Agenda item

Enhanced partnership with local bus operators

To receive an update to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership concerning enhanced partnership with local bus operators.

Minutes:

The Panel considered a presentation included within the agenda which set out an update to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership on the activities of the Oxfordshire Strategic Transport Forum, a partnership of private sector transport companies, local authorities, and national bodies. The presentation included areas on which the Forum wished to work with the Partnership and the Infrastructure Advisory Group on in the future and current strategic items currently under discussion by the Forum.

 

Dave Harrison, Principal Public Transport Planner, Oxfordshire County Council in presenting the slides referred to the Bus Service Improvement Plan, (BSIP) which had been developed by the County Council and submitted to HM Government for consideration in October 2021. The BSIP set out Oxfordshire’s plans and asks of HM Government for a mixture of capital and revenue schemes aimed at improving bus services which as well as improvements in actual provision, also included proposals to improve operation of bus services, for instance through bus prioritisation schemes, bus ticketing and real time passenger information systems. The future approach of the County Council to the provision of bus services would be shaped by the outcome of HM Government’s decision on the proposed schemes within the Plan and the Plan also formed am important part of the wider Local Transport and Connectivity Plan. A decision from HM Government was expected soon. The Panel was also updated on plans to establish a bus Enhanced Partnership of local bus operators and the background to this.

 

In discussion, a number of members commented although real time passenger information tended to be provided in more urban locations, it was actually most needed by residents in more rural locations given the comparative infrequency of rural routes. Bus interchanges were also needed to help improve the convenience and attractiveness of bus travel for users switching between modes of transport. It was also felt that the majority of bus routes started and finished within the City of Oxford and that provision was significantly lower in the district areas. In these areas, ‘bookable bus services’ were being established as an alternative to traditional scheduled bus service provision and it was felt that consideration should be given to the representation from these operators on the bus Enhanced Partnership and a similar point was expressed with regard to providers of school bus services.

 

Concern was expressed with regard to the drop in bus passenger numbers post the Covid-19 pandemic which it was noted from the slides was averaging at 75% of pre-pandemic levels and which if not addressed had the potential to affect the commercial viability of many services. A discussion took place about the reasons for the drop in numbers which it was felt was linked to some continued concern regarding the Covid-19 safety of public transport and more long-term issues relating to potential shifts to home working. It was felt that more work needed to be done collectively to improve the attractiveness of bus travel to encourage modal shift away from the private car.

 

At the invitation of the Chair, Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and Chair of the Infrastructure Advisory Group addressed the Panel. Councillor Leffman stressed that HM Government’s decision on what parts of the BSIP it would fund was still awaited and therefore it was uncertain which schemes could be progressed, but regardless of the outcome of the BSIP process consideration was being given to next steps and priorities.  Oxfordshire County Council did want to ensure that there was involvement from all the districts, as well as Oxford City Council in discussions around bus infrastructure.

 

Councillor Leffman commented that the view of the Panel that bus travel needed to be made a more attractive option for travellers was fully recognised and amount of passenger traffic increased. There were challenges around funding and the commercial viability of some services given the expected termination of HM Government financial support for bus services put in place to support bus services through the pandemic. However, it was important to continue to encourage and sustain bus services and ways to do this were being looked at.

 

After further discussion it was,

 

RESOLVED: That the Future Oxfordshire Partnership be requested to:

 

1.     support the planning and delivery of real time passenger information system on an Oxfordshire wide basis, taking into account the difference in needs between rural and urban bus users and bus frequency.

 

2.     Investigate the potential of bus interchanges in encouraging greater use of buses, particularly off peak.

 

3.     support the acknowledgement within the Bus Service Improvement Plan and Enhanced Partnership of the comparative lack of scheduled bus provision within the districts to the City of Oxford.

 

4.     support the involvement of school bus providers within the Bus Service Improvement Plan and Enhanced Partnership.

Supporting documents:

 

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