BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP
23RD FEBRUARY 2006
The meeting commenced at 7.00pm and concluded at 10.00pm
Present:
Councillor Burden (Chairman) Councillors Adams (substituting for Councillor Gillard), Mrs Lavender, Mrs Moore (substituting for Councillor Knight) Mrs Stribley (substituting for Councillor Leverett) Trent, White (substituting for Councillor Gregory) and Miss Wilson.
Also attending
Councillors Belcham, Mrs Butt, Eades, Mrs Hillman, Matthews, Parker and Rampton
Members of the Public present – 16.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gillard, Gregory, Knight and Leverett (with the above substitutions).
2. MINUTES
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8th December 2005 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Adams declared a personal interest in Item 4 as his daughter was a user of the Fourways Day Centre.
Councillor Mrs Lavender declared a personal interest in Item 6 as a Ward Member.
The Chairman declared a personal interest in Item 7 as a Ward Member.
Councillor Mrs Moore declared a personal interest in Item 8 as a Ward Member.
1 4. PETITION FOR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE SHAH OF PERSIA
Steve Tite, Transportation Services, presented a report which considered a petition from the Poole Forum for people with learning difficulties for the provision of pedestrian crossing facilities at the Shah of Persia traffic signal junction referred from Council on 25th October 2005. The Petition had been co-ordinated by Poole Forum, which was a self-advocacy charity for people with learning difficulties. They were concerned that users of the Seaview Day Centre in Croft Road who wanted to travel independently on foot had to be transported by Social Services because of the risks associated with crossing at the Shah of Persia. Similarly, concerns had also been expressed in the past by users of the Fourways Day Centre on Constitution Hill Road and other students in the area. Background information was then provided on the history regarding this junction.
Members were advised that pedestrian crossing facilities could only be introduced within the current road layout by means of an “all red” to traffic stage, as there were no refuges which would enable pedestrian crossing movements to be separated. Unfortunately, this type of arrangement had significant adverse effects on the capacity of the junction when there was a pedestrian demand. In addition, works necessary to provide this type of function would cost approximately £75,000. Further options were then detailed to Members in respect of how traffic could be controlled through the junction.
In conclusion, Steve Tite, Transportation Services, stated that he felt the best way forward would be for officers to meet with the petitioners in order to determine an alternative way forward.
The Chairman introduced Ann Willis, Poole Forum for people with learning difficulties who then spoke to the Group on the importance of a safe crossing point being provided at this junction for people who needed to cross there. She added that users of the Day Centres in this area needed to cross at this junction on a daily basis and in addition, it was also an extremely difficult junction to cross at for many local elderly residents.
A local Ward Member together with the Travel Trainer employed by Transportation Services addressed the Group supporting the views expressed regarding this difficult/dangerous junction and supported any action towards providing a pedestrian crossing facility at this point.
A Member stated that this junction had been a cause for concern for local residents over many years and there still appeared to be no real solution. Reference was made to the possibility of a pedestrian “red” phase being implemented on the eastern side of Ringwood Road allowing right side pedestrian manoeuvres from Longfleet Road into Fernside Road (on demand).
The Chairman stated that it was crucial to talk to the users of this junction towards seeking other possible solutions.
2 Steve Tite, Transportation Services, stated that officers would undertake to investigate the possible solutions that had been suggested when they met with the users of this junction.
It was proposed and seconded that, as well as looking at alternative safe routes and crossing points, other “solutions” were also investigated as a matter of urgency. This was seconded and on being put to the vote, was duly carried.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that officers be asked to investigate as a matter of urgency alternative safe routes and crossing points or solutions with representatives of the Poole Forum and report back to a future meeting of this Group.
For: Unanimous
5. PETITION TO REDUCE SPEEDING ON BLANDFORD ROAD
Steve Tite, Transportation Services, presented a Report which considered a Petition presented to Council on 20th December 2005 by Councillor Gregory and referred to this Group for a speed reduction system near the Hamworthy Schools on Blandford Road.
The Section of Blandford Road between the Coles Avenue signals and the bridge approach mini roundabout was just over 1 kilometre long and had around 150 properties with direct frontage onto the road and also had a usage of 16,000 vehicles a day.
The road traffic collision records for the 4 year period up to the end of October 2005 indicated that there were 24 accidents resulting in personal injury along the road. Of these 24 recorded accidents, 4 were as a result of suspected inappropriate speed or vehicles suspected to be exceeding the speed limit.
Speed surveys carried out in July 2005 indicated that average vehicle speeds in Blandford Road were 28 mph. The survey also indicated that around two thirds of drivers were complying with the 30 mph speed limit which compared favourably with the national average figure of under 50% compliance with the limit of 30 mph on built up urban roads.
Between April 2004 and August 2005 the length of Blandford Road concerned was enforced as a permanent mobile speed camera site by the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership. This site was subsequently withdrawn from the Partnership’s approved list of enforcement sites in September 2005 as it no longer met the national agreed criteria for such enforcement.
Within the cycling and walking category of the capital programme there was a category to provide 20 mph zones outside Schools. This was approved by this Advisory Group in April 2005 and included a priority implementation list. Based on this priority list, the three Hamworthy Schools were programmed for consideration from 2007/08 onwards.
3 A Member stated that the new First School had had an impact on the problems associated with the lower end of Blandford Road and therefore he would urge action being taken before 2007/08.
In response to a Member question, Steve Tite, Transportation Services, advised that a complete analysis of injuries on Poole roads would be presented to a future meeting of this Advisory Group.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that the Petition be noted and that the petitioners be advised that their request will be taken into account when the 20 mph outside Schools programme considers it as part of the Hamworthy First and Middle Schools scheme in 2007/08.
For: Councillors Adams, Mrs Lavender, Mrs Moore, Mrs Stribley, Trent and Miss Wilson.
Against: Councillor White
(Councillor Burden did not vote on this item).
6. PETITION TO REDUCE SPEEDING IN GUEST AVENUE
Steve Tite, Transportation Services, presented a Report which considered a Petition to reduce speeding on Guest Avenue, which was presented to Council on 20th December 2005 by Councillor Brooke and referred to this Group.
Guest Avenue was just under half a kilometre in length and ran between Winston Avenue and Yarmouth Road. Around 70 properties had direct frontage onto the road with approximately 3,500 vehicles using the road daily. This compared with approximately 3,000 vehicles a day on Winston Avenue and over 6,000 vehicles per day on Yarmouth Road. It was noted that some of this traffic used Guest Avenue as a cut through to avoid congestion at Alder Road/Yarmouth Road. The road traffic collision records for the 4 year period up to the end of October 2005 indicated that there had been no accidents resulting in personal injury along the road. Speed surveys carried out in January 2006 indicated that average vehicle speeds in Guest Avenue were approximately 33 mph.
Members were advised that on the basis of the criteria by which the Road Safety Engineering programme was currently targeted, it was not possible to justify funding for any traffic calming measures in Guest Avenue at present. However, given the concerns expressed by residents, officers were proposing to pass this to the Road Safety Tasking and Co-ordinating Group for attention.
A Ward Member stated that Guest Avenue did have a speed problem and he added that this road was not supposed to be used as a distributor road as it was a local road. Therefore, he supported the petition for speed reducing measures on Guest Avenue.
4 A Member commented that this Road could benefit from some white line markings in order to slow vehicles down. This was felt worthy of pursuing through the appropriate Area Committee.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that:
(i) the concerns of the petitioners be noted and that they be advised that these will be forwarded to the Dorset Road Policing Unit and Dorset Safety Camera Partnership for speed enforcement; and
(ii) this matter be presented to the appropriate Area Committee for consideration of appropriate white line road markings.
For: Unanimous
(Councillor Burden did not vote on this item)
7. PETITION REGARDING BUS SERVICES FROM WATERLOO ESTATE
John McVey, Passenger Transport Manager, presented a Report which considered a petition to reinstate the bus service between Waterloo Estate and Bournemouth and to reinstate the diversion of Services 132/133 into Tesco at Fleetsbridge, which was presented to Council on 20th December 2005 by Councillor Brooke and referred to this Group.
Service 108 replaced Services 109 and 110 from 28th August 2005. Service 109 operated between Corfe Mullen and Bournemouth via Waterloo Estate. The replacement Service 108 provided a much requested link between Broadstone and Canford Heath but missed Waterloo Estate. As a result, residents could now only access the Bournemouth Service by walking to Lower Blandford Road which was approximately half a mile away from the estate.
In response to the Petition, Wilts and Dorset had stated that they were reviewing all of the routes in Poole at the moment and they would consider the needs of Waterloo Estate residents when planning their commercial network. Therefore, officers were suggesting that should Wilts and Dorset not be able to meet the request from Waterloo Estate residents, then this matter would be considered by the “Route and Branch” Member Group who would shortly be reviewing the network.
Wilts and Dorset’s revisions in August 2005 also included changes to the Poole to Wimborne Services 132/133 which was simplified to improve reliability. Both Services had previously operated via Tesco at Fleetsbridge but this diversion had now been removed. The majority of Waterloo Estate residents did have the alternative of Service 131 which operated every half an hour and diverted into Tesco at Fleetsbridge. However, this did not serve Milne Road where there were a number of older persons residences. Therefore, officers were suggesting that Wilts and Dorset be asked to re-route Service 131 to operate from Hillbourne Road via Kitchener Crescent and Milne Road in order to resolve this.
5 At the invitation of the Chairman, Mrs Anne Smillie spoke in support of the Petition stating that currently, residents’ needs were not being met and therefore she sought Members to support the Petition’s request for a direct service between Waterloo Estate and Bournemouth and also the re-routing of Service 131.
John McVey, Passenger Transport Manager, advised Members that Wilts and Dorset would shortly be looking to review the bus network and it was pleasing to note that they had invited the Council to be part of these confidential reviews. In addition, the Council would be undertaking their own review through the “Route and Branch” Member Group and it was suggested that the petitioners be kept fully informed of progress made through this Group.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that:-
(i) should Wilts and Dorset Bus Company not be able to meet the request from Waterloo Estate residents, that the provision of a direct service between Waterloo Estate and Bournemouth be considered by the “Route and Branch” review of the network to be undertaken by a Working Party of Members later in the Spring; and
(ii) Wilts and Dorset be asked to re-route Service 131 to operate from Hillbourne Road via Kitchener Crescent and Milne Road to reinstate the service to Tesco at Fleetsbridge.
For: Unanimous
(Councillor Burden did not vote on this item).
8. PETITION FOR THE REDUCTION OF SPEEDS ON CULLIFORD CRESCENT, CANFORD HEATH
Steve Tite, Transportation Services, presented a Report which considered a Petition to reduce vehicle speeds on Culliford Crescent, which was presented to Council on 25th October 2005 by Councillor Mrs Moore and referred to this Group.
Culliford Crescent was just over 1 kilometre in length and ran in a largely east- west loop from Canford Heath Road back down to its roundabout with Adastral Road. It served the Canford Heath Neighbourhood Centre and over a dozen residential culs-de-sac. The road layout showed a series of gradual bends with junctions every 80-120 metres. Traffic flows within the road ranged from 2,500 vehicles a day in the section between Knowlton Road and Pimperne Close up to around 10,000 a day on the busiest section outside the Neighbourhood Centre. This compared with over 23,000 vehicles per day on Canford Heath Road.
The road traffic collisions record for the 4 year period up to the end of October 2005 indicated that there had been 6 slight injury accidents resulting in 9 slight casualties along the length of the road. Speed surveys carried out in August 2004 indicated that average vehicle speeds in Culliford Crescent were around 32 mph. These surveys were repeated in late November 2005 and showed little change.
6 Members were advised that a suitable location had now been found for a SID sign 50 metres west of the Knowlton Road junction in the verge by the open space. This would activate for east bound vehicles and would display a 30 mph roundel. In response to a Member question, Members were advised that it was hoped this would be in position before the end of March 2006.
At the invitation of the Chairman, a Ward Councillor addressed the Group stating that he was delighted to hear that the SID sign would shortly be installed. He stated that Culliford Crescent did suffer from speeding vehicles adding that this appeared to increase daily.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that:-
(i) the Petitioners concerns be acknowledged and that they be advised that the cost of installing traffic calming measures unfortunately could not be justified; and
(ii) Members noted the imminent installation of the speed indicator device as detailed above.
For: Unanimous
(Councillor Burden did not vote on this item).
9. SCALE OF CHARGES 2006/07
Steve Tite, Transportation Services, presented a Report which considered the scale of charges for 2006/07.
Members were advised that as well as car parking charges a number of additional charges were also made in undertaking services delivered by Transportation Services, these included:-
Miscellaneous fees and licences Parking permits Adoption agreements for new highways Dial-a-Bus fares Taxi licensing
As part of its corporate finance strategy the Council had set a target for raising income for next year by 2%.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that:-
(i) the scale of charges contained within Appendix A to the Report be approved; and
(ii) in the case of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licences these proposed charges be advertised.
7 For: Unanimous
10. OBJECTIONS TO TRAFFIC REGLATION ORDERS – CASTLE STREET
Steve Tite, Transportation Services, presented a report which considered the response to the advertisement of the proposed amendment of the one way restriction in Castle Street.
On 13th October 2005 this Advisory Group approved a package of improvements to the Quay visitors car park. The improvements involved alterations to allow traffic to enter the car park directly from Strand Street. The Section of Castle Street alongside the car park would need to revert to two way in order to facilitate this and the Order was therefore advertised in December. One letter of objection had been received.
The proposals as advertised aimed to provide a more convenient route into the car park for drivers who had arrived from the Quay so that they could avoid having to drive in via the High Street and the northern section of Castle Street. Castle Street would be narrowed to the north of the new No Entry point in order to discourage abuse of the one way restriction.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that the Order to amend the one-way restriction in Castle Street be made as advertised.
For: Unanimous
(Councillor Burden did not vote on this item).
11. ROAD SAFETY SCHEMES
Steve Tite, Transportation Services, presented a report which considered three road safety schemes within the 2005/06 Capital Programme.
Members received a report on the refurbishment of the Bus Station at the meeting of this Advisory Group on 13th October 2005. It was clear at this M Meeting that, due to Grosvenor Investment Limited only being able to offer a much reduced contribution to the work, a revised agreement with Wilts and Dorset buses would need to be negotiated. Unfortunately it had not been possible to conclude this and therefore it was now necessary to re-allocate the remaining £195,000 allocation.
The traffic signal junction at Ashmore Avenue/Blandford Road currently had “pelican” type facilities which did not currently extend the crossing time for pedestrians. Parents of school children attending the nearby Hamworthy Schools had long protested that given the amount of pedestrians using this junction at peak times, there was insufficient time for pupils to cross.
Members were advised that there had been an outstanding request for a pedestrian facility on Waterloo Road between Sopers Lane and Darbys Corner since March 1998. In addition, local Councillors had received requests for a crossing point
8 at the traffic signal junction at Waterloo Road/Sopers Lane from Parkstone Grammar School where there was no pedestrian facility. Therefore, it was being proposed to refurbish the junction, replace the controller and install staggered pedestrian crossing facilities across Waterloo Road. This work would also include altering the phasing of the signals in order to accommodate this pedestrian phase.
There were currently 15 sites across the Borough of Poole around which three existing SID signs were rotated on a 5 weekly basis. In addition, there were two new sites proposed for SID signs and Members were then provided with a list of all of the 17 identified sites. On considering the sign locations, “Springfield Road” was deleted and replaced with “Danecourt Road”.
In response to Members’ questions regarding the inclusion of additional sites (Rosemary Road, Queen Anne Drive/Lynwood Drive). Steve Tite, Transportation Services advised that it was intended that Area Committees would shortly be consulted with regard to potential sites for SID signs.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that the following safety schemes be approved for implementation:-
(i) the installation of pedestrian friendly PUFFIN facilities at the junction of Ashmore Avenue and Blandford Road near the Hamworthy Schools;
(ii) the purchase of 14 additional speed indicator devices (SIDs) so that every current rotation site had a permanent site at each location, to also include two new SID sites being established; and
(iii) the decision be reaffirmed to implement the inclusion of a pedestrian crossing facility at the Waterloo Road/Sopers Lane traffic signal junction, near Parkstone Grammar School, for completion within the current financial year.
For: Unanimous
Councillor Trent was not present for this vote.
(Councillor Burden did not vote on this item).
12. CHANGES TO LICENSING CONDITIONS FOR HACKNEY AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES
Nick Phillips, Transportation Services, presented a report which considered proposed changes to the licensing conditions for Hackney Carriage (taxi) and Private Hire vehicles in the Borough.
The Borough of Poole licensed the Town’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers, the vehicles they drove and the companies they work for as a public safety function. The road worthiness of the vehicle was of primary concern and current licensing conditions stated that hackney and private hire vehicles were subject to
9 age restrictions and were also tested more often than a private car. This reflected the fact that these vehicles were more intensively used and members of the public were being carried. A typical Poole taxi covered on average 45,000-50,000 miles per annum which was over four times the average for an ordinary family car.
A review prompted by the closure of the Council’s MOT facility at Hatch Pond had now led to a proposal that additional tests be introduced for older vehicles and also to reduce the age limit for the first licensing of a vehicle from 6 years to 5. The existing upper age limit of 8 years would remain. This would help to further reduce the average age of taxis and private hire vehicles in Poole which at present was a commendable 3½ years. Detailed proposals for licensed vehicle MOT’s were then considered by the Group.
With regard to advertising, requests had been received from the trade to allow advertising on the inside of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles. This could potentially embrace advertising mediums as diverse as headrest/seat covers through to multi-media applications. An application had already been received for a DVD based system which would advertise local businesses. This Group have previously authorised overall external advertising on hackney carriages which had met with approval from the trade. It was now being suggested that outline approval be given to the concept and individual schemes which would be reviewed by the Head of Transportation Services. Details of these were provided to Members via an Appendix to the Report.
With regard to external advertising on Private Hire cars, vehicles may at present display the operator’s telephone number in the front and rear windscreens and it was now proposed to remove this for safety reasons. Customers would still be able to identify the cars from the operator signs on the rear passenger doors.
In response to a question raised regarding “smoking restrictions” in Hackney Carriage and Private Hire cars, Nick Phillips, Transportation Services advised that currently, drivers were able to smoke but could be asked to refrain by their customers. A Member referred to the current legislation regarding the banning of smoking in public places and questioned whether this could have implications within hackney carriage/private hire vehicles. Nick Phillips, Transportation Services, undertook to investigate this further at the next meeting with the Taxi Trade.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that, from 1st March 2006:-
(i) the permitted age of first licensing for hackney and private hire vehicles is reduced from 6 years to 5;
(ii) the frequency and validity of MOTs for licensed vehicles are amended as proposed;
(iii) advertising within hackney and private hire vehicles be permitted subject to conditions; and
10 (iv) private hire vehicles be no longer permitted to display their operator’s telephone numbers in the front/rear windscreens.
For: Councillors Adams, Burden, Mrs Lavender, Mrs Moore, Mrs Stribley, White and Miss Wilson.
Against: None
Abstention: Councillor Trent
13. RESULTS OF LOCAL BUS SERVICE TENDERING
John McVey, Passenger Transport Manager, presented a report which recommended action to be taken following the re-tendering of three local bus service contracts and considered the withdrawal of Service 147.
The Transportation Advisory Group at its meeting in October 2005 was informed of major local bus service revisions which had recently been introduced by Wilts and Dorset Bus Company. Members were asked to support the emergency action taken by the Head of Transportation Services following the changes. This included the letting of a number of temporary local bus service contracts. At that meeting, Members asked for a thorough review of all local bus service tenders and therefore established a Working Group to undertake this. The majority of the local bus service contracts were due to expire on 31st March 2006, however, to enable a thorough “Route and Branch” review of the Network by the Working Group of Members, these had now been extended for a six month period to 30th September (this excludes the local school bus contracts which have been extended to the end of the Summer Term 2006). In addition, it would be necessary to make significant savings to the bus subsidy budget during 2006 in order to meet savings identified within the Council’s Budget Strategy.
Members were then provided with details on the results of the tendering exercise regarding the following contracts:-
contract LB28, Service 128 contract LB60 - Route 8 (formerly 168/169) contract LB01, Service 147 contract LB96, Route 1
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that:-
(i) for Service 128, a six month experimental contract be let in order to assess demand and that this be a Monday to Saturday Service;
(ii) for Service 8, a 5 year contract be awarded to Roadliner passenger transport at £60,840 (less fares revenue of £20,000- £25,000);
(iii) the contract for Service 147 be not renewed after 31st March 2006 offering a saving of £13,678; and
11 (iv) for Route 1:-
(a) the existing contract for an off-peak service with Wilts and Dorset Bus Company be continued;
(b) no further action be taken to vary the route from Churchfield Road to Parkstone Road; and
(c) the fare from 1st April 2006 be increased from 50p to £1 for the all day “hop-on, hop-off” ticket and a new Adult Single fare of 50p be introduced. Unaccompanied child fare – 50p all day “hop-on, hop off” and 25p single ticket. Up to two children accompanied by a fare paying adult or a “Connect” concessionary travelcard holder to travel free of charge.
For: Unanimous
14. PATIENT TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP WITH POOLE GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS TRUST
John McVey, Passenger Transport Manager, presented a report which updated Members on the partnership arrangement with Poole General Hospital NHS Trust for the use of the Council’s in-house fleet of accessible buses to assist with non-emergency patient transport.
In its Report “Making the Connections”, the Social Exclusion Unit identified deficiencies in patient transport services. Nationally, over 1.4M people miss, turn down or choose not to seek healthcare because of transport problems. This could have significant impact upon areas such as “bed blocking” for which transport could help by ensuring discharges were undertaken in a timely fashion. The Audit Commission’s Report “Going Places” highlighted that 24% of NHS acute Trusts described transport as a primary source of delay in discharging patients.
Published guidance for the second Local Transport Plan recommended Authorities to explore the scope of co-ordinated transport services with health care provision. Consultation with Poole General Hospital and Dorset Ambulance NHS Trust identified that there were peak periods of demand when they had difficulty providing non-emergency patient transport. A pilot arrangement was introduced in August 2005 initially for three months but subsequently extended until the end of March 2006. This arrangement was to provide a fully accessible mini bus with a trained driver for 4 hours a day. Capacity existed to achieve this within the Council’s in-house fleet in the middle part of the day where a number of vehicles became available between Social Services Day Care transport runs. An hourly rate to cover the costs of the driver and a contribution to vehicle costs were agreed for the trial. The pilot had proved to be very successful and a monitoring exercise undertaken over a 12 week period identified an average of over 22 patients per week and further details were presented to Members on the benefits achieved.
12 In conclusion, the arrangement had produced a net contribution to Borough of Poole vehicle costs equivalent to approximately £3,000 per annum. Therefore, Members were being asked to support a one year continuation of the arrangement to 31st March 2007.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends the continuation of the partnership arrangement for a further 12 month period to 31st March 2007.
For: Unanimous
15. “CONNECT” FREE TRAVEL CONCESSIONARY FARES SCHEME
The Chairman commenced by advising Members that the Portfolio Holder Decision made on 15th February 2006 regarding this matter was now subject to “call- in” and would be dealt with by the Service Provision Scrutiny and Audit Committee in the normal way. However, the Portfolio Holder had agreed that the Transportation Advisory Group should be given the opportunity to discuss the content of this Report.
Jim Bright, Head of Transportation Services, advised that this had originally been presented to this Advisory Group on 10th November 2005. A number of actions had followed following this involving several meetings with bus operators. Members were reminded that this Scheme would necessitate the issuing of 19,000 passes and the Authority were committed to have a scheme in place for 1st April 2006. He advised Members that Bournemouth Borough Council had approved this scheme earlier this week.
The Portfolio Holder made reference to the current “call-in” which largely raised concerns regarding the proposed a.m. time restriction of 09:30 hours.
In response to a question raised by the Portfolio Holder, Jim Bright, Head of Transportation Services stressed the point that an agreed Scheme for the conurbation needed to be in place for 1st April 2006 and non-compliance of this would mean failure in achieving legislative requirements. In order to demonstrate the tight timescales involved, Members were advised that details of the Scheme were published on 1st December 2005 and local Authorities had to negotiate any variations to the scheme with operators one month before the 1st April 2006 implementation date. However, to assure Members, Jim Bright, Head of Transportation Services stated that the Scheme was still being “fine tuned” and adjustments would be made as appropriate as the Scheme progressed.
A Member stated that he still had concerns that a huge proportion of Poole residents still needed to use public transport in order to travel to Bournemouth for medical appointments, so the 09:30 hour restriction could have significant implications.
In order to address the concerns expressed by Members, it was agreed that officers investigate all possible solutions with the Bus Company and/or Bournemouth Hospital (whichever was achievable) towards a reimbursement package or the provision of later appointments. In addition, in order to fully monitor the proposed Scheme, it was also suggested that a joint Scrutiny Committee be held with
13 Bournemouth Borough Council once the scheme had been in operation for six months in order to scrutinise the effectiveness of the Scheme.
This Transportation Advisory Group recommends that:-
(i) officers seek, as a matter of urgency, to explore all options with Wilts and Dorset Bus Company and Bournemouth Hospital towards a solution regarding early hospital appointments that would be affected by the 09:30 hour time restriction; and
(ii) a joint Scrutiny Committee be convened with Bournemouth Borough Council after the scheme had been in operation for six months in order to scrutinise the effectiveness of the scheme.
For: Unanimous
CHAIRMAN
14