Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed all to the meeting. Apologies were noted as above.

The Mayor noted the Vice Chair Councillor Chris Read had stepped down from his position and thanked him for his service. The Mayor noted the new Labour Government post general election. In light of the new government the Mayor explained his upcoming meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport and his hopes for the government’s help with South Yorkshire’s funding problems and constraints.

The Director of Public Transport Operations updated that he was still waiting on Probation Service contacts to be made to help further the conversation. The First representative shared her data and explained they had progressed as far as possible. The Mayor thanked them both for their work on a difficult ask.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd June 2024 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

A verbal update on the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) was provided.

The BSIP refresh was submitted on time on 12 June 2024 and the funding allocation was received on 3 July 2024. It was noted it had not been published yet and that the intention is only to publish a summary of the plan.

The Mayor expressed concern that BSIP funding may not continue due to difficulties in delivery under the previous government.

RESOLVED: that the Board noted the contents of the update.

A presentation on the results from the Transport Focus Annual Survey was delivered.

Key points raised in the presentation were:

• There was still a demand from customers to undertake the survey on paper rather than online. However, the shift to online has seen a dramatic uptick this year.
• The survey was a collaborative effort between operators and MCAs, including South Yorkshire.
• The results were taken from a selection of urban areas.
• Satisfied passengers talked positively about timeliness and drivers compared with dissatisfied passengers mentioned waiting times and punctuality.
• Younger passengers are generally less satisfied with journeys.
• Disabled and female passengers have a generally worse experience on public transport than others.
• One third of passengers are using the bus more frequently than the previous year.
• More than half surveyed relied on the bus as the bus was cheaper than tram or car travel.

The Mayor asked for clarification on whether the bus was the cheaper option for passengers or whether it is the convenience of bus routes and accessibility of cars. The Director of Transport Focus explained that the data showed 8/10 passengers were satisfied with their journeys but not their waiting times and the full data regarding bus preference had been forwarded to SYMCA’s transport team.

Regarding the personal safety discussion around disabled and female passengers, The Mayor sought clarification on the difference between ‘rowdy behaviour’ and ‘threatening behaviour’. The Director of Transport Focus explained that the granularity of these phrases is broken down in the report.

The Mayor asked if there were specific demographics who had seen an increase or decrease in bus usage. The Director of Transport Focus did not have the information at hand but, the data is available.

ACTION: The Director of Transport Focus to pass on data to the Mayor.

Members asked what reason there might be for South Yorkshire to have a lower-than-average reliability score and where was a good area for reliability comparatively. The Director of Transport Focus explained that bus passengers in a more rural area experience less services but more reliability on average.

Members asked what reason there might be behind the shift to time being the biggest focus of low satisfaction in passengers. The Director of Transport Focus discussed various factors that may have contributed such as the difference between arrival time being successful but arriving at the intended stop departure time being delayed.

Members congratulated the Transport Focus team on the report.

RESOLVED: that the Board noted the contents of the report.

An update on September Bus Timetables was presented.

Timetables were due to change from 1^st September for the start of the new academic term.

A short consultation had been undertaken, but had been restricted due to the General Election. ACTION: Director of Public Transport Operations to circulate outcomes of consultation with stakeholders when available.

Operators welcomed the consultation exercise, and noted that improvements had been made based on feedback.

RESOLVED: to note the update.

A verbal update on the September timetable changes was provided.

The Board were reminded that upcoming September timetable changes are an agreed part of the process for the EP and include consultation. Apologies were given for the consultation’s delay due to the pre-election period preventing SYMCA from commencing the process sooner. The changes being made are largely positive with corrections in routes and punctuality as a main difference. The changes would be shared publicly soon including the usual process of communications online and on bus stops.

The Director of Public Transport Operations made the Board aware of some press interest in the supposed inadequacy of the consultation process. However, while acknowledging that the process was not perfect the Director did not think the disparagement from press was proportionate.

RESOLVED: that the Board is aware of the September timetable changes.

The First Representative made the Board aware of an adverse trend in reliability so far this year. First attributed this to major road works (particularly in Doncaster) and congestion across the region and thus hoped the trend would right itself soon to bring back positive reliability figures. Currently punctuality is at 80% with hope that the September service changes would also improve this figure.

ACTION: First took a commitment from the Board to publish performance data/information on web.

First stated that they would like to work closer with local authorities to mitigate the impact of planned road works. The Director of Public Transport Operations discussed previous invitations to the local authorities and agreed it would be good to have them present on the Board to hear these comments.

ACTION: the Director of Public Transport Operations to extend the invitation again for local authorities to attend the Board.

Members asked whether hybrid working or post covid recovery is part of the downward trend First is experiencing. First explained that child student patronage is down and that they are not sure why and that has really hurt First. ENCTS elderly bus usage is growing 2% rise period on period for the last two which was unanticipated.

The Stagecoach representative updated the Board that Stagecoach is seeing continued improvements across the network. Resource management of engineers and drivers is no longer the significant issue it has been in recent years, indicating a potential return to business as usual. However, skilled engineering remains a challenge. The apprentice program is actively addressing this challenge, with three new apprentices set to start in September.

The Board were made aware that there had been a significant IT issue related to journey tracking of buses that lasted for a couple of weeks, causing considerable problems. Stagecoach is producing weekly updates for both the app and journey tracking. They reported 8 out of 10 users surveyed were satisfied with the app, but efforts are being made to obtain feedback from the remaining users. Stagecoach is working on an app feature that would allow users to favourite regular journeys and receive alerts about any issues on those routes.

Stagecoach reported that adult patronage has increased by 5.6%. The removal of the Zoom Beyond concession may further increase adult patronage as some users will count as adults where they had not before. However, there has been a decline in child ticket sales. Poor weather has negatively impacted overall passenger numbers.

Stagecoach discussed frustration with the delays to the Electro ZEBRA project. Although the buses were ready in April and infrastructure was installed by the end of that month, delays with Northern Powergrid have hindered progress. Currently, 7 out of 20 electric buses are in service daily. Fast chargers have been installed, and a diesel generator will be used for the next six weeks. Stagecoach reported that so far, the initiative has saved 27 tonnes of carbon and achieved a 3.8% year-on-year growth.

The TM Travel representative outlined recent changes that have improved services including new vehicles and managers. The Director of Public Transport Operations noted that TM Travel’s reliability had been concerning however, the recent changes had seen a positive impact on their reliability.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport representative updated that they are collaborating with bus operators of all sizes, both regionally and nationally, to improve bus open data and accessibility, particularly focusing on implementing audio/visual displays and announcements. The Department for Transport (DfT) and KPMG are working to resolve system issues and support smaller operators in meeting the October deadline, with the main challenge being a shortage of trained electrical engineers to install the necessary equipment. Engagement with the Secretary of State for Transport and Office of Communications was ongoing as KPMG explored options for the £2 national fare cap.

RESOLVED: that the Board noted the updates.

The Enhanced Partnership representative gave feedback to the Board from the EP Forum.

The Forum believe the Bus Promise is under publicised and want to know when it will be pushed out and how. There were concerns about digital exclusion and accessibility raised.

ACTION: Democratic Services the Bus Promise communications plan to be included as an agenda item at the next EP Board meeting.

The feedback for the timetable consultation in April and September was positive. There were concerns about whether the consultation was written in an accessible way and whether enough data was provided to understand how the changes would impact services.

ACTION: the Director of Public Transport Operations to invite all interested parties to a meeting with an accessibility expert.

The Forum thanked operators for making reliability and punctuality data available. It was noted that this data could be added to websites to improve accessibility.

The Head of Facilities and Asset Management presented a report on SYMCA’s bus shelter estate options.

The paper emphasised the need to reverse the aging of current stock despite funding challenges over a minimum ten-year period. The improvement plan includes temporary stops which align with net-zero goals, such as using Forest Stewardship Council certified hardwood or recyclable materials. A comprehensive survey was suggested to assess the portfolio's condition and costs.

Members discussed whether all infrastructure was owned by SYMCA. The Director of Public Transport Operations confirmed that SYMCA own the vast majority of bus stops.

Members highlighted three potential avenues of funding – section 106, section 278, and Arts Council funding.

ACTION: the Head of Facilities and Asset Management to investigate section 106, section 278, and Arts Council funding sources.

The Mayor suggested a design competition for infrastructure improvement. Members suggested a short term solution could be advertising volunteering opportunities to refurbish and clean infrastructure.

Members raised concerns about graffiti issues on bus stops.

The proposal to stop providing paper timetables at bus stops with fewer than three buses per hour by 2025 was discussed, with concerns about accessibility and QR code coverage.

Members raised concerns about bus stop names and suggested when the refurbishment is rolled out that bus stops should be name based on current landmarks and not legacy ones.

RESOLVED: that the Board noted the paper.

None.

(The Mayor left the meeting.)

The Chair, now the Executive Director of Transport, presented the upcoming work plan.

ACTION: the CPT Representative will bring coach information to the next Board meeting.

Members discussed the upcoming proposed substantive item ‘learning from successful partnerships’ and agreed that they would like to hear from Leicester, West Midlands or Nottingham.

Members discussed whether it would be possible to have a local authority representative present on upcoming highway issues or be consulted and then feedback through the Board.

RESOLVED: that the Board noted the upcoming relevant information on the work plan. 

The First Representative outlined upcoming fare changes. With regret First explained child fares were increasing as fares had been frozen for 28 months the change was necessary. The intention was for the new fare increase to be in place on 28 July. The Director of Public Transport Operations noted that any fare increase is unwelcome but the change is understandable. The Board was made aware that First and SYMCA are working to notify schools in particular.

The Director of Public Transport Operations update the Board on the public enquiry in respect for the operating license for Watersons who are now owned by Globe. A report will be available by the end of the week.

Members expressed thanks to the Director of Strategic Transport who is leaving on the 26 July.