Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Wakefield Old Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, WF12 8DG

Contact: Andrew Atack 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Eric Firth, Councillor Andrew Pinnock and Jean Kirby.

2.

Minutes and Feedback From the Meeting held on 5 April 2017 pdf icon PDF 261 KB

Copy attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2017 be approved.

3.

Introduction to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the District Consultations Sub-Committees

This will be a presentation provided by a representative from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Minutes:

The committee was presented with an overview of how the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is funded and the transport functions and services it provides. Members were also provided with an overview of how the District Consultation Sub-Committees (DCSCS) fit into WYCA’s governance structure.

4.

Information Report pdf icon PDF 310 KB

To consider the attached report.

Minutes:

Bus Services Act

 

The committee was informed that the Bus Services Act received Royal Assent in April 2017. Draft regulations and secondary legislation have now been issued by the government for consultation.

 

New CCTV Contracts

 

The committee was informed that a new contract has been let to manage and replace all CCTV installations currently active in bus stations across West Yorkshire. The new system will be digital, rather than analogue, and will provide higher quality live camera feeds and improved evidence gathering facilities. WYCA are in constant contact with the police regarding anti-social behaviour at bus stations across West Yorkshire and have a mobile response team that deal with incidents.

 

Real Time Information

 

The committee was informed that the current real time information system, which has been in operation since October 2005, will be replaced following the completion of a procurement process. Two suppliers will deliver different aspects of the upgrade, which includes the introduction of a new back-office system and the upgrade of real time information screens. The upgrade and installation of the new screens is planned to start in late 2017.

 

TransPennine Route Upgrade

 

It was reported that Network Rail are currently working on the development of potential infrastructure options for the TransPennine Route Upgrade and will submit these options to the Department for Transport for consideration in December 2017,  with a decision expected in spring 2018.

 

Northern Stations Improvement Fund

 

The committee was informed that the Northern Stations Improvement Fund is aimed at middle and smaller sized stations and is focused on bringing facilities and standards up to a consistent level. Improvements include investment in areas such as seating, information, lighting and security, as well as additional ticket machines and improved accessibility where applicable. Phase 1 stations, including Denby Dale and Ravensthorpe, are due to be completed by the end of 2017.

 

Improvement works will still be undertaken at stations that are in phase two of the programme if the opportunity arises. For example, a number of phase two stations have recently had new ticket machines installed.

 

Rail Station Car Park Expansions

 

It was reported that work had started on a programme of car park extensions at a number of rail stations throughout West Yorkshire. Once completed, the car parks will provide additional standard and blue badge parking bays, as well as charging points for Electric Vehicle. Work is planned to begin in Mirfield within the next 18 months.

 

AccessBus

 

It was reported that TLC Travel now operate the AccessBus services in Kirklees and Bradford. The changes were implemented from 1 October 2017.

5.

Open Forum

This will provide the opportunity for questions to be raised from the floor with a focus on matters of wider interest.

Minutes:

Low Moor Station

 

Councillor Bolt asked why no secure cycle parking had been installed at Low Moor Station.

 

Pete Myers informed the committee that standard cycle parking is available at the station and that no funding is currently available from Northern to install bike lockers. Pete Myers advised that Grand Central may have funding available.

 

Evening Services

 

Councillor Mohan Sokhal asked why some evening and weekend services were being reduced or withdrawn following the service changes implemented at the end of October 2017.

 

Neale Wallace informed the committee that only services that carried a small number of passengers and fell below the subsidy per passenger criteria set by WYCA had been withdrawn.

 

Seat Reservations

 

Catherine Waters suggested removing seat reservations on busy services at rush hour because passengers on congested trains are not able to move along the carriage to reach the reserved causing uncertainty.

 

Pete Myers informed the committee that plans are in place to remove the paper based reservation system and replace it with an electronic ‘traffic light’ system, which will hopefully resolve the issue.

           

Bus Shelter Lighting

 

Shaun Jordan reported that the lighting at a bus shelter on Peel Street in Huddersfield has been switched off for a while.

 

Neale Wallace informed the committee that the power was originally switched off to allow for roadworks in the area, which are yet to take place. The roadworks will now commence in April.

 

Other Information and Feedback

 

A representative from South Pennine Community Transport and WYCA’s Rail Team will be invited to the next meeting of the Kirklees District Consultation Sub-Committee following suggestions from Mark Denton and Councillor Bolt respectively.