West County Local Committee Agenda Item 8 Key Decision: No Allocation of Section 106 Contribution towards an all day direct bus service to and 25th June, 2009 Part I

Report by Director of Operations - Infrastructure Electoral Divisions: and the Service Manager – Local Development Langley Green & West Green, & Worth, , Northgate &

Executive Summary

West Sussex County Council requires developers to contribute towards improvements to Highways and/or Transport that are necessary for the development to take place. This may involve payment of a contribution towards Highways and Transport projects and schemes secured under a Section 106 Agreement.

This report recommends that the CLC support the allocation of S106 funding arising from the development of the Immigration Centre at Gatwick Airport towards an extension to the hours of service of Metrobus Route 7, running from Pound Hill via Manor Royal to the Airport, serving the funding development.

BAA has confirmed a funding allocation of £80,000 to provide an greatly improved bus service 7 to the airport This requires a further £30000 one-off “Kick start” from Section 106 funding to allow Metrobus to trial the route for 1 year on the understanding that Metrobus will then endeavour to operate the service commercially in the future.

Recommendation That the Committee 1. Supports the allocation of up to £30,000 to improve Metrobus route 7 to an all day service. 2. Supports the allocation of up to £15,000 to improve on-street Real Time Passenger Information at Gatwick Airport.

1. Background

1.1 Developers may be required to make a financial contribution towards transport measures to mitigate the impact of their development. The contribution is secured through the completion of a S106 agreement.

1.2 BAA are providing £80,000 towards an all day bus service. This gives enough funding for new improved service 7 to run for 9 months providing transport from early in the morning and return journeys in the evening.

1.3 In order to give the service the best chance of commercial sustainability over the long term a trial period of one year would be a minimum. To achieve this it would be necessary to allocate £30,000 from S106 funding from development within the airport.

1.4 BAA are funding various RTPI improvements at the airport.

1.5 The allocation of £15,000 from Section 106 contributions would provide additional Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) at and around the Airport to further support the new route as well as the existing services. This will support the provision of on-board facilities funded by Metrobus.

1.6 At the meeting on 13th November 2008 Members were made aware of a development at Gatwick Airport of a new Immigration Centre (Ref CR/518/06) that resulted in a payment of a contribution of £105,300 to be used towards sustainable transport schemes. It was decided that the contribution should remain unallocated whilst scheme options were considered.

1.7 County Council, BAA and Metrobus have a strong history of working in partnership with extremely positive results and Crawley has enjoyed the fastest growing bus patronage in the country over the past eight years.

1.8 Metrobus route 7 currently consists of 3 early morning journeys from Maidenbower and Pound Hill to Manor Royal and Gatwick Airport.

2. Discussion

2.1 Contributions must be spent both in accordance with the wording of the S106 agreement and in accordance with the limitations established in Planning Law and Guidance, i.e. on improvements that meet transport plan objectives and mitigate the impact of the development. Unless the agreement states otherwise contributions may be used to fund either infrastructure or services.

2.2 Crawley Borough Council, who secure Highways Contributions on the County Councils behalf, have produced a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that states that about 80% of developer contributions for Highways and Transport will be used to deliver strategic level schemes, such as extensions to Fastway, Park and Ride, Bus Quality Measures and Bus real-time Information.

2.3 The allocation of S106 contributions is subject to the release of funds by Crawley Borough Council. – Borough Council officers have agreed the principle of this allocation, and confirmed that this scheme is in line with the SPD document

2.4 Much of the success of Fastway is due to providing straightforward, direct bus services to Manor Royal and Gatwick Airport. The east side of Crawley now has Fastway 100 serving Maidenbower but take up of the service to the airport has been dampened by the long journey times due to this route operating via the town centre. Fastway 100 is also some distance from Pound Hill. Revised route 7 will also give Three Bridges new links to the centre of Manor Royal.

2.5 There are as many Airport workers in Pound Hill and Maidenbower (c.1100) as there are in Broadfield (c.950) or (c.930). Significant numbers also work at Manor Royal. These numbers have been instrumental in Metrobus decision to take significant revenue risk rather than requiring the full costs of running the route.

2.6 Metrobus will provide a high specification (including real time information hardware) dedicated and route branded bus to operate the service.

2.7 Airport workers will be able to take advantage of the Gatwick Workers Pass to travel for £44 for one month or £420 for one year.

2.8 The timetable and route map are attached as Appendix 1.

2.9 Metrobus has already registered the route with the Traffic Commissioner. This is to give as much notice as possible for publicity (funded by Metrobus) and to give the best start possible for the route by serving the increased summer airport workforce.

3. Proposals

3.1 That the County Council allocates £30000 towards the improved route 7. This will top up the £80,000 funding provided by BAA to provide an all day service giving workers services both for early shifts and the return journey in the evening.

3.2 That the County Council allocates £15000 towards improving Real Time Passenger Information at and around the Airport to further support the new route as well as the existing services. This will support the provision of on- board facilities funded by Metrobus.

4. Consultation

4.1 The scheme suggested has been the subject of consultation with Crawley Borough Council. It should be noted that due to the nature of both bus routes and of Gatwick Airport the area that the route most benefits is not the one represented by the Local Member for the airport (Langley Green and West Green).

4.2 A link from Pound Hill to Manor Royal and Gatwick, and a faster link from Maidenbower, are the top requests from the Easit Gatwick Diamond partnership.

5. Resource Implications and Value for Money

5.1 Metrobus will run the route under contract to West Sussex County Council, funding part of the cost themselves. This will leave a balance for one year of operation of £110,000, which will be met through BAA's contribution of £80,000 together with £30,000 from the S106 agreement relating to the new Immigration Centre at Gatwick Airport. The principal of part funding bus services is an established arrangement for bus routes serving the Airport.

5.2 Ongoing running costs of RTPI are small and 5 years maintenance is included in the supply costs. Responsibility for maintenance beyond this is yet to be established and will depend on exact location of the equipment.

5.3 The Section 106 contribution is a one-off payment and it is not anticipated that further requests will be made to support the route from S106 payments.

5.4 The S106 contribution only makes up a small proportion of the overall costs of the scheme. The benefits to Crawley Residents from the initial West Sussex County Council investment will continue for many years to come should the trial service succeed. This represents good value for money

5.5 Studies on numbers and locations of potential users have shown that the likelihood of the service becoming commercially viable is high.

6. Risk Management Implications

6.1 Metrobus will be under contract to run the route for 1 year. There is a 3 month notice period in the Terms and Conditions of contract. On past experience the risk is very low that Metrobus will use this.

6.2 Consultation with Borough Council officers prior to making this bid has mitigated the risk that the Borough Council may not formally support it.

6.3 BAA funding is being taken from their Transport Levy Fund and therefore the risk of funding being withdrawn is very low.

7. Customer Focus Appraisal A Customer Focus Appraisal is not required for this decision.

8. Crime and Disorder Act Implications There are no identifiable Crime and Disorder Act Implications

9. Human Rights Act Implications There are no identifiable Human Rights Act Implications.

Tony Toynton Duncan Barratt Director of Operations, Infrastructure Service Manager Local Development

Background Papers: S106 Agreement reference CR/518/06

Contact: David Crockford ext 77786