The Questionnaire is available here:
Strategic Transport Group - Discussion Paper on its future role (office.com)
Responses to be returned by midday 5th February 2021.
Minutes:
The Chair thanked Head of Service (Strategic Projects) and Communications Officer for compiling and circulating the questionnaire also everyone who had completed it.
The role of the Group originally was to offer support for the Cabinet Member by bringing in expertise from outside the authority from individuals with specialist interest in developing transport within the county. The Group is not a scrutiny committee but is invaluable in providing comment on and challenge to regional and national policies and strategies. The Group has benefitted from presentations from many outside agencies. These assist in informing the Council’s position to develop strategy, priorities, opportunities and initiatives.
Feedback was reported as follows based on 13 responses:
· The majority agreed that the frequency of meetings was suitable with one or two responding that it was too often;
· Length of meetings were thought to be right, one response was that meetings were too long; and
· Length of the agenda was thought to be suitable with two responses that it was too long.
Other feedback was:
· The majority thought the group should continue as it is with one response that it should be more strategic and less operational, with a suggestion of sub committees (for e.g. bus and rail) reporting back to the main Group with a view to managing the agenda better;
· A comment was received that there was too much emphasis on public travel and not enough focus on active travel and reducing car use;
· A better understanding of how funding is allocated by the council was requested; and
· A suggestion of themed meetings.
Exploring what encourages members to attend and what it offers, the following feedback included:
· Concern about public transport;
· A suggestion to return to the original North/ South of the County format;
· Questioned if the Group could be a sub- committee of the Strong Communities Select Committee;
· Raises profile of public transport and challenges public transport providers;
· Offers opportunities to raise cross border public transport issues;
· Helps to improve public transport;
· Presentations from external organisations is beneficial;
· Networking with Councillors and officers to share current issues;
· Rural bus transport – opportunity for interested parties to be heard in a strategic group;
· Select Committees would not have the time to concentrate on integrated transport provision;
· Important committee – area committees representatives could attend for wider issues of bus services, trains, accessibility to rail stations, parking etc.;
· Can raise issues otherwise overlooked; and
· Should have greater objectivity in purpose.
A synopsis of the feedback will be circulated to the group. The terms of reference will be redrafted to reflect the feedback. The draft terms of reference will be discussed at the next meeting.
It was confirmed that Active Travel has been added to the portfolio for the Group. The Chair reminded the Group that any bid for funding must have an Active Travel element.
The Youth, Sport and Active Travel Manager explained the strategic focus for a whole authority approach on Active Travel. Ambitious bids, totalling £4.2m have been submitted this year for projects in Caldicot, Abergavenny and Monmouth. Regular updates on current work and future plans will be provided and any input from group members is welcomed.
A Group Member stated that, at a recent meeting, in giving their full support to Magor Walkway Station, the Minister and Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of considering the whole journey from home to the station. Consequently, a strategic plan integrating active travel for whole journeys is urgently needed. The Active Travel Manager and Head of Place-making, Housing, Highways and Flooding will liaise with Magor Action Group On Rail (MAGOR) to consider active travel, parking and replacement Local Development Plan (LDP).
A Group Member raised the importance of a bus service connecting to rail services from rural starting points. Everyone in the Group was encouraged to read the Wales Transport Strategy document. A regional bus team will be created to administer grants to the bus industry, and will be the remit of the Cardiff Capital Regional Transport Authority. see Cabinet Report (20th January 2021) - click here
Discussing bus and rail connectivity, it was commented that Tourism is missing from the Wales Transport Strategy and the Chepstow Transport Study. This could have a major impact on car use whilst sustaining services for residents. The regional bus team must consult bus users, bus user representatives and also work on marketing and communication. The Friends of the 65 Bus offered to be involved.
A Member asked why there was no consideration given to public transport to the new Grange Hospital in Llanfrechfa. It was agreed that the Head of Place-making, Housing, Highways and Flooding will make enquiries with Torfaen County Borough Council Planning. It was added that residents in the South of the County have struggled to get to Cwmbran Station for the COVID vaccination. The Grassroutes service enables residents to use Grassroutes within normal operating hours to travel to Cwmbran (a relaxation of the usual 15 mile limit). It was advised that residents with appointments in the daytime, Mon-Fri can use the service. It was agreed that a review of the Grassroutes service/bus services/community demand would be beneficial and could be discussed further at the next meeting.
A Member commented that bus timetables are not available on bus stops and that not everyone has access to smartphones to access this information. Bus service companies should make details of real time provision available so users can see when the next bus is due and existing services should be reviewed / rearranged with a view to increasing passenger numbers and being more effective. Bus Service provision (including the Grassroutes Service) to be added to a future agenda.