Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor C R Doyle. 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared:

Councillor V M Evans - agenda as a whole - employed by First Great Western - personal.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Services Cabinet Advisory Committee meetings held on 13 April and 19 May 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings of the Services Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 13 April and 19 May 2015 be accepted as correct records.

The Services Cabinet Advisory Committee Terms of Reference were provided for information.

Councillor N J Davies (Vice-Chair) provided a verbal report regarding quality bus contracts and partnerships.  He outlined that this was a Labour Party manifesto commitment which had become Council policy.  However after three years the Authority still relied upon ad hoc voluntary agreements with various companies. 

He added that explanatory talks with First Group had commenced with a view to formulating a quality bus contract as strategic policy.  As part of these discussions, the Councillor identified three priorities:

 1.        Improving connectivity - e.g. good links to areas on the same ticket by         agreeing and introducing a through ticketing policy with operators;

2.         Formulate transport hubs - e.g. High Street Station, Gowerton,          Llansamlet and possibly Landore which have bus links to train stations;

3.         To bring accessibility to outlying areas - this required imagination to            work with operators including taxi firms.  Also to introduce apps to   monitor bus services in real time such as Uber in London.

It was added that the Leader of the Authority had met with Edwina Hart, AM, Minister for Economy Science and Transport who had confirmed that the Welsh Assembly did have a through ticketing scheme.  However there were little funds available for real time information at bus stops via the city region. 

Furthermore, the preliminary discussions with First were positive and the Authority does not want access issues to cost jobs or different tickets for different companies to cause problems for passengers. 

He highlighted the need to incentivise people to use car parks as opposed to streets for parking and to improve park and ride facilities, particularly around the Liberty Stadium. 

Discussions followed and centred around the following:

·         Event - bus passengers give First Group their views at the Quadrant at 10.00 a.m. on 1 July 2015;

·         Standard bus services and the fact that the metro finishes at 6.05p.m. when people still expect a full service;

·         There appeared to be a positive change for the better in the attitude and direction shown by First Group at the top of the organisation.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       the contents of the report be noted;

(2)       the Committee be kept updated of future developments.

Councillor P Lloyd updated the Committee regarding previous meetings with disability groups.  He outlined that the groups felt that even though the issues were being discussed at these meetings it was felt that there was very little progress and no Council policy had been drafted.

            Reference was made to discussions involving the Cabinet Member regarding street furniture in the city centre and parking on pavements.  It was recognised that the individuals/groups using the pavements must have an input into discussions.  It was noted that small changes e.g. pocket size statements such as those issued by First Group (the Safe Journey Card and the Better Journey Card) which are held in an orange plastic card holder, which are very discreet for the passenger but instantly recognisable by bus drivers.  Such seemingly small matters could assist them in their daily lives.

Discussions followed and centred around the following:

·         The difficulties encountered on St. Helen’s Road e.g. drop kerbs and refuse on the pavement and the need to introduce enforcement;

·         Problems encountered in and around schools;

·         Addressing problem areas in and around the city centre.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       the contents of the report be noted;

(2)       Councillor P Lloyd invites the relevant disability groups to attend the          next scheduled meeting in order to discuss the issue further;

(3)       Mark Thomas, Group Leader, Highways and Transportation be invited        to the next scheduled meeting. 

The Chair presented an updated Work Plan 2015-2016.  The Chair added that the Leader would be introducing changes to Cabinet Advisory Committees at Council on 23 July 2015 which would affect the areas of priority for each individual Cabinet Advisory Committee going forward.  Once the structure was known a more detailed Work Plan would be drafted. 

AGREED that the contents of the report be noted.