Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2012 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC declared a personal interest in respect of Item 8 entitled ‘Consultation on Home to School Transport Policies on: (a) Faith School Transport, (b) 16+ School Transport and (c) Increased Farepaying Charges and Withdrawing "Change of Address" Eligibility’ as a School Governor.

Mr. L. Spence CC declared a personal interest that might lead to bias in respect of Item 8 as he had children who accessed transport to a faith school.

The following members each declared a personal interest in respect of the Item 9 entitled ‘Proposed Withdrawal of Discretionary Elements of the Concessionary Travel Scheme - Outcome of Consultation’ as holders of concessionary bus passes:

Dr. R. K. A. Feltham CC

Mr. M. J. Hunt CC

Mr. P. G. Lewis CC

Mr. K. W. P. Lynch CC

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 36.

The Cabinet Lead Member for Transportation, Mr. P. C. Osborne CC, has been invited for this item.

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport concerning the outcome of the public consultation into proposals to change some elements of the Mainstream Home to School Transport policy. A copy of the report, marked ‘Item 8’ is filed with these minutes.

Following circulation of the Commission agenda, a report of the Director of Environment and Transport to the Cabinet meeting on 9 July outlining the proposals arising from the consultation had been circulated to the Commission. In considering the matter, the Commission had regard to a further supplementary Cabinet report, which reported the complete findings of the consultation exercise which closed on 30 June. A copy of both supplementary reports is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and Transport, Mr. P. C. Osborne CC, to the meeting who was present to introduce the report and respond to questions.

As part of the introduction to the item, it was reported that the proposals were part of the agreed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) in 2012/15. The Council currently spent £8.5m on mainstream home to school transport. A saving of £1.1m had been identified from discretionary elements provided in the Home to School Transport policy..

Arising from questioning by the Commission on the timing of the consultation and the way in which it had been conducted, the following points were noted:

·      Concern was expressed that the consultation on Home to School Transport should have been part of the planned consultation on the MTFS. In response, members were advised that the Home to School Transport proposals were part of a previous MTFS and there was a need to agree changes now in order that parents and pupils were aware of the new policy ahead of making choices for entry in September 2014;

·      The response rate, although disappointing, was still nearly 12% of those affected. The majority of responses were in relation to faith schools. The consultation was genuine in that the Cabinet would look carefully at the responses and comments made, particularly if issues or concerns that had not been previously identified were raised;

·      The suggestion that the review be done in two stages: introduce the proposed changes for 2014, but defer consideration of the proposed changes from 2015 onwards, would create an uncertainty, both in terms of parents and pupils making informed choices and in terms of financial planning.

The Commission then debated each element of the report, as outlined below:

(a)   Faith School Transport: £350,000 (affecting 900 denominational pupils)

Mr. L. Spence CC, having declared a personal interest that may lead to bias on the issue of school transport to faith and voluntary aided schools, left the room during this part of the discussion.

The Commission, in considering this matter, had regard to the written submission of Father Colin Patey of the St Wilfrid of York Catholic Church, Coalville, which briefly outlined the objection of the Catholic Church community to the Council’s proposed removal of subsidy for denominational transport. A copy of the comments is filed with these minutes.

The Proposals, if accepted, would mean that the following changes would be made:

·      September 2013: £252 contribution for transport capped at £504 maximum contribution per family

·      September 2014: £450 contribution for transport – no maximum cap

·      September 2015 onwards: £640 full cost recovery for transport. No new transport agreed for new applicants and existing transport phased out over the following 4 years.

It was confirmed that, as part of the new proposals (from September 2014), the present cap of £480 per family would be removed and full cost  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

The Cabinet Lead Member for Transportation, Mr. P. C. Osborne CC, has been invited for this item.

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport concerning the outcome of the public consultation into proposals to withdraw the discretionary elements of the Concessionary Travel Scheme. A copy of the report, marked ‘Item 9’ is filed with these minutes.

Following circulation of the Commission agenda, a supplementary report of the Director of Environment and Transport to the Cabinet meeting on 9 July outlining the proposals arising from the consultation had been circulated to the Commission. In considering the matter, the Commission had regard to a further supplementary Cabinet report, which reported the complete findings of the consultation exercise which closed on 30 June. A copy of both supplementary reports is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and Transport, Mr. P. C. Osborne CC, to the meeting, who was present to introduce the report and respond to questions.

As part of the introduction to the item, it was reported that the proposals were part of the agreed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) in 2012/15. The Council currently spent £5.26 million on the statutory English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) (£4.9 million on the Older Person’s Pass and £360,000 on the Disabled Pass). A saving of £270,000 had been identified from the discretionary elements provided, in addition to the main ENCTS from 1 September 2013. The ENCTS would remain unaffected by the proposals.

The proposed savings (which only related to the discretionary element of the Scheme, funded by the County Council) were outlined as follows:

o    Free travel for disabled concessionary pass holders before 9.30am Monday to Friday: £20,000

o    Free travel after 11.00pm Monday to Friday for disabled and older concessionary pass holders: £10,000

o    £33 of vouchers for use on local taxi and bus services as an alternative to the statutory concession scheme if the applicant is disabled or lives over 800 metres from a frequent bus service: £80,000

o    Half fare on community transport services: £160,000

The proposals would affect 120,000 older person concessionary pass holders, 8,500 disabled person concessionary pass holders and 3,600 holders of travel vouchers.

In response to concerns expressed, the Commission was advised as follows:

·           Pre 9.30am free disabled transport – the alternative would be payment of a fare or later travel when the free scheme was applicable;

·           Post 11.00pm transport – the alternative would be payment of a fare or earlier travel;

·           Whilst it was recognised that the loss of taxi vouchers would affect those in rural areas with no regular bus services and those disabled persons who were unable to use less frequent buses, community transport and Demand Responsive Transport (DRT)  would be available to such persons;

·           Concessionary travel passes could be used on DRT and the ongoing review of the supported bus network was looking at an expansion of DRT where it was uneconomic to operate a scheduled bus service;

·           Whilst the proposed changes to Community Transport charges would have an impact; it was not thought that this would affect the viability of the service;

·           Care would be taken in the communication of the changes to those affected.

RESOLVED:

That the concerns and comments made in response to the proposed changes to Concessionary Travel Scheme be drawn to the attention of the Cabinet.

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning the Council’s 2012/13 Provisional Revenue and Capital Outturn. A copy of the report, marked ‘Item 10’ is filed with these minutes.

Arising from the debate, the following points were noted:

·         The Environment and Transport Departments’ financial position had been affected by the severe winter weather, which had equated to a net overspend of £200,000. This was becoming a trend year-on-year and it was reported that it might be necessary to top-up the budget to take account of less predictable weather in future;

·         The net underspend relating to the work of the Police and Crime Panel was largely due to the need to administer a complaints process, which had yet to be required and to the early stage of development of the Panel which had only just begun its work;

·         The risk assessment of the Capital Programme would be reported as part of a quarterly capital monitoring report to the Commission at its meeting on 4 September.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning the Corporate Complaints and Commendations Annual Report 2012/2013. A copy of the report, ‘marked’ Item 11’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from the debate, the following points were noted:

·                The significant increase in the number of complaints relating to Highways issues. Most of these related to information flow and feedback to customers, rather than the quality of officers’ work. The Director of Corporate Resources had commissioned an “end-to-end” review of the way in which Highways matters were being dealt with, which some members would be involved in;

·                Better joint-working was taking place with partners in health to ensure that  joint health and social care complaints were being dealt with efficiently and by the appropriate agency;

·                The Customer  Relations Manager was taking a more active role at a higher level in dealing with complaints that had stalled in the system, acting as the 'Champion of the Customer';

·                Commendations for Council staff were on the increase and the Customer Relations Team was working to further increase the visibility of the positive contributions staff made on a day-to-day basis.

RESOLVED:

(a)          That the contents of the third Corporate Complaints and Commendations Annual Report 2012-2013 (covering the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013) be noted;

(b)          That the positive steps being made in both complaints handling times and capturing commendations be supported.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled to take place on 4 September 2013 at 2.00pm.

It was NOTED that the next meeting of the Commission would be held on 4 September at 2.00pm.