Agenda item

The Committee considered a report and presentation of the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth which provided an update on transport policy and activity in County Durham and the wider region (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes).

Dave Wafer, Head of Transport and Contact Services, introduced the presentation, informing the Committee that local transport issues are largely driven by national policy.  At the centre of activity is the Regional Transport Plan which recognises that transport is fundamental to the economy and aims to connect all the individual policy drivers into a single, connectivity strategy. 

In terms of active travel, the Head of Transport explained that Durham’s Strategic Walking and Cycling Delivery Plan strives to embed cycling and walking as an integral part of Durham’s culture and he outlined various projects taking place to promote active travel.

The Head of Transport explained that the National Bus Strategy, ‘Bus Back Better’ brought forward a number of requirements as to how local transport authorities and bus operators must engage, in order to access future funding. This led to Durham joining Nexus and Northumberland public transport authorities to form an enhanced partnership and the region had been awarded £163 million of funding, subject to implementation of the enhanced partnership.  In terms of transport infrastructure, the service continues to ensure transport infrastructure is fit for purpose in order to achieve the long term ambitions, through the delivery of over £70 million of transport projects including Jade Enterprise Zone and Durham Bus Station. 

The Head of Transport concluded his presentation by highlighting recent achievements including the successful round 1 levelling-up fund bid, considered a national exemplar and the three ‘Restoring Your Railway’ bids at Ferryhill, Consett and Bishop Auckland. 

Councillor Elmer commented on the Department for Transport’s prediction for an increase in car use, however, more recent evidence suggests car use has levelled off.  He added that it would be useful to have a single, integrated network plan encompassing roads, cycle ways and bus routes, in order to plan the transition, as opposed to merely reacting to demands when they occur. The Head of Transport highlighted that the service aims to be proactive in its approach.

Councillor Wilson referred to bus services and observed that a divide exists within the county, with the north of the county being served by Go North East and the south of the county being served by Arriva.

He commented on the council’s inward investment plans and asked if there was more work to be done to improve transport links and ensure employment sites are accessible via public transport. The Head of Transport agreed that more work is required to develop transport links to strategic employment sites and the enhanced partnership aims to improve engagement between bus companies.  In addition, the Area Action Partnerships are represented on the county’s Bus Board, to provide valuable feedback from service users.

Councillor Jackson referred to the ambition to increase the number of EV charging points across the county, expressing concern that this may not be sufficient to meet demand and he commented that this could be an opportunity to generate revenue for the council. The Head of Transport responded that there is an expectation that the commercial market will increase and he clarified that the additional EV charging points will be located in areas that currently lack facilities such as rural areas and areas with a high density of terraced housing.  He added  that the council expects to cover costs and make a small amount of revenue to maintain charging points.

In response to a question from Councillor Jackson as to whether consideration would be given in the future to the development of a single bus ticket to facilitate easier and more cost effective travel, the Head of Transport highlighted that the Bus Service Improvement Plan includes proposals for a single, price-capped ticket which could be used in multiple formats, county-wide.

Councillor Sterling asked that when large companies locate in County Durham, whether they are requested to provide assistance with funding for transport for employees.  The Head of Transport confirmed that employers may be requested to contribute towards the provision of public transport for their employees for a specified period of time.  Commenting in terms of tourism, Councillor Sterling suggested a tourist travel ticket could be introduced, to provide easy access to tourist attractions and accommodation. The Head of Transport agreed that the county has the potential to incentivise tourism, particularly in light of the City of Culture Bid.

Councillor Sterling referred to changes to working practices following the pandemic and spoke of those who may wish to work from home but are unable to do so as they lack the facilities and she asked if there were any plans to develop remote work-hubs within the county.  The Head of Transport referred to the development of an overarching connectivity strategy which could have the capacity to establish facilities for remote-working, thereby relieving pressure on the transport network. 

Councillor Adam commended the amount of work being done, however, he observed a focus on cars, roads and rail and he asked whether there should be a greater emphasis on active travel, to improve walking and cycling facilities and he asked if the service had sufficient resources available. 

The Head of Transport replied that additional resources are being allocated to specific projects including the Darlington and Stockton Railway project.  In addition, walking and cycling initiatives were being included in levelling-up fund bids.

In response to a question from Councillor Earley on the availability of charging facilities for electric buses, the Head of Transport informed the Committee that further investment for electric buses is being promoted and in respect of charging facilities, tests have shown that charging overnight at depots is the most efficient method. 

Rosemary Morris voiced her concern that the strategy for electric vehicles is unclear and a large amount of work will be required in advance of the government's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in2030.  She requested a detailed forward plan to provide assurance that the infrastructure will be in place to support the purchase and charging of electric vehicles in the future.  The Head of Transport advised that the service would look into this and feedback to the committee.

Councillor Nicholls raised concerns regarding the irregular bus service delivered by Arriva and informed the Committee that a response to a message placed on social media by the local members for Deerness had resulted in an overwhelming response from members of the public in the area, voicing their concerns.  These included employees whose jobs were being put at risk as they were regularly late for work due to buses being delayed or cancelled at short notice and parents whose children had been left waiting in the dark and cold weather.  Councillor Nicholls also highlighted the age of the fleet, with many buses in a state of disrepair.  Furthermore, when he had contacted the company as a local Councillor, to raise these concerns, the company had failed to respond.  The Head of Transport acknowledged that public transport services had been adversely affected by the pandemic, suffering a decrease in passenger numbers and a high number of drivers had left the profession.  He informed the Committee that lost mileage was being monitored and services were gradually returning to normal levels.  Representatives from Arriva and Go North East bus companies attend the Bus Board meetings and feedback from the public is provided through representation via the Area Action Partnerships.

The Head of Transport encouraged members to inform the Public Transport Team of their concerns.

Councillor Quinn referred to the increasing number of charging points being installed in the county and asked how many of these will be rapid-charging. The Head of Transport pointed out that plans are in place to increase the number of rapid charging points, however, they require electricity infrastructure which is not available in all areas at the present time.

Councillor Moist referred to future plans for the Park and Ride schemes and suggested that consideration could be given to increasing the number of terminuses and to developing facilities to link locations and operate a single-ticket system. 

He also asked whether plans were being considered to increase the capacity of the existing road structure, to accommodate bus lanes in the future.  The Head of Transport highlighted the importance of analysing travel trends in order to target resources accordingly, adding that it is likely that the future will see the introduction of single ticketing and an increase in Park and Ride schemes.

Councillor Manchester asked whether the council could offer support to recruit more bus drivers to address the national shortage and the Head of Transport replied that bus companies were recently reporting an increase in recruitment, which will take time to come to fruition as recruits complete their training.

Resolved:

That the report and presentation be noted.