Agenda item

A report was received to provide an update on a number of bus review and transport related matters. This included progress made with the consultation process, an update on activity being undertaken to improve bus services and connectivity in Barnsley (as referred by BMBC’s own Scrutiny Committee Members), an overview of SCR Transport Investment and performance measures and an overview of activities to support alternatives to the car around schools.

Regarding the bus review, Members were reminded this undertaking seeks to garner opinion in relation to the challenges presented by the current system of public transport provision and what might be done to stem the decline in public transport patronage.

It was reported a common theme of the responses received to date have referenced a lack of service reliability as a significant issue for public transport.

Officers were reminded that at the last meeting, the Mayor agreed the Scrutiny Committee would be appropriately involved with the development of the Bus Review (and also the Local Industrial Strategy) and that it was noted arrangements would be put in place to provide OSC Members with an enhanced role in support of the Bus Review with Councillors Dale, Ennis and Furness registered their interest in being involved with this enhanced role.

Action: Mark to clarify the position with the Bus Review team and confirm how the OSC members will be engaged with the review process.

Regarding timescales, it was noted Clive Betts is due to meet the SCR Mayor during November to present his draft findings ahead of the provision of the final report in the New Year. This will then be subject to consideration by Leaders and the outcomes will ultimately inform actions contained within the Transport Strategy Implementation Plan.

It was suggested Clive Betts might be invited to attend a future meeting of the SCR Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members raised additional challenges that the public transport offer needs to address including congestion, the quality and complexity of ticketing and the cancellations of what may already be infrequent services.

It was noted the survey has been predominantly conducted online but has also been extensively promoted on buses and additional attempts made to engage other harder to reach groups.

Cllr Steele asked what powers the Mayor has to actually change public transport. It was noted these are contained with the 2017 Bus Services Act which gives elected Mayors the powers to implement bus franchising in their area (akin to the system operated by Transport for London). Members discussed the likely complexities of any public transport re-regulation exercise.

Members also considered the wider climate change policy context and the role future iterations of public transport will need to play to help meet transport emission caps and targets.

The membership of the Bus Review Panel was confirmed as Clive Betts MP (Chair), Kristine Beuret OBE (Director of Social Research Associates (SRA)), Stephen Joseph OBE (former CEO of Campaign for Better Transport), Peter Kennan (Chair of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry Transport Forum and Local Enterprise Partnership Board member), Martin Mayer (Secretary, Sheffield TUC, UNITE the UNION and retired bus driver), Lily Currie (BSC Environmental Science Student) and Dawn Badminton-Capps (Director, England for Bus Users).

Members discussed the common potential outcomes of the actions arising from the Bus Review, and those of other environmental and active travel (walking and cycling) objectives (a healthier population, better air quality etc.).

Cllr Jones highlighted the realities of what might happen if the commercial operators are forced to accept any changes to current governance and service determination practices, noting the local authorities can’t continue to subsidise non-profitable services to the level the public want.

Cllr Jones commented on the inclusion in the report of information specific to Barnsley.

It was noted this wasn’t intended to exclude references to the other 3 South Yorkshire boroughs but was rather in response to a specific request from the Barnsley MBC Scrutiny Committee to address the quality of services in Barnsley. It was clarified this matter is separate to the Bus Review which is South Yorkshire wide.

It was noted it is still to be seen whether the Bus Review’s findings will be to recommend the instigation of any of the powers contained within the 2017 Bus Services Act.

Cllr Jones asked if the SCR could run bus services under its General Power of Competence. It was noted the General Power of Competence (as prescribed by the 2011 Localism Act) affords the local authorities the power (in England) to do “anything that individuals generally may do” but does not apply where there is specific legislation which prohibits it, such as the running of commercial bus services. The Monitoring Officer provided a further explanation of the rules under which Community Transport operators operate and why paying a tender to an organisation to run a tendered service (by that a commercial operator (or to a Community Transport operator where no commercial service exists)) differs from directly running a bus service.

Cllr Baker emphasised the importance of the word ‘service’ and questioned the commercial operators understanding of this term.

Cllr Steele asked that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be afforded the opportunity to review the findings of the Bus Review before they are reported to the Mayor.

Action: S Davenport to address the sequencing of this request with the Bus Review Panel.

RESOLVED, that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1. Notes the contents of the report

Agrees to consider the final findings and recommendations of the Bus Review ahead of these being reported to the Mayor in early 2020