Business Plan and Articles of Association 2019/2020
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Risborough Area Community Bus BUSINESS PLAN FY 2019/2020 01 Jun 2019 INTRODUCTION 1. Risborough Area Community Bus (RACB) was set up in 2010 by Risborough Area Community Action (RACA) and is currently represented on Risborough Area Partnership (RAP), the successor to RACA. RACB operates as a Company Limited by Guarantee and as a registered charity. It provides a “Hail and Ride” scheduled service to carry people in the residential areas of Princes Risborough and Monks Risborough and the villages of Bledlow, Bledlow Ridge, Longwick, Speen, Lacey Green, Loosley Row, Askett, the Kimbles (Great & Little Kimble), Ellesborough, Butlers Cross and Terrick, to and from the centre of Princes Risborough. The current timetable came into effect on 1 October 2018. The timetable is given at Annex A. The bus also provides a feeder service to both train and major bus services through the town. National Concessionary Bus Passes are accepted. Children age 16 and under are carried for free. 2. When not in use during evenings, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and on Sundays, the bus is available for use by local non-profit making groups with priority being given to the disabled and disadvantaged. Additionally, RACB organises outings to local places of interest. MISSION STATEMENT 3. Risborough Area Community Bus (RACB) is dedicated to providing low floor, easily accessible transport in and around Princes Risborough and surrounding villages for all those, of all ages, inadequately served by public transport. LEGAL FRAMEWORK 4. Risborough Area Community Bus is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee (No: 7150185). 5. Risborough Area Community Bus is a Registered Charity. (No: 1136169). 6. Risborough Area Community Bus is a member of the Community Transport Association (CTA). (Membership No: 95674). DISSOLUTION 7. In the event of dissolution, assets after debts and liabilities have been paid will be transferred in accordance with the requirements of the Company Limited by Guarantee Articles of Association. OPERATING LICENCE 8. Risborough Area Community Bus operates under Section 22 of the Transport Act 1985. The current permit No. is CB 001212. VEHICLE 9. A Bluebird Tucana minibus was bought in May 2010 and sold in May 2016 to a community bus service called Ourbus in the Bartons, Oxfordshire. A new Mercedes Sprinter low-floor Community Bus for RACB was purchased in March 2016 courtesy of a substantial grant from the Department for Transport resulting from a successful bid in 2014/15 to their Community Transport Minibus 2 Fund. Extras for the bus were made possible by a further award from the North West Chilterns Local Area Forum. The Sprinter has seats for up to 15 passengers and has a low entry floor with easy access for the disabled and for shopping trolleys, buggies and walking aids. It is capable of carrying an occupied wheelchair, fully secured by 4 floor restraints and lap/shoulder strap. MANAGEMENT 10. Overall control of RACB is exercised by a Board of Directors/Trustees, currently with 8 members, under the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Risborough Area Community Bus. The Board of Directors/Trustees is responsible for setting the overall strategy for RACB and for ensuring RACB meets the legal requirements of Companies House and the Charity Commissioners. 11. Management of services is exercised by a Management Committee, currently with 11 members of whom 7 are active drivers. The Committee meets 6 times per year at 2 monthly intervals. The Management Committee is fully accountable at all times to the RACB Board of Directors/Trustees. The RACB Board of Directors/Trustees has the power to appoint, override, amend, or dismiss the RACB Management Committee. 12. The Management Committee manages all day-to-day operations including route selection and implementation; bus maintenance; recruitment, selection, training, certification and management of volunteer drivers; scheduling of drivers on service routes, group usage and outings; marketing and publicity for RACB; ensuring that the health & safety of passengers and drivers is maintained at all times to the highest possible standard; liaison with the Community Transport Association (CTA), the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Local Authority to ensure legality and continuity of operation. 13. The Management Committee manages financial matters including the maintenance of a financial plan; setting, collecting and accounting of cash fares; collection and accounting of cash donations; managing accounts wisely, legally and efficiently; facilitating an annual examination by a “Qualified Person”; managing investments to maximise income whilst minimising risk; ensuring adequate and comprehensive insurance cover for bus and drivers, including personal indemnity cover. 14. The Management Committee provides administrative functions including the appointment and remuneration of a Coordinator; the appointment and remuneration of an accountant; drawing up an annual Business Plan for consideration by the Board of Directors; maintaining data on bus operations; planning and execution of meetings. 15. A list of the Board of Directors/Trustees is given at Annex B together with the composition of the Management committee. The relationship between the Directors/Trustees, Management Committee and other volunteers is shown at Annex E. STAFFING 16. Day-to-day co-ordination of bus operations is carried out by a paid self-employed co-ordinator. 17. A High Wycombe-based firm of accountants is remunerated to ensure compliance with all relevant financial regulations. 3 VOLUNTEERS 18. The Board of Directors/Trustees and the Management Committee are volunteers; a list of them is shown at Annex B. 19. A pool of approximately thirty volunteer drivers are trained on the company’s minibus having first passed the Minibus Drivers’ Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) course. All drivers undertake a MiDAS course every 4 years and are also refreshed biennially by a MiDAS-qualified instructor. All volunteer drivers meet together biannually for update briefings on policy and operations. First Aid courses are also provided for volunteer drivers. FINANCIAL PLANNING 20. The projected budget for the Financial Year 2018/19 is set out in Annex C 21. Bus running costs are based on: a. 26,000 miles. (25,000 miles on scheduled service; 1000 miles on Group Use/RACB Outings and miscellaneous). b. Diesel consumption at 20 mpg, (7.0 kilometres per litre). c. Diesel price £1.30 net of refundable VAT per litre. d. 94% of passengers travel with Concessionary Passes. e. Concessionary Pass remuneration is approximately 50% of the published fare. f. The Bus Service Operators’ Grant (BSOG) being 34.57p per litre. 22. Users of the bus are charged a fare of £1.50 per single journey within Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough and Longwick, and £2 per single journey to and from Bledlow, Bledlow Ridge, Speen and the Kimbles. All children aged 16 and under travel free on all routes. Income from fare collection (including from the rebate on concessionary fares) is based on: a. 400 single fares each week within Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough and Longwick including 45 single fares each week to and from Bledlow, Bledlow Ridge, Speen, Askett and the Kimbles/Ellesborough. c. To allow for Public Holidays a notional year comprising of 50 weeks. 23. Group Use charges are £5 per hour, minimum £25, plus £1 per mile. Projected income from Group Use in Annex C is based on 2 tasks per month generating an estimated gross income of £1500 during the year. The Chairman Management Committee, Treasurer and Coordinator together have discretion to offer a discounted rate in special circumstances. 24. RACB Organised Outings, based on an average of 2 outings per month are expected to generate an estimated gross income of £2000 during the year. 4 25. Bus depreciation has been set at 25% per year. The current residual value of the bus is estimated at around £35,000. A reserve fund has been set aside to offset depreciation and provide for a replacement minibus in approximately 3 years’ time. MARKETING PLAN 26. RACB has developed a marketing strategy designed to ensure continuity of the service at or above current passenger demand. Day-to-day marketing is exercised by: a. the Risborough Area Partnership via the Risborough Area Portal b. distribution of leaflets and timetables. c. County, District and Parish Councils’ magazines. d. Chiltern View Magazine. e. the RACB web-site. f. local media. g. electronic displays in local doctors' surgeries and the local library. h. one-to-one promotion at local public events. MONITORING 27. The Board of Directors/Trustees review the service at least half-yearly to evaluate how passenger requirements are being met and how improvements to the service can be considered, agreed and implemented. Passengers are consulted by questionnaire at least once every two years. 28. The Board of Directors/Trustees monitor the financial situation at least quarterly. EVALUATION 29. Experience gained and data collected over the past 9 years show that the original business plan for RACB was entirely valid. The Board of Directors/Trustees believe that customer demand for RACB services will continue unabated for the foreseeable future. 30. There is potential for an expansion of housing in and around Princes Risborough suggesting that demand for community bus services could increase. Trustees of Risborough Area Community Bus have made it clear that they would only consider the possibility of taking on new or significantly extended routes subject to the following provisos: a. RACB's current bus is already fully committed; new or significantly extended services would require the provision of a second bus; and 5 b. because RACB relies totally on volunteer drivers, services can only be provided at off-peak times (between 0900 and 1630) during weekdays and Saturdays. There are also likely to be lower subsidies available from local authorities for commercial bus services in the future requiring community bus services such as RACB to increase their operations.