Report No 988/08

Report No 988/08 ANGUS COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES COMMITTEE - 14 OCTOBER 2008 SUBJECT: BUS PUNCTUALITY IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP REPORT BY DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES Abstract: This report outlines a proposed Bus Punctuality Improvement Plan for the Arbroath to Dundee bus corridor within Angus and seeks authority from Members to draw up these partnership agreements with Stagecoach Strathtay. 1 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Committee:- 1. agree that Angus Council enters into a Bus Punctuality Improvement Plan as outlined in this report. 2 INTRODUCTION 2.1 At the meeting of this Committee on 28 August 2007, Members agreed that the Council develop a Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership together with Stagecoach Strathtay on the Arbroath to Dundee corridor (Report 747/07 refers). A copy of the full report detailing the Improvement Partnership has been placed in the Members’ Lounge. 2.2 Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnerships (BPIPs) are agreements between local authorities and bus operators with the aim of providing more reliable bus services. Reliability of services is one of the main factors cited by non bus users as being necessary to achieve modal shift. BPIPs provide a basis for agreed performance delivery of bus services to registered timetables. They provide a mechanism for identifying barriers to achieving the agreed targets with both partners agreeing to develop plans to address and eliminate these barriers. 2.3 The guidance available to date on BPIPs has been issued under the auspices of Department of Transport’s Bus Partnership Forum and accordingly is specific to the local government structure and funding regime in operation south of the border. No specific guidance on BPIP’s has been issued in Scotland and there are no BPIPs currently in place. 2.4 Angus Council and Stagecoach Strathtay had since August 2007 seeking to develop a BPIP for the Tayway (Arbroath – Monifieth – Dundee) corridor to improve service punctuality and reliability. This was seen to complement and enhance existing partnership working. To date the Council has improved infrastructure on this corridor including the provision of real time information; solar lighting; bus boarders; and timetable information at all stops. Stagecoach Strathtay has a funded programme to provide route specific quality vehicles dedicated to this corridor and has implemented service enhancements. 2 Report No 988/08 2.5 Plans to introduce a BPIP were similarly being progressed in Dundee and Dundee City Council had received funding from the Scottish Government to engage consultants to assist in the formulation of a BPIP developing a template which could then be used by other local authorities across Scotland. The initial proposal was to be piloted on one specific corridor in Dundee using National Express Dundee Service 14 operating between Ethiebeaton Park, Kingsway Retail Park, Technology Park and Ninewells Hospital. 2.6 In light of the desire by Angus Council and Stagecoach Strathtay to develop a BPIP the original pilot study has, with the approval of the Scottish Government, been expanded to include three other services, one of which is National Express Dundee Service 22, a commercial service operating between Downfield, Dundee City Centre and Ninewells Hospital. The other two services are operated by Stagecoach Strathtay, these are Service 13 operating between Monifieth, Ethiebeaton Park, Ninewells Hospital and Invergowrie and Service 73/73A operating between Arbroath, Carnoustie, Dundee City Centre and Ninewells Hospital. 3 THE BUS PUNCTUALITY IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP 3.1 The proposed Dundee and Angus Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership agreement is provided in Appendix 1 to this report. This document is subject to minor revisions to take account of on-going discussions as to how service reliability will be measured. It is anticipated that if approved by Members it will be formally signed in December 2008 and will commence from 1 January 2009. 4 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 4.1 There are no immediate financial implications arising from this report. 5 CONSULTATION 5.1 The Chief Executive, Director of Corporate Services, Head of Finance and Head of Law & Administration have been consulted in the preparation of this report. 6 HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS 6.1 There are no human rights implications arising from this report. 7 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS 7.1 The issues dealt with in this report have been the subject of consideration from an equalities perspective (as required by legislation). An equalities impact assessment is not required. 8 CONCLUSION 8.1 Major improvements have been made in recent years to the quality of local bus services in terms of vehicles, service provision and associated infrastructure on Tayway corridor between Arbroath and Dundee within Angus. This route is developing into a ‘quality corridor’ and the provision of a BPIP aimed to improve service reliability will formally record a commitment by Stagecoach Strathtay and 3 Report No 988/08 Angus Council to work in partnership to drive up standards of service provision with clear benefits for bus users. 8.2 The BPIP once implemented will be subject to on-going monitoring and if successful this model could be rolled-out to other corridors within Angus. NOTE No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, (other than any containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to any material extent in preparing the above Report. P&T/LEMIAL 3 October 2008 Eric S. Lowson Director of Infrastructure Services .

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