Issue - meetings

A report seeking approval of a programme of revenue-funded measures aligned to the Warwickshire Bus Service Improvement Plan in 2024-25.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jan Matecki

This paper was introduced by Councillor Jan Matecki, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, who explained that the report sought approval of revenue-funded measures to be funded through the Phase 2 BSIP Plus allocation for 2024-25, in the context of an additional Phase 3 Network North BSIP revenue grant being allocated to the County Council by the DfT, and thus, creating a two-year revenue funding programme sum of £5.466million (2024-25 to 2025-26).   The report also provided a general update on progress made by the Warwickshire Enhanced Partnership.

Councillor Margaret Bell, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care & Health, supported the report and explained the positive progress that had taken place with regarding to improving access to the George Eliot Hospital for staff and patients through the provision of direct bus services, real-time information screens and timetabling changes to support shift patterns. She expressed thanks to those officers involved in these achievements.

Councillor Tim Sinclair, a member of the BSIP Working Group, added his endorsement and welcomed delivery of a plan to support the economy and enrich the lives of the community.

Councillor Sarah Feeney, also a member of the BSIP Working Group thanked Councillor Sinclair for his work to promote services.

Councillor Bill Gifford noted that his bus journey to attend this meeting had been on time with a high level of patronage.  However, he noted that the journey from Leamington to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire was a somewhat gruelling experience and the comments of Councillor Bell were therefore encouraging.  He further noted commentary in the report regarding net zero objectives and electric vehicle use and highlighted bus use as a sensible and acceptable way to travel.

Councillor Heather Timms, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Climate and Culture, supported demand responsive transport for rural areas.  She suggested that Community Transport and Demand Responsive Transport could be brought under a single umbrella to reduce administration costs.

Councillor Matecki thanked Members for their constructive comments which he would feedback to officers.

Resolved:

That Cabinet

1.     Approves a two-year programme (2024-25 to 2025-26) of revenue funded measures as set out in Appendix C to the report at a total cost of £5.466million aligned to the Warwickshire BSIP, which will be fully funded by a combined £3.394million Network North BSIP Plus for 2024-25 and £2.072million BSIP Plus for 2024-25 revenue grant allocations to the County Council awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2024-25; and

2.     Approves the addition of the revenue-funded measures into the Warwickshire Enhanced Partnership (EP) Scheme.