1F RMBC TRANSPORT LIAISON GROUP - 28/09/11

RMBC TRANSPORT LIAISON GROUP Wednesday, 28th September, 2011

Present: - Councillor Smith (in the Chair); Councillo rs Atkin, Barron, Beaumont, Buckley, Burton, Falvey, Goulty, Pickering, Swift, Whelbourn and Wootton.

together with: -

Pam Horner SYPTE Andrew Shearer Transport Planner, RMBC Richard Simons First Adam Hawksworth First South Yorkshire Rupert Cox Yorkshire

9. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.

10. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for abs ence were received from: -

Stephen Hewitson Rotherham Community Transport Councillor Hodgkiss RMBC Ward 7 (Hoober) Councillor Pitchley RMBC Ward 6 (Holderness) Councillor Read RMBC Ward 20 (Wickersley) Councillor R. S. Russell RMBC Ward 11 (Rother V ale) David Stevenson Stagecoach East Midlands Councillor Whysall RMBC Ward 18 (Wales)

11. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 15TH JUNE, 2011

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 th June, 201 were agreed as a correct record.

12. ANY MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES (NOT COVERED BY THE AGENDA ITEMS)

There were no items arising from the previous minutes not covered by the agenda items.

13. UPDATES FROM THE TRANSPORT OPERATORS

The following reports were submitted: -

(i) First South Yorkshire

Richard Simons reported changes to services commencing 30/31 st October:-

Services 32 and 33 – Rotherham –Brinsworth –Treeton- Sheffield:- day time services Monday to Friday – frequency change from every 30 minutes to every RMBC TRANSPORT LIAISON GROUP - 28/09/11 2F

20 minutes.

Services 29 and 29a – Rotherham – Swallownest – Wales – Kiveton Park – Dinnington:- extended through to Meadowhall by combining with Services 5 (along Ferham Road/South Street, Rotherham). This provided passengers with the opportunity to travel through without changing buses and a link from South Street to the District General Hospital. This service would run ½ hourly during the day Monday to Saturday.

There were no changes in South Rotherham.

Brinsworth – Sheffield via the Parkway – journeys had been doubled to two journeys in each direction.

(ii) Northern Rail

There were no issues to report.

(iii) Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport

There were no issues to report.

(iv) Rotherham Community Transport

Members were invited to Rotherham Community Transport Annual Meeting being held on Wednesday, 19 th October, 2011. Contact: Stephen Hewitson – Tel: 01709 309810 for details.

(v) SYPTE

Pam Horner reported on the following:-

- Bus Service Update

TM Travel had made some small changes to services:-

Service 20 – Rotherham to Woodsets:- an additional journey Rotherham to Firbeck with return to Dinnington and out to Woodsets in the afternoon.

Route 66 – Sheffield – Rotherham:- an additional journey had been included along with some small timetable changes

Service A1 to Tinsley Park had been re-routed to serve Europa View for employees.

X12 an additional journey had been included.

Tates Travel :-

Service 57 (commercial service) had been re-routed between Rotherham and Eastwood via Doncaster Road (not Fitzwilliam Road)

Elected Members present commented on the following:-

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• Service 20 – serving Ulley and Slade Hooton – removal of first bus in the morning by TM Travel which meant that youngsters were unable to travel to College

It was explained that this was a result of the withdrawal of the rural bus subsidy grant. Usage was so very low it was difficult to justify the service under the current tender criteria.

It was agreed that SYPTE would re-examine this service and investigate whether the service could be adjusted in some way.

• Service 33 – Treeton area – incidences of buses not turning up in the early morning or being late

It was agreed that First South Yorkshire would investigate.

• Problems relating to a traveller with a mobility scooter wishing to travel by train.

It was explained that Northern Rail was not currently obliged to carry mobility scooters and would not allow certain types on board. Reference was also made to health and safety issues relating to batteries etc. Reference was made to Equalities Law, currently going through parliament, to clarify the position. Currently operators could not be forced to carry every type of aid. There were also capacity issues.

• Superb quality of care received on Service – Wickersley – Rotherham town centre – Catcliffe • Compliments about SYPTE Services and helpful staff, particularly Route 15 in Rotherham

It was reported that bus operators had invested in low floor buses etc and praise for the Service overall was welcomed.

It was agreed that SYPTE would re-issue the plastic cards, detailing contact numbers, to Elected Members.

- Rotherham Station

It was reported that work was progressing although not at the stage it should be at.

SYPTE would provide a further update shortly.

- Sheffield and South Rotherham Partnership

It was reported that 2 services had been introduced in Sheffield under the Optio Scheme which was part of an experimental opportunity in the current bus service legislation to encourage operators to work together to provide integrated ticketing and operate routes jointly.

SYPTE was monitoring the success and the comments received about the routes and it was hoped that there would be more in the future including the RMBC TRANSPORT LIAISON GROUP - 28/09/11 4F

South Rotherham area.

First South Yorkshire reporte d on the success of the trial and lessons learned. A second scheme was to be introduced in Sheffield at the end of October. If that was successful then it would be rolled out further across the area.

(vi) Stagecoach East Midlands

There were no issues to report.

(vii)

The following changes were reported:-

Service 108/109 Rawmarsh Circular – due to extreme traffic congestion experienced during October 2010 and January 2011 around Parkgate the frequency of this service would be reduced slightly to give journeys more time on Saturdays. The Service would operate every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes. The Monday to Friday timetable remained unchanged.

Service 200 which served the major employment areas in the Manvers area – increased coverage around the Wombwell town centre and quicker links with other routes in the Dearne as a result of a route change.

14. UPDATES FROM RMBC TRANSPORTATION UNIT

It was reported that the Local Sustainable Transport Fund was a national Government initiative/fund available over four years to promote sustainable transport, sustainable access to jobs and reduce carbon.

Reference was made to the funding bid criteria:- to stimulate economic growth, reduce carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases, to develop community participation and to identify and solve transport problems that affect local communities.

The four local authorities, and the SYPTE, had bid for £4.9m to improve access to work and promote sustainable journeys across South Yorkshire.

There were four packages in the bid:-

(i) enhance existing Wheels to Work project which enabled the hire of a motor scooter to facilitate entry to work or training. The criteria was strict and only the most disadvantaged could apply. There had been some relaxation of the scheme for the wider area to be targeted. The fund would enable more scooters to be purchased, including electric scooters.

(ii) Cycling package:- £2.7m for new cycling infrastructure and improving access by bike to employment.; cycle parking at Colleges, bike lane schemes and adult training.

Reference as made to the scheme with Ventura whereby workers were being given a month’s free cycle loan, including training and specialist support. At the end of the month employees could either 5F RMBC TRANSPORT LIAISON GROUP - 28/09/11

hand the bike back or purchase at a reduced rate.

(iii) Bus Job Connector Scheme:- £840,000 to extend a bus service in the Dearne Valley, particular to improve access from Grimesthorpe and .

(iv) Marketing and promotion of sustainable travel, awareness raising and support for the other three projects. Promotion of walking and cycling, use of public transport to access employment.

It was explained that the initial bid was the first part of the process with two options for local authorities:- (i) small bids or (ii) major schemes bid. It had been decided that initial proposals would be submitted for a larger bid and the DfT had asked that this be progressed into a Major Schemes Business Case to be submitted in December. Schemes would likely be to improve the key bus routes; access to employment projects; infrastructure; improvements to the South Yorkshire Intelligent Transport System to reduce congestion and carbon emissions; unlock development land; pilot electric vehicles; further promotion and marketing. A decision was expected in June 2012.

Members raised the following issues:-

• Was there any scope or plans to roll the programme out to schools to encourage children to start cycling?

It was explained that the funding criteria was not targeted at s chool pupils. However Local Transport Plan funding was available for Bikeability with Pedalready for schools for Years 5 and 6. Adult and Family Cycle training for parents and children was also promoted.

• The number of accidents to cyclists and prosecution of people parking over cycle lanes.

It was explained that serious injury accidents to cyclists reported to the Police were low. There were two types of cycle lane – mandatory which Parking Services can enforce, and advisory which were not enforceable.

15. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The following issues were reported: -

(i) it was reported that the SYPTE had sent correspondence on the Local Sustainable Transport Fund during the consultation.

(ii) report from the major political parties indicating their support for public transport, and acknowledgement that this region had a reasonable bus service whilst noting the situation with rural bus services.

RMBC TRANSPORT LIAISON GROUP - 28/09/11 6F

16. DATE, TIME AND VENUE FOR THE NEXT MEETING

Resolved: - That the next meeting of t he Panel be held on WEDNESDAY, 7 TH DECEMBER, 2011 at 2.00 p.m. – Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham. S60 2TH