Agenda item

The Chief Executive reported that one questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

Question asked by Mr Max Hunt CC

“In the publicity promoting the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), the Lead Member is quoted saying that "It’s the more rural communities which are set to benefit most from our plans”. According to government figures which are the five most rural County Divisions and their corresponding access to a private car, and the five Divisions with the least access to the private car and their corresponding rurality”?

Reply by the Chairman

Five most rural County Divisions and their corresponding access to a private car:

Population density data sourced from ONS-TS006-2021 dataset.

Five Divisions with the least access to the private car and their corresponding rurality:

Car availability data sourced from ONS-TS045-2021 dataset.

To put this into context, the County Council through its BSIP and passenger transport network review is aiming to improve and enhance public transport choice for its rural communities where in most cases there is very limited or no provision for them. In contrast, many of Leicestershire’s market towns have access to more frequent and in most cases, commercial bus services and consequently tend to have more destination choice and travel opportunities. Nonetheless, the Council is working hard through Enhanced Partnership with bus operators to support commercial provision to help ensure it is secure and stable for the benefit of Leicestershire communities.

Supplementary Question

“Since the figures show a stark difference between the most rural areas (95% with access to a private car) and those urban areas ( 36% with no car), it would be more efficient to put our limited resources into driving up patronage in urban areas without access to a car, by working towards lower fares, evening and weekend services, more reliable timetables, a comfortable ride and the protection of a weatherproof bus shelter  - and in doing so address our most deprived areas?”

Response by the Chairman

At the request of the Chairman, the Director of Environment and Transport responded that, Leicestershire’s rural areas had a far more limited bus service than its urban areas and market towns. In most cases the more frequent services were provided by commercial operators and residents in urban areas had better opportunities to access services such as health, education, employment where it was more realistic to access these by walking and cycling.

Whilst that was currently the reality of the bus network in the County, the County Council had brought its Bus Service Improvement Plan to the Committee and in implementing the plan, had developed an Enhanced Bus Partnership. This focussed on exploring the opportunities of the type that Mr Hunt had referred to and to implement more of those in the urban areas. The Partnership also looked at how to stabilise commercial services in urban areas to make sure those continued as long as possible, as if they didn’t there would be more of a gap and a funding burden.   The Council was therefore very much looking through that Enhanced Bus Partnership to increase the attractiveness of those services for those residents and particularly for the deprived and urban areas. The Director reassured members that the Bus Service Improvement Plan was aimed at addressing this very issue and that the Council was working through our Enhanced Bus Partnership to achieve this.