Cabinet Member: Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/214

Contact: John Disley, Infrastructure Strategy & Policy Manager, 07767006742

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA15).

To seek approval of the Enhanced Partnership.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)              Approve the draft Oxfordshire Enhanced Partnership Document (attached as Annex 1) for submission to the Department for Transport.

b)              Consult on the draft Enhanced Partnership Document with all Oxfordshire Bus Operators, for the statutory 28 objection period.

An amendment was agreed to Annex A of Oxfordshire Enhanced Partnership Plan & Scheme:

On page 667 in the row headed “Bus Lanes” it currently states under “Timescale”: “Existing facilities to be retained at least at current hours of operation”.

Append “ – bus lanes will only be removed if modelling can show that alternative bus priority measures would improve bus journey times and cycle and pedestrian safety.”

Recommendations agreed with the amendment above.

Cabinet received a report setting out the proposals for the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership (EP), reflecting the Council’s indicative Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding allocation and the schemes / measures which this is proposed to fund.  It also asked for agreement to the draft EP, including the Governance arrangements for the Partnership.

Before considering the report, the Chair had approved a request to speak.

Danny Yee was disappointed that the proposals did not include integrated ticketing or a revival of the “Pick Me Up” service.  However, he urged Cabinet to adopt the plan.  He believed that giving the political leadership required to make difficult decisions was going to be more important than the technical details of proposals.  He noted that the potential 10-month implementation date would be difficult to meet and would require emergency planning.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Tim Bearder, seconded by Councillor Sudbury and agreed as follows:

Annex A of Oxfordshire Enhanced Partnership Plan & Scheme:

On Agenda Page 667 in the row headed “Bus Lanes” it currently states under “Timescale”: “Existing facilities to be retained at least at current hours of operation”.

Append “ – bus lanes will only be removed if modelling can show that alternative bus priority measures would improve bus journey times and cycle and pedestrian safety.”

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, responded that, while the “Pick Me Up” service had not been economically viable, it was not far off and he hoped that improving conditions generally for bus services might enable it to be looked at again.

Councillor Gant congratulated officers on achieving the indicative offer which was better than many local authorities have achieved.  He drew particular attention to the £1 flat fare in the city for under-19s which would get them into the habit of using public transport.  He hoped that could be extended to the whole county in the future.

Other Cabinet Members commented as follows:

·       Mobility hubs were the key to improving services across the county.  These proposals demonstrated the Council’s commitment to improving bus services.

·       The flat fare rate should be available to young people across the county.

·       The current service was not inclusive and consideration should be given to reviving the ‘Pick Me Up’ service.

·       It was hoped that a wide interpretation of the term ‘user groups’ could be taken in consulting on proposals to include for example the Children in Care Council, Age UK and disability groups.

Councillor Gant responded that the report included extending under-16 fares to those under-19 outside the city.

Councillor Gant proposed the recommendations with the amendment to Annex A of the Partnership Document.  Councillor Millar seconded and they were agreed.

RESOLVED to:

(i)              Approve the draft Oxfordshire Enhanced Partnership Document (attached as Annex 1) for submission to the Department for Transport.

(ii)            Consult on the draft Enhanced Partnership Document with all Oxfordshire Bus Operators, for the statutory 28 objection period.