Agenda item
Bus Service Improvement Plan Officer decisions February 2024
To note decisions taken by the Strategic Officer of Infrastructure - February 2024:
WESTlocal: Project Initiation and Approval of Funding for the Project
Minutes:
The Chair invited the BSIP Programme Manager and the Interim Head of Integrated Transport to give a presentation to the Committee. The Chair said that he was interested to know what the outcomes of the Committee decisions were going to be as we moved towards June Committee and the BSIP re-set.
As background, West of England BSIP had been shared with Joint Committee in October 2021 ahead of submission to the Department for Transport (DfT). In April 2022 we received confirmation of the bid success and in July 2022 Committee approved the acceptance of the bid and gave delegations to Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) Directors of Infrastructure & Resources and NSC Director of Infrastructure. In Autumn/Winter 2022/3 the governance process was established to ensure clarity of decision making and consultation. The BSIP programme is from 2022-2025.
Officers explained that in accordance with this, the Director Decision Notices (signed by the 3 Directors with delegations) are put into the public domain once approved and shared with BSIP Programme Board ahead of formal approval. Once the DDN is approved, detailed delivery commences. The monthly BSIP Programme Board gives a platform for input from the Unitary Authorities as well as internal stakeholders. The team have also held workshops with the UAs to help to shape it.
In relation to upcoming DDNs, these include: Regional Transport Brand – the roll out of WEST branding on bus stop flags and timetables across the CA/NSC area, websites and buses, this had been consulted several times with UA/LTA officers as well as through the Enhanced Partnership process; and the Fares Package 3 – the final round of fares packages to support publicly funded bus services in the region and encourage patronage growth. These DDNs have been advertised, but require further work before completion. They have been consulted on with all UAs.
In terms of next steps, there is a request by DfT to do a refresh of the policy document that BSIP is based on. This provides an opportunity to revisit this and to make it into a policy document. The BSIP programme is now in full scale delivery, however it does have to go through the Enhanced Partnership process in early May for submission on 12 June 2024.
Summary of comments from Members:
§ Members requested that in order to scrutinise the programme, they would like to receive monthly information on BSIP. The team confirmed that they would share the programme report which would show, for instance, WESTlink patronage levels.
§ Officers confirmed that what they would be submitting in June would not be a radical departure from the existing programme. Passenger information, the core bus network and where they are promoting services, will be adjusted but not fundamentally changed.
§
Officers explained that community
transport was supported by Levy funding and that the WESTlocal bid is an initiative that was signed off
by DfT and has strict rules. BSIP money
cannot be used to fund community transport. It is quite challenging for local communities to
create something which is quite complex. The Combined Authority’s role is to try and
step in to facilitate something which was locally
driven.
§ In relation to Real time information (RTI) it was acknowledged that this is at the heart of customer confidence, otherwise they lose faith in the process and use other modes of transport available to them. There needs to be a consistency between the digital screens at bus stops and operator apps. More people are getting their journey information via apps.
§ Officers confirmed that addressing the lack of shelters, digital screens and timetables and the overall re-branding are part of the Capital programme under CRSTS.
§ It was highlighted that as the travel to work area is extensive across the West of England (WoE) it is important to look at the wider geographic picture. Officers confirmed that they also work with colleagues in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and attend their meetings to ensure that they work together in a co-ordinated way.
§ In relation to RTI there are a multitude of different steps in producing data, officers said that in the short term they have worked with First to put more staff behind the scenes. In the longer term there is a project which would pull together all the different transport apps into one and the hope is that this will be part of the solution.
§ Officers were asked if the BSIP refresh would be a CA committee decision - officers said that this had to be submitted by 12 June 2024 which is before the June committee. However, they reassured members that they would work through the Enhanced Partnership process and with relevant UA officers.