Agenda and draft minutes

Open session for members of the public to ask a question, raise a concern or provide feedback.

No questions had been received from members of the public prior to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from public representatives, Mark Denton and Ian Roper.

Transport Committee members only.

There were no pecuniary interests declared by Members at the meeting.

There were no items which required the exemption of the press and public.

(subject to approval by the Combined Authority)

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that Kirklees District Council’s elected members had been invited to participate in the workshop session on the Connectivity Infrastructure Plan.  

The Sub-Committee noted a report which provided an update on matters relating to the Kirklees district.

It was noted that the Transport Committee received updates on regional and national issues and the latest information was available on the Combined Authority’s website.  A list of current project activity in the Kirklees district was attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

In line with government guidance, bus service levels have been constantly adapted throughout the pandemic.  Services are currently temporarily reduced. However, bus operators have started to reinstate service levels from 8 March.  This has initially focused on bringing Monday-Friday timetables back to normal levels so that all school journeys can be made.  Some weekend services will remain reduced. There will be a further ramp up of services from 12 April when non-essential retail opens which should bring service levels back to normal.

It was noted that the Government had recently announced £3 billion funding allocated to a bus strategy to help the longer-term recovery.

Concern was raised and noted regarding one of the project schemes included in Appendix 1 to the report, Bradley to Brighouse Off Highway Active Travel route linking Bradley to Brighouse, which is currently in development and due to be on site early 2022.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Operator Updates

The meeting was attended by representatives from the rail and bus operators who provided the Sub-Committee with updates.

TransPennine Express

TransPennine provided an update and said they were currently operating a reduced timetable with a number of services removed due to the low number of passengers travelling and are launching a re-assurance campaign to encourage customers to return to travel. There will be an uplift in services in December 2021 and they confirmed they are in a good place.

There have been problems with trespass involving young people and are currently working with British Transport Police following this behaviour.

In respect of improvements to Dewsbury Station which will include male, female and accessible toilets and a changing area, the work will commence in May 2021 and end in August.2021. West Yorkshire Combined Authority was thanked by TransPennine along with three named individuals from Kirklees Council for their involvement.

Northern

Northern advised that patronage remained very low compared to pre-covid figures although the return to school had increased figures.  The Combined Authority were thanked for their recent help in providing bus services to assist in the increased patronage due to young people returning to education.

A new timetable would be introduced on 16 May 2021 when it was expected there would be a significant upturn in patronage particularly due to the return to leisure activities.

Arriva

Arriva provided an update on the current bus network in the Kirklees district which included the reinstatement of Monday to Friday services.  As previously reported the services were working on reduced capacity but additional vehicles were being provided for busy services e.g. School journeys. From 12 April 2021, Saturday services would be reinstated to pre-pandemic levels and Arriva were looking forward.to welcoming passengers back.

Resolved: That the operators be thanked for their updates.

The Sub-Committee considered a presentation outlining the proposed goals for public transport over the coming years

The Sub-Committee was provided with a presentation on the current trends for public transport following the pandemic, with suggestions to encourage passengers to return to public transport, and how public transport might change to support a return