Agenda item

To update the Committee on upcoming work for members’ consideration.

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

 

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for the Environment, the Head of Environment and the Integrated Transport and Road Safety Manager. Attention was drawn briefly to the following principal points: 

 

It was explained that the public transport field was facing a challenging period following Covid-19.  It was noted that people had moved from using public transport during the period of the Pandemic and that the figures had not increased to the level seen before Covid-19. It was explained that a financial package had been provided by the Government in order to facilitate the costs of maintaining public transport during this period but that the emergency plan had terminated. It was noted that confirmation had been confirmed that the Government, through the Bus Transition Fund would provide financial support until April 2024.

 

It was reported that a change in technology meant that the Council was trying to use electric buses. It was noted that the first electric buses in Gwynedd would be charged in Porthmadog. It was explained that this was a big change for bus companies and that significant risks were associated with these changes.

 

It was recognised that personal cars were going to be mandatory in some rural areas although it was hoped that this reliance on personal cars would be reduced in the future. Despite this, it was reported that there was an increase of over 30% in the use of the SHERPA around Yr Wyddfa area over the past year.

 

It was reminded that a number of organisations were responsible for the public transport sector jointly with the Council namely, North Wales Transport Commission and the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee.

 

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. During the discussion, the following matters were raised:

 

In response to an enquiry on the electric buses charging points in Porthmadog, the Head of Environment confirmed that it was hoped for the charging points to be installed by August, with the services available to the public by September depending on a tender. Despite this, it was noted that anti-social behaviour on buses after 6pm was a cause for concern for companies and discussions were held with the police to resolve the matter. It was explained that operators were still being convinced to continue with services but that it was a challenge due to the price of running services.

 

A member noted that he welcomed the collaboration with Transport for Wales noting the importance of local services connecting to the strategic services. They made reference to a service in their ward that did not travel via Dolan, although it was believed it should as the number of potential passengers would increase the number of service users.

 

In response to an enquiry on finance, the Head of Environment confirmed that the Council was fortunate to receive annual support from Transport for Wales. Despite this, it was emphasised that there was no other body that could help the Council fund these services if the support would come to an end. It was explained that there would be a need to find revenue funding to fund the cost if this situation would arise.

 

It was explained that the electric buses had been purchased by Welsh Government and that their ownership would move to Cyngor Gwynedd. It was explained that the process of obtaining licences and rights for owning a bus licence was difficult, complicated and very expensive and this would not be beneficial for the Council to operate at present. It was confirmed that the buses had been guaranteed and, therefore, unlikely to incur additional costs for the Council and that continuous monitoring work was in place to ensure that the buses are kept to the best standard possible.

 

In reply to an enquiry, the Environment Manager confirmed that the department’s main challenge with this field was raising the confidence of Gwynedd residents to use the services. An example was shared where one of the Blaenau Ffestiniog area services had to stop, which had forced residents to use personal vehicles. It was recognised that the reliance on personal vehicles would not stop unless Gwynedd residents were confident that the services in place were going to continue and were convenient for them.

 

A member referred to matters that had been raised in his ward recently and noted that there was a need to ensure provision in the rural areas. In response, the Head of Environment noted that providing services in the rural areas were more costly with a low number of users meaning a higher cost per head.

 

A member noted the importance of receiving input from users and those who did not use the services when revising/re-structuring services.

 

In response to a query on not using buses that run on fossil fuels, the Head of Environment explained that the department was researching hydrogen buses as well as electric ones.

In response to an observation from a member, the Integrated Transport and Road Safety Manager noted that services in the Arfon area had been tendered and it was intended to tender services in the Meirionnydd area in the next two months.

 

A member questioned how the use of electric buses could be expanded to rural areas without the Council having to subsidise them. In response, the Head of Environment noted that it was expected that the technology would improve and the purchase price would reduce.

 

In response to a question from a member in relation to explaining the rural situation to Welsh Government so they had a better understanding, the Cabinet Member for the Environment noted that he was conveying the challenges and the situation in discussions and that he had recently represented the Council at a conference in London discussing transport.

 

The idea of trying to include more popular tourism areas in the service’s routes  to give everyone an opportunity to visit the sites was welcomed.

 

A member questioned when it would be timely for the Committee to receive an update. In response, the Head of Environment noted that it would be timely after March 2024. He elaborated that discussions were held on the services with specific members in the meantime. A member noted that it would be useful to receive information on the use of electric buses after establishing the new service as part of the update.

 

Gratitude was expressed for the report.

 

RESOLVED

 

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.