Agenda item

            The Board was advised that the Halton Community Transport (HCT) Scrutiny Topic Group was set up to review the operations of, and services provided by, HCT including identification of funding streams which contributed toward HCT’s overall operations and service delivery. Another focus of the Group was to consider the potential social inclusion benefits that the services operated by HCT provided to its users and the impact on these users should services discontinue.

            It was reported that four meetings of the Group had taken place and a brief explanation of the discussions at each of these meetings was outlined to Members. Following the meetings and the information provided, the Topic Group agreed the following recommendations in order to strengthen HCT’s operations:-

·         Procedures to be put in place for restricting the number of hours to be worked by voluntary drivers. As volunteer drivers were not governed by the working time directive comprehensive paper records were required to be held as confirmation that excess hours were not being worked by volunteers. Volunteers should work to the same conditions (maximum allowed hours) as contracted/paid drivers;

·         Mileage log sheets should be issued on each vehicle and completed by drivers prior to and at the end of each shift;

·         Vehicle daily “walk around” check sheets should be issued and retained on each vehicle. Drivers should complete a check sheet prior to taking any vehicle out at the start of a shift. Each vehicle should be issued with a pad of numbered sheets to be used;

·         Vehicle scheduling system and vehicle tracking devices to be installed and used on all vehicles operating Council funded services. This would ensure that routes are schedule to maximum effect in terms of route planning and maximising passenger usage, it would also ensure that vehicles are tracked in real-time in order that each vehicle location would be known at all times; and

·         An attempt should be made to establish a continual funding stream for the key accessible transport services provided by HCT and that no further funding reductions were faced by this organisation in respect of these services.

            Members noted that as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review and current austerity measures, the Council’s budget for supported local bus services had faced reductions resulting in increasingly difficult yet unavoidable decisions on scaling back or discontinuing certain subsidised bus services. Consequently, the Council had recently submitted a Local Sustainable Transport Fund bid to the Department for Transport. This bid was focussed on Economic Growth and Carbon Reduction (promoting sustainable travel modes and changing travel behaviours). The bid would, if successful, be worth £4.4m to the Council over three years (£8m including partner contributions) and HCT were a strong partner within this bid.

            Members were advised that the Core grant provided to HCT from the Council for the provision of the Dial-A-Ride daytime and evening transport in 2010/11 was £122,360, this amount was reduced £82,630 for 2011/12 with a further proposed 10% reduction for 2012/13 bringing the core grant down to £74,370. A detailed discussion had taken place within the Working Party to identify how the funded services could be provided at less cost. The outcome of this discussion was that an alternative service could not be provided at similar cost. The Group also commented that the service would not be able to continue following any further grant reduction. A further reduction in funding for the existing specialised door to door transport services would inevitably result in the current range of services being reduced or even being withdrawn entirely.

            Arising from the discussion the Board agreed that the Chairman write to the Executive Board on their behalf to express their support for HCT and the services it provided and to recommend that no further reduction in funding for the existing specialised door to door transport services be implemented.

            RESOLVED: That

            (1)       the report and review work undertaken by the Topic Group be noted; and

            (2)       the conclusions reached be used to guide future relationships with HCT.