Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Hardy, N Mannion and H Wells-Bradshaw for the meeting held on 23 October 2017 and D Bailey and H Wells-Bradshaw on 2 November 2017

To give consideration to the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2017.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2017.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no whipping declarations.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. 

Paula Eaton, Carol Jones, Parish Councillor S Helliwell, Howard Piltz, Sinead Wheeler and Hazel Faddes attended the meeting to speak in relation to minute 28 – Supported Bus Service Review – Proposals for Implementation. Concerns were raised regarding the need to promote bus use, a reduced service in particular evenings and to key destinations such as Leighton Hospital, the role of the little bus, budget cut, adverse impact on residents and deprived areas and the possibility of implementing a ‘Smart Ticket’ system.

To receive a report on the methodology for developing the recommended proposals – report to follow

Further to the last meeting of the Committee held on 19 September 2017, consideration was given to the final proposals following the Councils review of its local supported bus network to assess whether the services best met the needs of residents and represented value for money.

It was reported that a Monday to Friday daytime service to retain local bus services connecting Congleton, Alsager, Rode Heath, Scholar Green, Sandbach and Leighton Hospital with connections to Goostrey and town services within Sandbach (Route J), would be recommended to Cabinet, realising savings in excess of £1m and not £1.567m as stated in the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

The following comments were made by the Committee:

·         That if there was an additional cost saving resulting from the tendering process, the funding should be used for the  provision of evening and weekend services to the principal towns.

·         The proposals did not take into consideration the long term costs to Council (e.g. additional road maintenance costs).

·         If an evening service was not to be provided, there would be no evening public transport to or from Middlewich.

·         The aspirations of the Council would not be achieved if access to the night time economy was not provided.

·         The number 38 bus service should provide an evening service as a matter of priority.

·         A further root and branch holistic transport review should take place in the future to investigate what services are required, including new, existing routes and extra services, be carried out.

·         The possibility of providing a ‘Smart Ticket’ option should be investigated.

The Committee then agreed to adjourn the meeting to give consideration to financial information and resolved that the press and public be excluded from the rest of the meeting pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

The Committee reconvened on 2 November 2017 and made the following additional comments:

·         That the bus operators be requested to provide a more direct bus service from Northwich to Middlewich to Crewe.

·         Rural communities, particularly High Legh would become isolated due to the removal of services.

·         The Council should consider options such as providing community buses and to mitigate the impacts.

·         The Council should consider utilising financial contributions from developers and any government funding streams available.

·         As an unintended consequence of the review, residents may become reliant taxis, therefore robust licensing enforcement should be in place.

·         A clover leaf service linking Upton Priory, Weston and Moss Rose estates in Macclesfield should be considered as an alternative to the number 19 service.

·         Manchester Airport be requested to provide financial contributions towards the number 200 service.

·         Connectivity between the various modes of public transport should be optimised. Information on bus services should also be improved at railway stations.

·         An update report be brought back  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.