Item Scrutiny Panel 13 23 August 2016
Report of Assistant Chief Executive Author Jonathan Baker 282207
Title Questions to Bus Companies in Colchester Wards Not applicable affected
Following a request at the last Scrutiny Panel meeting the Panel is invited to suggest questions to be submitted to bus companies.
1. Action required
1.1 To suggest further questions for inclusion into the letter from the Scrutiny Panel to be sent to bus operators in the Borough of Colchester.
1.2 To agree a deadline for Bus operators to respond to the letter and identify when the responses to the questions will be reviewed.
1.3 For the Scrutiny Panel to approve that the draft letter, with additional questions, be agreed by the Chairman and Group Spokespersons following the meeting.
2. Reason for scrutiny
2.1 Following a discussion at the July 2016 meeting of the Scrutiny Panel it was agreed that a list of questions would be sent to bus operators operating within the Colchester Borough Council area.
2.2 An e-mail to Scrutiny Panel members was circulated requesting questions for inclusion in the letter. A copy of the questions, with duplicates removed, has been included in the draft letter for approval.
2.3 Further questions or amendments to the letter are welcome, with a final draft being agreed by the Chairman and the Groups spokesperson prior to the letter being sent out.
2.4 The Scrutiny Panel will also need to determine a timescale for the bus operators to respond to the questions and review the responses prior to taking any further steps. Pending the responses the Scrutiny Panel may also wish to identify a date on which the responses can be discussed at a meeting.
3. Background information
3.1 The Scrutiny Panel have previously reviewed the provision of bus services in Colchester. This took place on 12 March 2013, with attendees from First Bus, C-Bus and Officers from both Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council in attendance. At this meeting issues raised included;
ticket prices type and age of bus bus stops and ticketing design lack of civility of bus drivers/access to buses
bus routes and utilisation air quality the new bus station and changes to the town centre traffic flow Park and Ride/Car Parking Charges Quality Bus Partnership
3.4 The following bus companies currently provide services within the Borough of Colchester;
First Buses Network Colchester (Arriva) Stephensons Carter Coaches (Ipswich Buses) Chambers and Hedinghams (Go-Ahead Group) SX Connect (Arriva) Panther Travel
3.5 An e-mail has been distributed to some of the bus companies that operate in the Borough of Colchester to inform them that a letter containing questions is to be expected.
3.6 Prior to the Bus Review on 2015, 15% of bus services were contracted by Essex County Council and 85% were operated commercially. As Essex County Council contract a number of bus services and also contract the Park and Ride to Arriva the Panel may also wish to send a copy of the letter to Essex County Council.
4. Strategic Plan references
4.1 The Council recognises that effective local government relies on establishing and maintaining the public’s confidence, and that setting high standards of self governance provides a clear and demonstrable lead. Effective governance underpins the implementation and application of all aspects of the Council’s work.
5. Standard References
There are no particular references to publicity or consultation considerations; or financial; equality, diversity and human rights; community safety; health and safety or risk management implications.
Background Papers
Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 12 March 2013 – Bus Operation in Colchester Report
Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 12 March 2013 – Bus Operation in Colchester Minutes
Democratic Services, Colchester Borough Council, Rowan House, 33, Sheepen Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3WG
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Colchester Borough Council Scrutiny Panel. As you may be aware the Scrutiny Panel recently agreed to send a list of questions to bus operators within Colchester requesting further information.
Following the Scrutiny Panel meeting on 23rd of August, Councillors agreed the questions included below. It would be greatly appreciated if you could respond to these questions by [ ] the Scrutiny Panel will then review the responses provided and inform you of any next steps that it intends to take.
Reliability and Punctuality
1. What efforts are being made to improve the punctuality of the service?
2. When will information boards that show if a bus is severely late and also provide regular updates be provided in Colchester? How can will you improve the communication regarding your services?
Air Quality
3. What is your timetable for phasing out older buses and bringing in Greener buses?
4. What plans do you have to reduce nitrogen oxides, in particular NO2 and fine particulate exhaust emissions, in the Town Centre?
Accessibility
5. Are all your buses wheelchair accessible?
Interchange
6. With Colchester regarded as the fastest growing town in the country what are you proposing to do to improve the existing services (issues with late running and cancelled services) and introduce new services to link and meet the demands of significant house building, particularly in North Colchester (where there are several large new developments, the General Hospital, the Stadium, proposed Leisure Gateway and North Station)?
7. There are very few, if any, direct services to the High Street from the main ticket office at North Station, would you be able to route more services via that stop?
Fares
8. Bus ticket prices are too expensive (coupled with car and parking fees being more attractive) therefore can you reduce current fare pricing?
9. Please justify proposed increases in fares that are way above inflation?
Miscellaneous
10. Why is it necessary for a double decker bus to be used as a shuttle bus for staff when this is already a bus route? Could a mini bus not be used instead to save on emissions?
Yours faithfully,
Councillor Beverly Davies Scrutiny Panel Chairman