Decision details

The Committee considered a report which presented the findings of a strategic review of the Council’s financial support for local bus services. The review was undertaken to ensure that spending provided value for money and best met the needs of passengers within prevailing budget constraints.

The Council’s existing supported bus contracts were due to expire at the end of March 2025. The process to re-procure services was scheduled to begin in October, with new contracts due to start in April 2025. The outcomes from the bus service review and associated consultation had informed the service specifications and the proposed changes to the supported bus network were outlined in the report.

Councillor R Bailey attended to speak as a visiting member. Cllr Bailey was grateful for the Go Too service but shared her concerns that it was in operation without full testing of those who rely on it.

There was no commercial bus service in Audlem and following a residents meeting it was found that a lot more people relied on the regular commercial bus service for a number of reasons.

40 residents met with the local MP, who wrote to Cheshire East raising concerns. The report has been shared as though there are services in place, when it was the Go Too service in place, along with the retention of the commercial service not being re-procured until 1st April.

The report gave an underlying feeling that no one used the bus service in Audlem, and by 1^st April next year they would have given up hope of a bus service, lost employment, or education, or will have become isolated.

In relation to the recommendations on Page 71, specifically 2a – Councillor Bailey asked that Cheshire East Council as a matter of urgency expedite the re procurement of services 72 and 73 to ensure there was a service in place for Audlem and surrounding areas.

In addition, that the performance of the Go Too bus was carefully scrutinised, which all too often was cancelled at late notice.

Councillor Bailey emphasised the priorities outlined in Cheshire East’s Corporate Plan specifically inclusivity and access to education, and without transport support, the council would fail on those priorities.

The Committee welcomed the report and asked questions and sought assurance in relation to:

-       Flexible transport – concerns around qualification, and that it would be open to travellers who have no viable public transport service available. Would those residents who are elderly or disabled continue to have access to the Flexi Link service.

-       Concerns around the reliability of the Go Too Service in the south of the borough

-       If monthly performance data on failure rates and usage in the area could be shared with members

-       Is the concessionary bus pass travel still valid on the Flexi bus?

-       Are pets allowed on the service?

In response officers reported that

-       The Flexi link service would continue for those with limited mobility/ and the elderly.

-       Officers would look to investigate the Go Too Service provision in that area as it was suggested there was spare capacity on the Go Too Service.

-       Officers agreed that they could share monthly performance data with members so that they could look at the areas of concern.

-       concessionary passes could be used on the Go Too Service after 9.30am, half an adult fare before 9.30am and free to travel on a Saturday.

-       Only assistance dogs are permitted – to accommodate those who don’t wish to travel with dogs.

In response to a question in respect of advertising the service, officers reported that some of the BCIP grant funding would be used on marketing the service, especially in those rural areas.  There would be a review on what community transport schemes were available as this had not been reviewed since before covid.

In response to concerns around the period of notice given by D & G when withdrawing its service members suggested that consideration be given to a longer clause in future contracts in respect of notice periods.

RESOLVED:  Unanimously

That the Highways and Transport Committee

1.    Note the findings of the Bus Service Review 2024 (see Appendix 1 and 2 of the report) and the associated Consultation Summary Report (see Appendix 3).

2. Approve the current proposals for a revised supported bus network, as below and in Appendix 4, whereby the Council will;

a) Cease revenue support for the 70 Nantwich to Tiverton (2 journeys daily) and replace with access to flexible transport (see below). Reconfigure the 72 and 73 Nantwich rural services (serving Wrenbury and Audlem) and provide a direct local bus service linking Nantwich to Leighton Hospital.

b) Increase frequency of service on the northern section of route 391/392 between Poynton and Stockport to hourly.

c) On a trial basis, extend FlexiLink hours of operation to include 16:30-21:00 and provision of a Saturday service (09:00-18:00) and make it available for use by all passengers who do not have access to a fixed-route bus service.

d) All other Council supported bus services are largely unchanged as a result of these recommendations (see Appendix 4).

3. Delegate authority to the Director of Highways and Infrastructure to:

a. finalise the remaining proposals for supported bus services, including any necessary service adjustments;

b. finalise supported bus service specifications for procurement;

c. identify the most cost effective delivery model for flexible transport which also meets the provision for home-to-school special educational needs & disability transport, in consultation with the Director of Education, Strong Start and Integration;

d. procure the Council’s supported bus services including flexible transport;

e. award supported bus service contracts to start in April 2025.