Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor David Smith, Lead Member for Public Realm (copy enclosed) advising Cabinet of the implications of Welsh Government funding reductions and the subsequent consultation on bus service reductions.  Cabinet approval is also sought for the proposed cuts in bus services in 2012/13 and 2013/14 as detailed within the report.

Councillor David Smith presented the report informing Cabinet of the implications of Welsh Government (WG) funding reductions, the subsequent consultation on bus service reductions and proposed cuts in bus services in 2012/13 and 2013/14.

Members were advised of the background to the current proposals arising from cuts in grant funding paid towards local bus services together with the potential impact of a ministerial review on how future grants would be managed.  Communities Scrutiny Committee initiated a consultation process with passengers and communities on a series of possible cuts which were subsequently reviewed by the Bus Service Reductions Working Group (Appendix 1 to the report).  The Working Group’s proposals for 2012/13 had been detailed within the report together with proposals for 2013/14 (Appendix 2 to the report).  An equalities impact assessment regarding the potential reductions had also been included (Appendix 3 to the report).  Councillor Smith was keen to highlight the hard work and effort undertaken in order to reach the recommendations contained within the report.

Councillor Huw Jones referred to a number of routes and sought clarification on potential future proposals for those areas given that there was a need to ensure that the timetabling of services did not finish too early and that as many people as possible were accommodated if changes were to be made.  The Section Manager: Passenger Transport (SM:PT) assured Cabinet that a number of timetabling changes had been considered in order to achieve the best possible solution taking into account the need for savings.  In terms of the specific services referred to by Councillor Jones, the SM:PT advised that –

·        X5 Service (Corwen – Ruthin/Denbigh) – a number of consultation responses were being considered.  The service did not perform well and both 1640 and 1740 were being examined.  The 1640 was busier but 1740 was the last bus so a possible outcome could be to change the time of the service to 1710 to accommodate as many passengers as possible

·        proposed adjustments to services 70/77 (Betws/Clawdd/Cyffylliog/Llanelidan to Ruthin) had been detailed at Appendix 4 to the report.  Proposed adjustments had also been made to services 91/95 (Betws/Carrog to Llangollen or Wrexham) which would result in some modest savings but consultation on the proposals with local members was required before wider circulation.

Members sought clarification on the proposed recommendation relating to patient transport to Abergele Hospital.  The SM:PM explained that discussions were ongoing with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to fund a pilot to accommodate passenger requests to the transferred eye clinic (from St. Asaph to Abergele).  However, if the pilot proved unsuccessful it was proposed that the Council introduce some basic transport provision for patients. Councillor Bobby Feeley felt that BCUHB should bear responsibility for patient transport arising from changes to patient services which they had introduced.  Councillor Eryl Williams agreed adding that the Council had its own responsibilities to meet in terms of transport provision and that if the Council were to take on the extra responsibility it would be at the expense of other important services.  Cabinet discussed this issue at length stressing that transport was a significant issue for BCUHB to consider in terms of changes to the location of patient services which was inevitable under the proposals arising from the NHS Service Reviews and assurances needed to be sought that the Health Board would be taking on that responsibility.  Councillor Smith reminded members that he had highlighted the need for BCUHB to draw up a Transport Strategy to address the new pattern of services proposed at the last County Council meeting.  The Corporate Director Modernising and Wellbeing confirmed that the transport issue would be included within the Council’s formal response to BCUHB Service Reviews.  Councillor Barbara Smith queried the number of patients who were affected by the transfer of the eye clinic to Abergele Hospital and the SM:PT explained that there was no specific data on usage for passenger transport but the failure rate of appointments not being met was known and he was aware it was an issue for a number of patients.  Whilst some patients could utilise transport from the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust and Dial a Ride, those services were not generally available to the public.

The Leader was pleased to note the significant public consultation on the proposals and the input of the Rural Transport Group within the process and applauded the hard work of all those involved.  However he raised concerns regarding the findings of the ministerial review and impact for local authorities and TAITH (regional transport consortia).  Councillor Smith advised that he had asked TAITH’s Executive Officer, Mr. Iwan Prys Jones to deliver a presentation to County Council once the outcome of the ministerial review was known.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the reductions for 2012/13 as proposed in paragraph 4.6 to the report be made as soon as possible;

(b)       subject to ministerial review and any new arrangements in administering grants for bus services in 2013/14, the reductions identified in paragraph 4.7 to the report and Appendix 2 to the report be made on and from Monday 1 April 2013;

(c)        if the Abergele Hospital pilot funding was unsuccessful, that representations be made to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to fund a community car service in order to transport patients to the eye clinic at Abergele, and

(d)       should there be a marginal balancing reduction that this be delegated to the Joint Head of Highways and Infrastructure in consultation with the Lead Member for Public Realm.