair taxi scheme was discussed - collectively discussing whether bus drivers hand a card or a printed ticket to the wheelchair user (telling them what to do next). The card is more readable for visually impaired people but the ticket a lot more practical for the bus driver. First Bus are currently drafting what the ticket could like, which could then be considered by operators, the council and contacts relating to disabled people’s needs.

 

7.   Major Scheme update

-      Outer ring road dualling - Currently working through detailed design and preparation to enter into main contract for the works, anticipated start date of March 2027 we will ensure bus operators are consulted when initial Traffic Management and programme proposals are developed.

·        Haxby Station - Working with Network Rail, who are delivering the new station, to establish on highway and access works which will be delivered by CYC. Expecting minimal impact to bus services as most works will be undertaken offline. Anticipating early 2027 start of works.

·        Station gateway – Later stages of this project now, will discuss any further updates in the performance group meeting.

·        Elvington – significate development in progress, will keep us all updated on this.

8.   AOB

·        CYC has raised that Floating bus stops are a key priority to minimise the risk of casualties from bus enlightening into cycle lane. If any operators have any locations that would benefit from improvement let CYC know.