Agenda item

This report presents the options available to local authorities to improve the quality of local bus services, sets out the current legislative and legal framework for partnership working with bus operators to improve the reliability of bus services and outlines the Government’s recently announced proposals for strengthening Quality Partnerships.

RESOLVED: (i)         That Officers carry out preparation for a Punctuality Improvement Partnership (PIP) in advance of the Road Transport Bill’s passage through Parliament, to enable a strengthened PIP to be introduced in York in 2008, to be delivered through the existing voluntary QBP.

                        (ii)        That Officers present detailed proposals for a PIP to the Executive Member for Transport and Planning, following consultation with the QBP.

REASON:      To improve the efficiency and attractiveness of bus services, in particular by comparison to the private car, and to meet the expected more stringent requirements of the Traffic Commissioner in terms of improving punctuality.

                        (iii)       That the Council maintain and develop the Quality Bus Partnership.

REASON:      To ensure that the QBP continues to operate as a relevant and useful forum.

Members considered a report which presented the options available to local authorities to improve the quality of local bus services.  This report had been prepared in response to a motion proposed at full Council on January 2007, and remitted to the Executive without debate.  The motion expressed concern at the bus fare increases introduced by First Buses in January 2006 and called for a report examining the case for a Quality Contract and other measures to ensure the continued growth of bus patronage needed to meet LTP targets.

The report outlined the elements the public transport ‘offer’ identified by market research as influencing public choice, namely cheaper fares (8%), more frequent buses (14%), more reliable journey times (8%), more routes (8%) and quicker journey times (8%).  The following options were explored:

Option 1 – maintain and develop the current voluntary Quality Bus Partnership (QBP).

Option 2 – introduce Punctuality Improvement Partnerships (PIP) with bus service providers.

Option 3 – introduce Quality Partnership Schemes on key corridors and routes.

Option 4 – establish a Quality Contract agreement.

The recommendation was to prepare detailed proposals for a PIP, to be delivered through the existing QBP, in accordance with Options 1 and 2.  The QBP had already agreed at their last meeting to work together to develop a PIP.  Furthermore, the government was proposing to strengthen the role of PIPs by establishing a new performance regime involving the collection of punctuality data by bus operators and making local authorities accountable for punctuality in their areas.  This approach was also in line with the importance placed by York residents on quicker and more reliable bus services.  Option 3 was not recommended, as it would involve a protracted consultation process with bus operators, might subject the Council to legal challenge and could lead to some smaller operators leaving the market.  Option 4 was not recommended because preparation and implementation of an application would take considerable time and expense, with a low chance of success.

With reference to Opposition comments reported in the Press, Members highlighted the fact that the Road Transport Bill had not yet been enacted and that the Council had no powers to control fare levels on commercial bus services.  Any such control would be likely in any event to involve a subsidy arrangement, for which funding could only be found by reducing other public service standards in the City.

RESOLVED: (i)         That Officers carry out preparation for a Punctuality Improvement Partnership (PIP) in advance of the Road Transport Bill’s passage through Parliament, to enable a strengthened PIP to be introduced in York in 2008, to be delivered through the existing voluntary QBP.

                        (ii)        That Officers present detailed proposals for a PIP to the Executive Member for Transport and Planning, following consultation with the QBP.

REASON:      To improve the efficiency and attractiveness of bus services, in particular by comparison to the private car, and to meet the expected more stringent requirements of the Traffic Commissioner in terms of improving punctuality.

                        (iii)       That the Council maintain and develop the Quality Bus Partnership.

REASON:      To ensure that the QBP continues to operate as a relevant and useful forum.