MINUTE of SPECIAL MEETING of the DEVELOPMENT AND

MINUTE of SPECIAL MEETING of the DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORT POLICY DEVELOPMENT SCRUTINY PANEL of WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL held within WEST LOTHIAN HOUSE, LIVINGSTON, on WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2008.

Present – Councillor Martyn Day (Chair), Councillors Gordon Beurskens, Willie Boyle, John Cochrane, Alex Davidson, Robert De Bold, Willie Dunn, Neil Findlay, Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Ellen Glass, Dave King and John Muir.

Apologies – Councillor John McGinty

Absent – Depute Provost Jim Dickson and Councillor Greg McCarra

In Attendance – Mrs Elsie Boyd

1. ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Panel agreed to a suggestion by the Chair that a request for a deputation from Mrs Elsie Boys be heard before consideration of Agenda Item 4, which concerned the Bus Service between St John’s Hospital and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

2. DEPUTATION BY MRS ELSIE BOYD

The Chair welcomed Mrs Elsie Boyd and invited her to address the Panel.

The Panel heard Mrs Boyd speak about her preference for a direct bus service between St John’s Hospital and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, as the journey took less time than when the service routed through East Calder, Mid Calder and Ratho.

Mrs Boyd also expressed concerns in relation to the revised bus timetable as many of the departure times proposed were at irregular intervals. The existing timetable had more consistent departure times, with buses leaving at twenty minutes pass the hour and as a result this made it easier to remember departure times and in turn advise other passengers.

In addition Mrs Boyd suggested that consideration could be given to using smaller buses on the route, as this would help cut down operating costs.

Decision

To note the contents of the deputation and thank Mrs Boyd for her informative presentation.

3. BUS SERVICE BETWEEN ST JOHN’S HOSPITAL AND EDINBURGH ROYAL INFIRMARY

A report by the Public Transportation Manager (which had been circulated) informed the members of the proposed changes to the contracted bus service between St John’s Hospital and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. 44

The report explained that in June 2007 Full Council resolved to introduce an additional service to enhance existing bus services through the provision of a direct link between St John’s and the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

It was advised that the existing two contracts for the provision of the service cost £188,188 per annum for the existing timetable, which provided nine weekday and five return journeys per Saturday and Sunday. Contributions towards the cost of £9,020 from City of Edinburgh Council and £43,000 from NHS sources left the council with a net subsidy of £144,286 per annum.

The proposed contract, under consideration, was £187,187 per annum for fourteen return journeys daily with continued contributions for partner organisations making the net council subsidy £135,167 per annum.

It had been intended that the revised service would be introduced on 29th September 2008. However this had not been possible as the contract for the new service was for a direct bus service between the two hospitals, thereby removing stops in Mid Calder, East Calder and Ratho. However the City of Edinburgh Council who part funded the service had expressed concern about the removal of the Ratho stop and there had also been local concern in West Lothian with regards to the removal of stops at Mid and East Calder.

A delay in the commencement of the service had been agreed at a meeting of the Council Executive on 30th September 2008 in order to investigate the revision of the contract to allow some journeys to continue to serve Mid Calder, East Calder and Ratho thereby avoiding loss of service and funding from the City of Edinburgh Council.

A revised service timetable had now been drawn up and this was shown at Appendix 1 to the report.

Decision

1. Noted the contents of the report and that it be forwarded to the Council Executive with the recommendation it be approved;

2. That officers carry out a detailed passenger survey to verify passenger numbers using the service;

3. Provide City of Edinburgh Council with the required notification that future Health Link services would not serve the Ratho area;

4. Continue negotiations with the appropriate bus operators to resolve timetabling issues, including making bus departure times more routine;

5. Provide all elected members with revised timetabling details; and

6. Officers to seek an alternative solution for those residing in East and Mid Calder, as and when the direct bus service between St John’s Hospital and the ERI was introduced.

4. PROVISION OF ALLOTMENTS 45

A report by the Head of Property Services (which had been circulated) advised the members of the position with regard to the existing and possible future provision of allotments in the north of West Lothian.

The report advised that the council had an interest in only two allotment sites, one at Bridgend near Linlithgow and one at Deans, Livingston. The site at Bridgend was the larger of the two, extending to 6.48 acres, with the site at Deans extending to 0.86 acres.

Both sites had been in existence for a number of years and were entirely self managing without formal arrangements being in place, and any steps to correct the lack of arrangements would have to be carefully managed.

Given the lack of apparent demand, the existing allotment provision had been regarded as adequate to fulfil the council’s statutory duty. However recently there had been a relatively sudden increase in interest and activity in allotments and the most prominent was the establishment of the Linlithgow and District Allotments Society (LADAS), who had put forward a written submission outlining a proposal to establish a new allotment site on land in council ownership to the west of the playing fields at Linlithgow Leisure Centre.

Before agreeing to the establishment of new allotment provision it would be advisable to consider a range of issues, all of which were outlined in the report, and included funding, legislation, planning, and future management of allotments.

It was therefore suggested that a small working group from services within the council be formed to look at general policy issues concerning the establishment of allotment sites and to carry out a more detailed “desk-top” assessment of the site identified by LADAS. The working group would include representatives from LADAS. It was to be noted that the working group would be short term and would report its findings in the New Year.

Decision

1. To note the contents of the reports; and

2. For the Working Group to report its findings back to the Environment PDSP.