Report author: Douglas Chapman Tel: 0113 3787512

Report of Highways and Transportation

Report to Director of City Development

Date: October 2017

Subject: DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL – BUS SERVICES IN THE CROSS GREEN, EAST END PARK, SAXTON GARDENS AND RICHMOND HILL AREA

Are specific electoral wards affected? Yes No If yes, name(s) of ward(s): Burmantofts and Richmond Hill

Are there implications for equality and diversity and cohesion and Yes No integration?

Is the decision eligible for call-in? Yes No

Does the report contain confidential or exempt information? Yes No If relevant, access to information procedure rule number: Appendix number:

Summary of main issues

1. At Council on 13th September 2017, a deputation was received from residents in the Cross Green Richmond Hill, East End Park and Saxton Gardens areas of Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Ward regarding bus services in their communities. 2. Residents are experiencing an unreliable bus service that connects their communities to essential amenities in their local neighbourhoods and the city centre. Residents report gaps in services, which in turn impacts residents ability to have confidence they will be able to get to work and attend appointments as planned,

Recommendations

3. Council is requested to:

i) Note the content of this report;

ii) Acknowledge that further investigation work will be undertaken by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, who will also liaise with First West Yorkshire regarding the issues raised in the deputation; and

iii) Acknowledge WYCA’s offer to continue to follow up on the residents problems should they continue. 1. Purpose of this report

1.1 The purpose of this report is to respond to the deputation given to council in September regarding bus services in Burmantofts & Richmond Hill ward. 1.2 The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has provided a response for this report. The report will also detail how the council is addressing public transport in the city and how residents, across the district, can get involved in shaping the future of public transport.

2. Background information

2.1 A deputation was received by Council on 13th September 2017 regarding bus services in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill ward. Specific reference was made to bus services 15 and 61 which serve the communities of Cross Green, Richmond Hill, East End Park and Saxton Gardens. 2.2 Service 15 links these communities with Leeds City Centre and Old Farnley (service 11E provides this connection in the evenings and on Sundays, and terminates in Pudsey). The service is timetabled to operate every 30 minutes during the daytime (Monday to Saturday), whilst service 11E is hourly during the evenings and on Sundays. 2.3 Service 61 links Leeds City Centre to the John Charles Centre via St James’s hospital and communities in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill. This service is timetabled to operate hourly Monday to Saturday during the daytime. 2.4 Service 15 is operated by First Group on a commercial basis, whereas services 11E and 61 are operated under contract to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). First West Yorkshire hold the contract to operate services 11E and 61. 2.5 The local community have raised the issue previously with their local Councillors (Councillors Khan, Ragan and R. Grahame), who have been supportive in providing dialogue with First West Yorkshire (the bus operator). Following these discussions, residents report an initial improvement in the service, before the issues return. 2.6 Leeds City Council and WYCA have recently secured £173.5m to invest in public transport and ongoing dialogue between both organisations, and bus operators (e.g. First West Yorkshire) to improve public transport in the city. As such the Council launched a Transport Conversation in autumn 2016, which engages with residents and encourages dialogue about transport issues across the district.

3. Main issues

3.1 Residents of Cross Green, Richmond Hill, East End Park and Saxton Gardens are experiencing an unreliable bus service for routes 15 and 61. They often experience gaps in service (buses not turning up), which they report is having an negative impact on their employment opportunities, missing doctors and hospital appointments and connecting to local amenities (shops etc.). 3.2 The Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority are disappointed to hear about resident’s dissatisfaction with their local bus services. 3.3 The communities of Cross Green, East End Park, Saxton Gardens and Richmond Hill have high frequency services adjacent to their communities on the A64 York Road. However, these are not easily accessible to all residents of these communities, due to the distance from the A64 York Road or due to impairments affecting accessibility to bus stops. 3.4 As stated in the deputation the residents acknowledge the barriers they experience in accessing adjacent neighbourhoods and the city centre through barriers including major roads and the railway line. Thus, the bus network plays an important role in connecting these communities to the rest of the city.

Response from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) have provided a response, which has been included below, as they directly manage subsidised services and have a strong working relationship with the operators who run services within the city. 3.5 The response to the issues raised by the residents differs depending on whether the service is commercially operated (Route 15) or under contract to WYCA (Routes 11E and 61). 3.6 Route 15 is a commercially operated service by First West Yorkshire. WYCA have fed the information received from the deputation to the management team at the operator (First West Yorkshire). 3.7 First West Yorkshire inform WYCA that traffic congestion in the city has affected services over the past few months. In addition First West Yorkshire have had particular issues with vehicle breakdowns, which have now been resolved. 3.8 WYCA will monitor Route 15, as the deputation reported issues with specific services (e.g. the 16:07 from Leeds). Any issues we find will be raised with the management at First West Yorkshire, who are keen to work with WYCA to improve service punctuality and reliability. 3.9 Route 61 (and 11E) are operated under contract to WYCA. We will arrange for monitoring of these two services to ensure they are operating to time. Failure to do so can result in financial penalties. 3.10 WYCA also appreciate that the Cross Green and East End Park communities do not have access to high frequency bus services. This is a commercial decision by operators, and as there are already services in place it is not WYCA’s policy to fund service enhancements. As residents do not have access to such high frequency services it is important that these services operate reliably. 3.11 WYCA hope that the above actions will improve the reliability of the 11E, 15 and 61 routes. However, WYCA would like residents to contact them if they continue to have problems and will continue to monitor services.

Leeds Transport Conversation

Last autumn the City Council started a conversation about transport in the City. As part of the conversation officers from Transport Strategy visited all the community committees, along with local neighbourhood groups and user group to discuss transport and encourage engagement in the conversation. An excellent response was received from across the district with over 8,000 responses to the survey conducted providing a picture of transport patterns and aspirations of residents across the district. 3.12 The Leeds Transport Conversation that helped secure £173.5m of investment from Government and is being delivered through the Leeds Public Transport Investment Package. 3.13 This conversation continues, with colleagues again returning to local community committees to provide an update on the conversation and also discuss emerging proposals for the LPTIP where these are available. 3.14 We strongly encourage the residents of Richmond Hill & Burmantofts, and across the whole district, to engage with ourselves and WYCA to shape the future of public transport through the conversation.

Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme

3.15 Following the Government’s decision to refuse the New Generation Transport Proposal, Leeds City Council and WYCA have secured £173.5m for investment in public transport across the district. This money is being augmented by partners, such as First West Yorkshire who will be replacing most of their Leeds bus fleet over the next few years. 3.16 The money secured from Government will be spent through the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP). There are many work streams within the programme addressing a range of issues. Residents of Cross Green, East End Park, Saxton Gardens and Richmond Hill will benefit from:  Changes to the bus network: o Newer buses with added on-board features and cleaner engines; o Addressing bus reliability (a bus priority corridor (A58 north) has been identified, and includes Beckett Street past St James’ Hospital); o Increased passenger information displays at bus stop (including real time screens); o Community led projects (more details will emerge as this work stream of LPTIP progresses).  City Centre Gateways. These gateways will look to address bus journey times, improved waiting facilities along with providing an improved entrance/exit to the city centre. The gateways include: o Leeds Corn Exchange (which is a main interchange location and boarding/alighting point for Routes 15, 61 and 11E) o Also the Kirkgate / Lower Briggate area; o The Headrow; o Albion Street.

3.17 In addition First West Yorkshire held drop in events across the city (and in all Community Committee areas) during October 2017 to discuss investment into new vehicles, including input from passengers as to the interior design and features of the bus (seat material, audio-visual notifications, USB charging etc). 4. Corporate considerations

4.1 Consultation and engagement

4.1.1 There is no specific need to consult on the recommendations arising from this report, beyond the primary need to respond to the residents who brought the deputation to Council. 4.1.2 The Council welcomes and facilitates community engagement on transport. The Transport Conversation demonstrates how we are engaging with communities and residents to discuss their concerns, and problems, and identify solutions to transport issues, across all modes of transport. 4.1.3 Last autumn the City Council started a conversation about transport in the City. As part of the conversation officers from Transport Strategy visited all the community committees, along with local neighbourhood groups and user groups to discuss transport and encourage engagement in the conversation. An excellent response was received from across the district with over 8,000 responses to the online and paper survey conducted providing a picture of transport patterns and aspirations of residents across the district. 4.1.4 In Burmantofts and Richmond Hill a Transport Conversation workshop was held at the Inner East Community Committee (8th September 2016). An Officer also attended the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Community Leadership Team Meeting (13th September 2016) to discuss transport issues specific to the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill area, and fed these into the Transport Conversation. 4.1.5 Outcomes from the first phase of the Transport Conversation have been collated, and are informing the next stages of the Leeds Public Transport Programme. These will soon be available online on the Transport Conversation website. Officers from Transport Strategy will be returning to the Community Committees in November and December to provide an update on the Transport Conversation, what we’ve done over the past year and what will be happening next. 4.1.6 As specific schemes emerges from the LPTIP process further detailed consultation will be undertaken with stakeholders, including residents. Likewise any scheme and initiatives promoted by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will be consulted upon as appropriate with stakeholders. 4.1.7 We strongly encourage all residents to engage with the Transport Conversation. Updates, reports and how to engage with us and WYCA are available online at http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Leeds-transport-conversations.aspx.

4.2 Equality and diversity / cohesion and integration

4.2.1 An Equality, Diversity, Cohesion and Integration Screening has been undertaken and can be found in Appendix A.

4.2.2 Impacts on users have been identified, particularly for older and disabled people.

4.2.3 Regarding mitigation, WYCA have said they will monitor services in this area to ensure a reliable service is experienced by residents.

4.2.4 The Transport Conversation in autumn 2016 received input from the communities who brought this deputation and the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme will consider innovative solutions to transport provision. 4.2.5 Further provision of walking and cycling infrastructure to link communities more effectively by active modes is also being progressed, along a Bikeshare scheme.

4.3 Council policies and best council plan

4.3.1 The Best Council Plan 2017/18 has transport and infrastructure as a priority. Good and reliable bus services are essential to connect people and communities to employment, social and leisure locations along with reliable connections to local amenities (including to medical appointments). 4.3.2 The Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme will improve public transport within the city over the next few years and improve connectivity through faster journeys, in addition to improving air quality across the city through the introduction of newer cleaner buses. 4.3.3 There is also the emerging Transport Strategy for the city which has the best city ambitions at the core of its vision. These ambitions are for a prosperous, liveable and healthy Leeds. Reliable bus services are essential to facilitate a prosperous, sustainable economy for the city and region. Transport will enable Leeds to be more liveable through improving the city and district centres, along with access to a wider labour market and opportunities for skill development and education. A newer environmentally bus fleet will reduce air pollution, noise and carbon emissions.

4.4 Resources and value for money

4.4.1 There are no financial implications to Leeds City Council.

4.5 Legal implications, access to information, and call-in

4.5.1 There are no legal implications.

4.5.2 There is no exempt or confidential information.

4.5.3 The decisions are not eligible for call-in.

4.6 Risk management

4.6.1 There is no risk to the Council.

4.6.2 The recommendations relate to actions by partner organisations, and any issues arising from their monitoring will be addressed through the appropriate channels and as per their procedures.

5. Conclusions

5.1 The Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) are disappointed to hear about resident’s dissatisfaction with their local bus services. 5.2 Leeds City Council works closely with WYCA and bus operators with regards to bus services across the district. Dissatisfaction with the bus services is addressed by WYCA and the bus operators themselves, with the Council (Councillors and Officers) supporting investigations into issues as appropriate. 5.3 The recommendations are based on what actions WYCA and First West Yorkshire can undertake when they received reports of problems across the bus network from residents.

6. Recommendations

6.1 Council is requested to:

i) Note the content of this report;

ii) Acknowledge that further investigation work will be undertaken by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, who will also liaise with First West Yorkshire regarding the issues raised in the deputation; and

iii) Acknowledge WYCA’s offer to continue to follow up on the residents problems should they continue.

7. Background documents1

7.1 Inner East Community Committee Minutes (8th September 2016)

Leeds Transport Conversation (website http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Leeds-transport-conversations.aspx) Leeds Transport Strategy (Interim December 2016)

1 The background documents listed in this section are available to download from the Council’s website, unless they contain confidential or exempt information. The list of background documents does not include published works.