Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Transport

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/020

Contact: Joy White, Senior Transport Planner Tel: (01865) 815882

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Highways & Transport (CA9).

Community transport is a key priority for the county council given its importance in supporting the public transport network and enabling access for people who have greater mobility needs, in the context of an ageing population. This paper focuses on proposals for spending the £514,000 one-off funding we have received from central government to support the development of community transport services, within the context of our existing on-going support to the sector from our revenue budget.

The report describes the current community transport provision in Oxfordshire, and sets out a strategic approach, rationale and recommendations for spending the grant money.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the spending plan, so that implementation of the proposed measures can begin.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       agree the allocation of Supporting Community Transport funding according to package A, or other option preferred by Cabinet.

(b)       delegate to the Cabinet Member for Transport any amendments considered necessary to the funding proposals according to take-up of funding and need.

(c)       review our approach to the future allocation of revenue funding as a consequence of these funding proposals.

Cabinet considered a report that described the current community transport provision in Oxfordshire, and set out a strategic approach, rationale and recommendations for spending the grant money.

Councillor David Turner, Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport expressed some disappointment at the time taken for this matter to reach Cabinet. He supported Package A which takes account of the decision to support Dial-a-Ride.

Gwynneth Pedler, Deputy Chair Oxfordshire Unlimited, expressed some grave reservations about the approach suggested. She referred to the propping up of Dial-a-Ride but at the expense of others. Cars were being abandoned and nothing was being done for the wheelchair user. For some social activities would not be accessible. The lack of detail made it difficult to assess benefits. She was concerned that the attempt to find volunteers would fail as earlier attempts had failed. She referred to problems faced by even successful schemes in attracting additional volunteers. She felt that the Big Society had not captured the public imagination.

Emily Lewis, Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) commended the framework and welcomed the opportunity to work in partnership. ORCC had made clear their interest in hosting the new role referred to in the report. She commented that Option A was fair but highlighted the need for the £35,000 to be spent on promotion to be targeted at the local level.

Tracey Dow, introduced the contents of the report responding to the points raised. In particular she commented that it was difficult to see that Dial-a-Ride could meet all needs. Age UK were very supportive of the approach taken and wanted to work in partnership to promote the generation of new schemes. The proposals reflected the work undertaken and the input of the voluntary sector. She thanked the Working Group and stakeholders for their involvement.

The Deputy Leader congratulated the Government on the additional one off funding. It was important that the Council recognise this and not allow the service provision to fall off a cliff once this funding was no longer available. The Big Society Fund had been a great success and the use of volunteers had taken off.

RESOLVED: to:

(a)       agree the allocation of Supporting Community Transport funding according to package A, or other option preferred by Cabinet;

(b)       delegate to the Cabinet Member for Transport any amendments considered necessary to the funding proposals according to take-up of funding and need;

(c)        review our approach to the future allocation of revenue funding as a consequence of these funding proposals.