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Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Councillor Gareth Griffith

 

To consider the report of the Head of Environment

 

Minutes:

The Head of Environment Department presented a progress report on the work of reviewing the public transport provision in Gwynedd along with the next steps the Department would be implementing. It was noted that the review gave the Council the opportunity to trial alternative ways of addressing transport needs. It was reiterated that the existing network had not been developed for decades and there was no evidence that the service had been comprehensively reviewed during this time. It was noted that Transport for Wales would assist in delivering the provision with the vision that Traws Cymru would provide the main transport corridor, with a dependence on local services providing the connections.

 

It was highlighted that time and effort would be invested to gather information in order to ensure that decisions were based on need and prioritised based on their social value. Information was gathered via a questionnaire and 2021 responses were received. It was reported that the initial work to analyse the responses had been completed and would form the foundation for the next steps

-       review the suitability of the existing transport network

-       ensure that the service meets the need in the most cost effective way

-       prioritise the journeys/routes based on their social value (work commissioned by Bangor University)

 

In response to an observation by Councillor Gruffydd Williams that the Dwyfor Councillor, in response to a previous review, had requested that the service be protected from cuts and that people be supported to live in the countryside, the Head of Environment Department stated that there was no intention to cut the public transport budget. He reiterated that despite the challenges to maintain the service, the main aim was to meet the need in the most cost effective way.

 

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:

·      The strategic review and vision for improving use in the hope that the public transport service would be improved was welcomed.

·      The information gathering systems had been appropriate and that the response to the questionnaires had been encouraging - need to build on this and analyse the data to meet the need

·      The consideration to use fewer large buses was welcomed - this was a constructive step forward

·      Need to ensure that the dial a service arrangements were flexible; that there were solutions to every situation. Suggestion to trial the arrangements to ensure success

·      Need to explain and discuss any changes that were being considered with residents in their communities - suggestion to share the information in the local papers

·      Effective marketing arrangements needed

·      Need to collaborate and support local services, e.g. O Ddrws i Ddrws. Was it possible to use a concessionary travel card on local services?

·      Need to consider the carbon footprint - encourage people to use buses

·      Need to ensure that priority was given to the journey not the vehicle/resource

·      If using smaller vehicles, the impact on large bus companies would have to be considered

·      Need to ensure concessionary travel card holders got all the support they needed to renew their cards by 1/1/2020

 

In response to an observation about the impact on bus companies, it was highlighted that the large buses would be the mainstay of the service with smaller vehicles feeding into that service.

 

In response to a comment about renewing concessionary travel cards, it was highlighted that the Department was making every effort to support Transport for Wales in administrating the work of card renewal. It was reiterated that the service's officers were holding meetings across the county, were responding to telephone enquiries, and were offering advice and guidance on how to renew a card on paper or on-line. It was noted that the new concessionary card was safer and prevented fraud.

 

RESOLVED:

-       To accept the report and congratulate the Department on the consultation work carried out to gather residents' opinions

-       Recommend that the service consider the long term impact of cutting services in rural areas

-       Recommend that the service ensure flexibility in its new arrangements e.g. ensure that the 'Dial on Demand' service is flexible and that the vehicles are adequately sized to address the need

-       Recommend that the service consider collaborating with local companies / other services

-       Recommend the need to market the new service effectively

-       Recommend that the environmental impact be considered as part of the review

Supporting documents: