No. 7 Route Community Bus Partnership

WELCOME

Introduction to the Evening

Sarah Carter

Policy and Partnerships Manager, LCC

Introduction…..

• Why are we here today? • More detailed background information

• Focus on your Partnership Committee

• Focus on your route

• What do we hope to achieve today? • Joint understanding and purpose

• Begin the Committee formation process

• Arrange next local meeting

Community Bus Partnerships

Tony Kirk

Sustainable Travel Manager, LCC

Community Bus Partnerships…..

• Background • Brief history

• Concept, Objectives and Principles

• Roles and Responsibilities

• Timeline • Procurement timetable

• Ongoing timescale

• The Future • Benefits

• Support

• Over to you……..

A brief history…

• Existing Local Bus Service policy was reviewed as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy to reduce County Council spending.

• Original savings proposals were to remove lower use bus services (route numbers 7, 55/56, 113 and 129) and implement demand responsive transport in their place.

• Following consultations and community feedback this recommendation was amended to pilot a Community Bus Service model, which was approved by LCC Cabinet on 6th May 2014.

Background…..

Concept, Objectives and Principles…

Background…..

• Developed from Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs)

• Based on a relationship of trust between operator, local authority and the community.

• Take ‘what is already in existence’ and make the best of it, then incrementally improve and increase usage.

• A key factor for success has been for the partnerships to be well known in the community and the community coming to see the route as their own.

• This is the first time that the model has been explored in relation to bus routes in rural areas.

Concept, Objectives and Principles…

Background…..

• The key objective is to establish a Community Bus Partnership to oversee the service for bus route no 7.

• The main aim is to increase passenger usage enabling continuation of the bus service.

• Sub aims could also include attracting visitors to the area, providing links to larger centres, contributing to the viability of local communities.

Concept, Objectives and Principles…

Background…..

The Partnership will:

• Have a strong emphasis on community involvement and setting targets

• Be based on trust

• Be unique to your specific bus corridor

• Have formal and informal elements

• Be supported by professionals

• Work toward incremental improvement over time

• Have a three year programme with an extension to five if successful

Procurement timetable…

Timeline…..

Timeline Local Communities Bus providers

Oct ‘14 Inaugural meeting at County Hall

Nov – Dec ‘14 Local Information Events Tender in Process

Jan – Feb ‘15 Partnership Formation meetings Jan: contract awarded

Mar ‘15 Inaugural meeting of local CBP’s

Apr ‘15 New Service Commences

Ongoing timescale…

Timeline…..

• The initial programme is for 3 years (beginning in April 2015) with an extension to 5 if successful.

• Targets for success and review timetables to be agreed by the Partnership ‘Committee’ once established.

• Partnership Committee will need to establish a timetable of meetings and activities to meet the targets.

Benefits…

The Future…..

• Community Bus Partnerships offer the chance to work together to develop sustainable transport solutions for your community.

• Increased usage and, therefore, increased revenue will improve future value for money justification.

• CBPs are a real opportunity for communities to influence service delivery and ultimately, determine their success.

Support…..

The Future…..

County Council support

• Ongoing officer assistance and advice.

• Development of a new style of bus contract.

• Sign-posting for additional support and advice services

• Development of Community Bus Partnership web pages

Operator support

• By engaging with the new style contract.

• Being open to feedback and suggestions.

How will you help (yourselves)?

• Key people become involved in the formal aspects of the partnership.

• Wider community involvement as Friends of the route.

Over to you…………

Your role might look like…..

LOCAL BUSINESSES, SERVICE USERS AND WIDER COMMUNITY

LOCAL COMMUNITY

LOCAL CHAMPIONS AND INTERESTED PARTIES

INFORMAL FRIENDS OF THE ROUTE

-‘Friends of the Route’ group -Fundraising group

FORMAL COMMUNITY BUS PARTNERSHIP

VOTING MEMBERS ADVISORY MEMBERS --CHAIR (X1) - DISTRICT COUNCIL -- SECRETARY (X1) - ‘FRIENDS’ REP (x1) -TREASURER (X1) - LCC COMMUNITIES REP (x1 -LCC TRANSPORT REP (X1) - COMMUNITY CAPACITY REP (x1) BUS OPERATOR REP (X1) -PARISH COUNCIL REP (X2) -ACTIVE COMMUNITY/BUSINESS REP (X2) (N.B. A Vice Chair to be elected from the above)

Involvement Level Roles and Responsibilities Formal Partnership – a small in number ‘management team’ of key representatives for the bus route. (e.g. Local Authority, Operator, Community representative, Parish Council etc)

a. Agree objectives to increase

passengers/ridership an b. Agree increase in passenger usage target. c. monitor the service d. Adjust service to meet needs e. Look at opportunities to promote the service

Informal ‘friends of the route’ - a wider group of people made of local champions and interested parties who will offer a variety of support. (e.g. Parish and Local Councils, local community groups, Key Local Individuals, key local businesses etc.)

a. Care of roadside facilities ‘adopt a bus stop’, b. Publicise the service at community events, c. Help with distribution of paper information,

updating and marketing on community electronic sites and magazines,

d. Motivate neighbours to change behaviour and to use the bus

Local community - Broader than current ridership and interested parties (Parish councils and bus users) (e.g. Representatives’ from all villages along route, Parish Councils, current & potential users, local rural businesses such as business hubs, pubs, shops, health services, workshops, but also schools)

a. Support local initiatives to increase ridership b. Commit to use the bus more

Your role could be…..

Route 7 update…..

• The Indicative Timetable for the No 7. Route is included in your delegate packs. This is the starting point from which the Partnership will work.

• This route was tendered following recent consultation.

• The Partnership will have the opportunity to shape the route, timetable and stops etc. to best fit community needs.

Tender Document Discussion

Q and A

Discussion Groups

Sarah Carter/Heather Bell

Policy and Partnership/Communities and Places Manager, LCC

Discussions…..

• What makes a good partnership? • Brainstorm in a group

• What might you do in the partnership? • Role descriptions (see pack)

• Levels of commitment and responsibility

• Skills in the group/missing skills

• What support do you need to make this a success? • LCC

• Community members

• Other e.g. local business/Parish Councils/Capacity Building agencies etc.

Feedback

Top 2 points from each question

Next Steps

Sarah Carter

Policy and Partnerships Manager, LCC

Next steps…..

• Expression of interest forms • Take away and fill in if interested

• Circulate in your communities

• Suggestions for next meeting • Venue

• Time of day

• Advertising/Promotion

• Anyone missing from the delegate list

• The next meeting agenda? • Elect the Partnership Committee

• Constitution

• Think about ‘branding’

• Start to look at the route improvements

No. 7 Route Community Bus Partnership

THANK YOU