Agenda and minutes

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

The Chair explained that the item had been moved to first on the agenda to encourage more members of the public to attend and ask questions.

He invited questions from any public present, who were not the members of the sub-committee.

Bus Operator sales

Bruce Barnes of the ‘680 Bus Lobby Group’ was present and stated he was concerned regarding the threat to Bradford bus services from the sales of Arriva and First Bus. He felt there could be chaos while services were at threat and wanted to know what Metro was doing about it. He also requested that passengers are consulted as to any plans and was concerned that confidentiality may mean that the public are not fully informed.

The Chair invited First Bus to respond. They gave assurances that services will not be withdrawn due to the sales of the companies. There was no information as yet whether services would be sold in full or in part.

It was noted that the Combined Authority had submitted an Expression of Wish to maybe take over services in Yorkshire. They had written to central government requesting guidance as the Transport Act bars Local Government from taking on services at present.

Arriva informed the public that their parent company Deutsche Bahn had merely expressed a wish to sell. No definitive method had been communicated as yet and they reiterated that they would continue services.

The Combined Authority said their main priority was continuing services and that they were exploring the possibilities around the First Bus sale but not Arriva currently.

The Chair confirmed that if the public had any further questions to email himself, Andrew Bradley (WYCA) or WYCA Governance Services.

Bradford Cycle Campaign

It was requested that bus drivers be made aware of the advanced stop space used by cyclists as often they were ignoring this, thus putting them at risk. First Bus agreed they would send a message out to all drivers via the ticket machines and put posters up in depots. Both bus companies confirmed this would be addressed in driver training.

The Chair explained that the item had been moved to first on the agenda to encourage more members of the public to attend and ask questions.

He invited questions from any public present, who were not the members of the sub-committee.

Bus Operator sales

Bruce Barnes of the ‘680 Bus Lobby Group’ was present and stated he was concerned regarding the threat to Bradford bus services from the sales of Arriva and First Bus. He felt there could be chaos while services were at threat and wanted to know what Metro was doing about it. He also requested that passengers are consulted as to any plans and was concerned that confidentiality may mean that the public are not fully informed.

The Chair invited First Bus to respond. They gave assurances that services will not be withdrawn due to the sales of the companies. There was no information as yet whether services would be sold in full  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Apologies were received from Colin Brushwood.

Transport Committee members only.

The Chair declared that he is currently employed by First Bus.

There were no items requiring the exemption of the press and public.

The Chair had received one proposer of Gareth Logan, the current Deputy Chair. He asked the meeting to approve this.

Resolved: That the move to endorse Gareth Logan as Deputy Chair was passed by the sub-committee.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2019 be approved.

The Chair gave his update on the following items:

Trains

New trains are now at the Interchange and it is good news the pacers are soon to go. He has been asking for more services to be provided at Low Moor and for it to be more accessible, especially given it is next to the Green Way. It would be good to encourage bike/train travel.

Cycle Ways

The Canal Way Sus trans route is being well used now. Connectivity as to the Green Way and City centre is now being looked into.

Open Forum

The Chair informed the meeting that the public can put questions in advance if required, in writing. Then an informed written response can be given.

Climate Emergency

He has been talking to the portfolio officer in Bradford to see that the Climate Emergency issues are being taken on. Concerns have also been raised at Transport Committee that Bradford doesn’t want to lose out because Leeds has the Clean Air pilot and cleaner buses. Bradford wants the same and is working with this through the Bus Alliance also.

Public representatives asked the following:

·       Can the Spen Valley and Liversedge cycle path be looked at as roots are lifting the tarmac?

The Chair said some repairs had already been carried out as part of the repair programme but unfortunately since then more issues have arisen in other areas of the path. He will raise this and the state of the Shipley to Leeds cycle path at the Cycling and Walking working group on Friday.

It was acknowledged that the Shipley to Keighley cycle path had been repaired recently and it was very successful.

·       What is the current situation regards the Queensbury Tunnel?

Norah gave an update as a member of the group for preservation of the tunnel. Just today the Historical Buildings Estate has requested emergency planning permission to fill a shaft as they claim it will otherwise collapse. The group wished to see the engineering report that had made this conclusion as up to two weeks ago contractors were in the tunnel making it safe in order to execute its abandonment. To date there have been 4200 objections to abandoning the tunnel- still could be used as a cycle route. The MP Julie Cummins is aware of the situation.

Resolved: The Chair’s update was noted.

Operators were invited to give their updates to the sub-committee.

Northern

·       It was confirmed that there were now 9 new trains on the Bradford route and it has been the first time diesels have been ran on this side of the Pennines, their speed and capacity has been very good. Just need to improve on their reliability and for staff to get used to faults that may come up and how to fix them – like any new train.

Two issues have already been resolved in relation to the driver’s door sensor and fast windscreen wipers.

Drivers have received a full 9 days training to operate the new trains and conductors are also being trained.

·       Performance has been better than last year but still not where they want it to be. Some places have strong performance and Northern continue to work with other operators and Network Rail.

·       The December timetable is going to deliver faster journey times between Leeds – Bradford- Manchester. There are also Network Rail improvement which will help facilitate this.

There is also going to be a new Halifax – Hull service, which will call at Thorpe Park at such point as the station opens.

·       Pacer Trains will continue to be used into the New Year, which is unfortunate. They will be on the lighter used routes mainly Sheffield and Huddersfield and Bradford for the first few weeks of 2020.

They will also be used on early / late services as other trains have to go to Newcastle for their maintenance. All Pacer trains will be gone by May 2020.

A member asked how accessibility issues will be addressed in relation to the pacers and Northern confirmed that a ramp can be deployed for wheelchair users or their use of a taxi would continue to be reimbursed.

·       Boxing Day timetable will run as normal from 8am to 6pm. Trains will run to Bradford Forster Square, Ilkley and Skipton.

·       The Department of Transport scheme for stations is currently running and bids have been submitted by Northern with the Combined Authority. The outcome of which should be known by Christmas / New Year 2020.

Members raised the following issues:

·       Bradford Low Moor has had a poor service today – the 13.21 was cancelled.

·       Are ticket offices going to be closed?

Northern confirmed that there are no plans to do this. All that was previously said by them was that increasingly more people are buying electronically.

·       Bradford Forster Square tickets are not being accepted by the barrier at Gargrove.

This will be raised at the station by Northern as it may be a simple coding issue for the barrier to accept them.

·       Are stations going to be modernised? Keighley been the same for 50 years. Can there be toilets and unlocked waiting rooms?

Northern confirmed that the waiting rooms should be open. They are aware that Network Rail are repairing the fabric of the station but not seen any plans for toilets there. This will be asked of Northern  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Andrew Bradley, Head of Customer Services, from the Combined Authority, gave the Sub-Committee a presentation on the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance and its aims and objectives, with a view to obtaining members’ feedback.

The Bus Alliance is a formal partnership between the Combined Authority (CA) and the Bus Operators. It is chaired by Cllr Groves (Chair of the CA Transport Committee) and is made up of senior representatives from each organisation.

Its key measures of success are: Increasing bus patronage, delivering a reliable service and providing customer satisfaction.

Key points were:

·       The Bus Strategy is ‘Putting Customers First’

·       Target to grow the number of bus passengers in Bradford by up to 25% over the next ten years

·       Lot of work to do with partners to achieve this

·       Want to improve the provision of easily accessible and reliable travel information

·       Modern buses to be as green as possible

·       Offer a fair deal to young people

·       Providers accepting one another’s tickets

·       Continued use of the MCard

·       New Stourton park and ride (Leeds Orbital) will use only electric buses

·       Existing buses are still being retro-fitted

In order to make the bus network easier to use a colour coded navigation system is to be rolled out, initially in Leeds then across all the Districts. Examples of these could be brought to a future meeting to obtain members feedback. Members welcomed this.

Members gave their feedback to the presentation:

·       There is a need to ensure there is integrated ticketing where two providers share a route

·       The public needs encouragement to make modal shift, not just transferring to electric cars which will improve air quality but not reduce traffic congestion

·       Poor or non-existent bus shelters and bad weather put the public off

·       It was felt that carbon targets could perhaps be more ambitious

·       Competition rules are often obstructive in bus service providers working together

·       Members liked the colour coded system and would like it to also include what services tickets could be used on

Operators all stated that the last bad weather arrangements worked really well and that very quickly operators agreed to accept one another’s tickets in the exceptional ‘Beast from the East’ conditions. Andrew Bradley agreed to take away specific questions and provide answers from the Combined Authority.

The Chair highlighted that all issues raised from the DCSCs are feedback into the Transport Committee and the Portfolio Holders attend both the Committee and their appropriate DCSC.

A few members made all present aware of the ‘Clean Air Bradford’ campaign, who have submitted an outline business case to DEFRA which is linked to the climate emergency.

It was acknowledged that currently it is a very difficult environment for operators.

The Combined Authority would welcome any further future feedback on the Bus Alliance.

Resolved:    That the Sub-Committee’s feedback be noted.

The Sub-Committee was updated on matters of information relating to the Bradford District. Members raised the following questions:

·       Why is the Family/Group ticket only available at travel centres and not on bus?

·       There are still issues with platforms having gaps. Northern explained this is historical and all stations have ramps to deal with this if required. New build stations are all compliant

·       In a recent Bradford Core Strategy Focus Group all attendees were confused who held responsibility for transport overall. TfN? The Alliance? They also felt there should be more planning from ‘grass roots’

·       It was acknowledged that the DCSCs were ‘grass roots’ but unfortunately no one in the focus group had heard of the Sub-Committee.

·       Open forums could be held for each ward or parish regards specific transport issues.

Cllr Engel informed the Sub-Committee that councillors would often hold meetings to discuss a specific issues and that public consultations need to be specific

·       James Craig made the members aware that ‘Be-Spoken’ would be happy to provide Bradford cycling campaign information

Resolved: The Sub-Committee noted the Information report.

The Chair thanked everyone for a very productive and informative meeting. The next meeting is to be held on Monday 23 March at 2-3pm in Committee Room 1 of Bradford City Hall.