Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) on the review of the Community Bus Service.

(1)   For the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet approved that a consultation with current service users and residents commences to seek views on:

a)  The proposal to move from direct delivery by the Council into a partnership arrangement with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to enable delivery of the lunch club community bus service to Jim McDonald Centre at The Hive.

b)  The proposal to cease direct delivery of the Shopper Hopper service, instead promoting the use of existing provision across the Borough using the Community Transport Herts signposting service.

c)  The proposal for the private hire bus service will not be resumed for the time being, and the future provision of the service was subject to the outcome of the consultation on core services.

(2)   Subject to approval of 2.1 of the report, that a further report is brought to Cabinet setting out the findings of the consultation, and subject to the outcome of the consultation, to seek approval of the recommended proposals as set out above.

(3)   Cabinet noted that any cost savings resulting from the service review will be used to reinvest in other Council services, including improving council tenant homes and support to community and voluntary organisations.

Report of the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) on the review of the Community Bus Service.

(1)        The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

(1)  For the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet approved that a consultation with current service users and residents commences to seek views on:

a)  The proposal to move from direct delivery by the Council into a partnership arrangement with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to enable delivery of the lunch club community bus service to Jim McDonald Centre at The Hive.

b)  The proposal to cease direct delivery of the Shopper Hopper service, instead promoting the use of existing provision across the Borough using the Community Transport Herts signposting service.

c)  The proposal for the private hire bus service will not be resumed for the time being, and the future provision of the service was subject to the outcome of the consultation on core services.

(2)  Subject to approval of 2.1 of the report, that a further report is brought to Cabinet setting out the findings of the consultation, and subject to the outcome of the consultation, to seek approval of the recommended proposals as set out above.

(3)  Cabinet noted that any cost savings resulting from the service review will be used to reinvest in other Council services, including improving council tenant homes and support to community and voluntary organisations.

(2)       Reasons for the Decision

The Council currently owned a fleet of twelve mini-buses and they were being used to provide community transport to the Jim McDonald day centre, as well as to various supermarkets under the Shopper Hopper service.  The total number of users registered for the service was 174, however this represented only a very small proportion of residents living in the Borough who were either over the age of 60 or had a limiting long-term illness or disability. 

The demand for the community bus service had reduced post COVID, and that the buses were now nearing the end of their working lives, and would need to be replaced soon.  This had prompted a review of the service to explore the options going forward.

It should be noted that there is no statutory duty for the Council to provide or enable a community transport service for its residents.  Indeed, there were other transport providers in the Borough. 

The Council had been subsidising the service at a cost of £184k a year before the pandemic. When compared to the number of registered users, this was a sizable financial subsidy, unsustainable in the long term.

There were three options explored: ceasing the service, retaining the service and working with a partner to provide the service.  The details were set out at 4.2 of the report, along with the recommended options for consultation with users and residents.

The report also set out how the Council will consult with service users and residents.  It was noted that no decision will be made until the Council considered the consultation responses and that a further report will be brought back to Cabinet in October or November 2022 to recommend the way forward. 

It was noted that this was not simply a cost savings exercise, in fact any savings that may arise from the recommended options would be re-invested in services, including improving council tenant homes and support to community and voluntary organisations.