Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Members and officers to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr J S Moore CC, Mr S L Bray BC and Mr K Nichols BC. Mr D M Gould BC was substituting for Mr Nichols.

There were no urgent items.

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 19th February 2009 were confirmed and signed as a true record of the meeting.  Mr D A Sprason CC asked that his apologies be noted.

a)                      Use of tactile paving 

b)                      Sunnyside Hospital, Hinckley – bus stops and pedestrian crossing progress report

c)                       Crest challenge to funding Dodwells – nothing to report

d)                      Bus Services to Heath Lane, Earl Shilton 

The Chairman thanked Mr D W Inman BC for bringing to her attention a newsletter from Centrebus which stated their dissatisfaction at the reimbursement rate offered for the acceptance of concessionary travel passes on their services across Leicestershire and especially in Hinckley for 2009/10.  This dissatisfaction has manifested in Centrebus proposing to reduce services in Hinckley.  The Chairman confirmed that she had received the following response from Tony Kirk at County Hall.

‘Centrebus have advised both Leicestershire County Council and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council of the withdrawal of a number of bus services, because of a reduction in the reimbursements that they will receive for accepting concessionary travel passes on services in the Hinckley area.  The County Council administers the Leicestershire and Leicester Concessionary travel scheme on behalf of the 7 districts and boroughs in the county and Leicester City Council.

The County Council will continue to discuss and analyse Centrebus’ concerns to find a solution to this issue and if that cannot be found, review the service withdrawals and whether any replacement services are required to meet the County Council’s bus support policy.  The bus support policy is to provide at least an hourly Monday to Saturday bus service within an 800-metre walk of 95% of Leicestershire residents.  This policy is designed to encourage the use of local bus services and to provide access to employment, education, medical and shopping opportunities across the county.  Mr M R Lay BC stated his disappointment with Centrebus’ attitude and was confident that bus usage had increased because of the concessionary fare scheme.

Mr Drummond explained that this was a complex and layered issue.  Centrebus had appealed against the four-week notice they had been given of the latest reimbursement rates and asked for a four-month notice period.  The Adjudicator agreed with the notice period but reduced the rate of the original reimbursement.  Because of this Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have no choice but to pay the reduced level.  This has led to Centrebus reducing services to meet the reduced income.  They had not planned for the fall in income created by the reduction in the reimbursement rate.

Mr Drummond confirmed what the Chairman had said that officers were analysing the effect of the reduced services in line with the 95% policy and the bus usage rates.

Mr D C Bill CC asked that officers from both councils work together on the issue.  He went on to say that it was outrageous that because the bus company lost its appeal then it is now seeking to blame both the County Council and the Borough Council.

Mr Inman was amazed that the majority of the reduced services are on Saturdays, which should be when more people use them.  Mr I D Ould CC highlighted a problem in the rural areas with people receiving taxi vouchers, which take them to public transport points where they have to pay full fare on the buses.   This seems to discriminate against them.

In answer to a question, Mr Drummond confirmed that the county does have figures on passenger usage, which are based on returns produced by the bus companies.  He did agree that more people use the buses because of the concessionary fare scheme.

Mr Sprason had concerns over Arriva re-routing their buses in Markfield with people in rural areas losing bus services.  Mr Drummond confirmed that discussions had been undertaken with Arriva.  There will be a Members briefing led by Arriva on this topic at the offices of North West Leicestershire District Council in June.

The Chairman updated Members on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chairman accepted two petitions from Mr D M Gould BC.

1)         The installation of vehicle activated signs along the Common, Barwell to improve safety.

2)         The placing of a 7.5t weight restriction on Chapel Street

Mrs Notman explained that although it had been planned that a report be presented to this meeting, the Transportation Capital Programme 2009/10 was being finalised taking into account a recent review of capital spending plans.  As soon as the programme is available, it will be forwarded to all Forum Members.

Mrs Notman agreed to clarify the roll out of tracking systems for mowers as part of the capital programme and update Mr Sprason. She was able to clarify, following the meeting, that this is merely operational vehicle tracking as already installed on most local authority fleet vehicles, and the cost is therefore included within normal service delivery.

Mrs Notman agreed to speak to Mr Lay on the poor condition of footpaths in Markfield. 

Mr Grierson agreed to speak to Mr Ould about the footway opposite the Hercules pub in Sutton Cheney.

RECOMMENDATIONS

i)          That the verbal update be noted;

ii)         that officers speak to Mr Sprason on the inclusion of tracking systems for mowers in the capital programme;

iii)        that officers speak to Mr Lay (site visit) to discuss poor footpaths in Markfield; and

iv)        that officers speak to Mr Ould on the footway opposite the Hercules pub in Sutton Cheney. 

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on the current position of the Traffic Regulation Orders programme. The report was introduced by Mr Grierson with a copy filed with the minutes. 

Mr Grierson explained to Members that this was a standard report and with the approval of the Chairman asked for questions. 

He confirmed that officers were intending to arrange a meeting with Mr Sprason in the next two weeks to discuss a scheme in Desford.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be noted.

The Chairman confirmed that there were no on-going actions.  

Will Members please submit these in writing to the officers prior to the meeting

There were no items at present for future discussion.

The Chairman confirmed the date of the next meeting as Thursday 5^th November 2009 at 6.30 pm.  

The Chairman thanked Members and officers for their attendance at the meeting.