Agenda item

6.1

The Policy and Improvement Officer, Alice Nicholson, submitted a report attaching a report of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) Bus Performance Update, which had been considered by the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee on 4^th July, 2016.  The report contained details in terms of key performance highlights and key actions for 2016/17 and attached, as appendices, statistical information in terms of patronage, punctuality, reliability, feedback and scorecards.

6.2

In attendance for this item were Stephen Edwards and Nathan Broadhead (SYPTE), Kevin Belfield and Allan Riggall (First South Yorkshire), Ian Jenkinson (Sheffield Community Transport), John Young (Stagecoach Sheffield), Tom Finnegan-Smith (Head of Strategic Transport and Infrastructure, Sheffield City Council) and Dick Proctor (Transport Planning Manager, Sheffield City Council).

6.3

Stephen Edwards provided a brief summary of the report, highlighting that performance in terms of punctuality had recovered, and was now at its highest level for some time, there had been a reduction in the number of people qualifying for free travel under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), which had therefore resulted in a reduction in the number of passengers travelling in this category, and there had been an increase in patronage in terms of younger people as a result of more attractive fares.

6.4

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                The Government had recently announced additional funding in terms of low emission vehicles, and Sheffield had been successful in securing £1.3m of this funding.  The Sheffield Bus Partnership and the wider South Yorkshire region were committed to using such buses.  Efforts would be made to ensure that such buses were used in areas having high pollution levels. Efforts were also made to ensure that, during quieter periods, when there were less buses on the road, that the low emission vehicles were used. The average age of vehicles had reduced since last year, following the purchase of new buses.  The general life expectancy of a bus was 15 years, at which time it would be scrapped.  A number of buses at this age had been removed from service after the recent network changes and at the present time, 99.9% of buses in Sheffield were DDA compliant.

·                It was accepted that the statistical information set out in the report now submitted was not up to date.  This was due to the deadlines in terms of the meeting of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee. 

·                The aim of the Bus Partnership to increase patronage by 2% a year for the next five years, had been set with a number of circumstances in mind.  A number of factors, such as the reduction in footfall in the City Centre and the change in the general economic climate, have meant that these have been adjusted to reflect the current situation.

·                The figure of 5% in terms of the target to reduce customer feedback was used as an indicator, and there was no specific target to reduce such feedback.  Again, whilst there was no specific target figure, the Partnership aimed to reduce the level of negative customer feedback. 

·                The SYPTE was primarily funded through funds from the Government.  The reduction in the number of people eligible for free travel under the ENCTS had resulted in a reduction of such funding over the last few years. 

6.5

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made and the responses to the questions raised;

(b)       thanks the representatives of the SYPTE and the bus operators for attending the meeting, and responding to the questions raised; and

(c)      requests (i) the SYPTE to supply more up to date performance information and (ii) bus operators to share individual service information on reliability and punctuality.