Agenda item

To receive a report back from the Cabinet Member on the implementation of the Scrutiny Investigation’s recommendations.

a)         Submitted – the report of the Cabinet Member for Education responding to the recommendations of the Post 16 Transport to Further Education Scrutiny Investigation. It was noted that the Cabinet Member had apologised for not being able to attend the meeting, but the Senior Schools Manager outlined that the Cabinet Member had thanked members of the investigation for their thorough work into the field. Apologies were expressed for the delay in submitting the report, and it was added that the opportunity to submit / implement some of the recommendations for September 2015 had been impacted by a 'purdah' period. It was also noted that the wording and conditions of the Post 16 Transportation Policy would be simplified and adapted to address the changes.

It was explained that the recommendations had been split into three categories, and each was discussed individually. Some of the changes would be charging a fixed price and abolishing the notion of a catchment area to ensure consistency in terms of provision. The aim was to delete some of the obstacles. The wording and the conditions of the new Transportation Policy would be much simpler and readable. This would ensure the user's improved understanding together with the education providers and the understanding of Galw Gwynedd helpline staff.

It was added that the intention was to collaborate with Partners to contribute to improving the provision, and that discussions had been held with the Llandrillo Menai Colleges Group to act as an agent. It was added that interest had been noted but no commitment up to now.

b)         Taking advantage of his right to speak, Mr S Chambers, the President of the Coleg Meirion Dwyfor Students’ Union submitted his proposals for the Post 16 Transportation Policy. The following observations were noted:

-           It was the standard of the service and not the price which caused concern.

-           Overcrowding on buses - the buses picked up members of the public, secondary school pupils and College students - Health and Safety risk

-           Flexibility of the ticket - the usage limit (twice per day) contributed to overcrowding.

-           The use of 'My Travel Pass' - Welsh Government Scheme. Why did bus drivers not accept it?

-           Needed better arrangements for periods of adverse weather.

-           Suggested focussing on quality and the students’ needs.

c)         During the discussion, the following observations were made:

-           There were too many differences between Welsh and English Legislation and that the investigation’s original focus had been to look at these inconsistencies. It was argued that the Council was no closer to helping people from underprivileged households.

-           Concern that the ‘My Travel Pass’ was not accepted.

-           Needed to consider the ticket's flexibility - propose testing the ticket’s flexibility in a specific area.

-           Increasing the ticket price from £60 to £100 was unfair - was it possible to review this and charge £80?

-           Needed to consider purposeful buses for students only to avoid overcrowding - proposed the need to consult further with users.

-           Needed to hold further discussions with commercial public transportation companies to seek to stop the obstacle of using a ticket at any time of the day.

ch)       Councillor Gruffydd Williams proposed that the Cabinet Member should be called upon not to increase the cost of the ticket from £60 to £100, and he requested that that was recorded. The proposal was not seconded.

RESOLVED:

a)         EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE DELAY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WELCOME THE WORK WHICH IS NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN, BUT PUSH FOR EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS DERIVING FROM THE INVESTIGATION, SPECIFICALLY REQUESTING THE CABINET MEMBER TO FOCUS ON:

i.          THE QUALITY AND STANDARD OF THE PROVISION, PARTLY DUE TO OVERCROWDING

ii.         THE LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF TIMES WHEN A STUDENT CAN USE THE TICKET, AND THE PROPOSAL THAT A DISCUSSION OCCURS WITH PROVIDERS TO SEEK TO APPROVE FLEXIBILITY FOR A PERIOD

iii.        THE USE OF THE ‘MY TRAVEL PASS’ - THE BUS COMPANIES’ UNWILLINGNESS TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS USE

iv.        CONTACT THE WELSH GOVERNMENT TO PUSH FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ARRANGEMENT SIMILAR TO THAT IN ENGLAND TO HELP STUDENTS FROM THE POOREST HOUSEHOLDS

b)         THE CABINET MEMBER IS REQUESTED TO REPORT BACK ON THESE MATTERS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 2016