Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th March 2023

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th March 2023 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Further to resolution 2) of Minute 26 headed ‘Cycling and Walking Update’,  Members noted that a Briefing Note had been sent to the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the issue had been picked up in the Renewal of the City Centre Public Space Protection Order Report to Cabinet on 13th June 2023, and the matter would be considered at the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities – Disability Equality Advisory Panel on 29th June 2023. The Board would be updated on progress.

Briefing Note of the Director of Transportation and Highways and the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

(Note: Representatives of Transport for West Midlands, National Express and Stagecoach have been invited to attend the meeting for this item)

The Business, Economy, and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a briefing note of the Director of Transportation and Highways and the Scrutiny Co-ordinator that provided the scope of the item Bus Update, to enable Members of the Board to be briefed on the current position of bus services, as well as identify key areas and issues for further consideration at the meeting of the Board on 27th September 2023.

Representatives from Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), National Express and Stagecoach attended the meeting for this item.

Members had raised concerns about bus service provision in Coventry, especially for vulnerable user groups such as school children and older people.  Bus services within Coventry were operated by private sector companies within a legislative framework set by national government. The West Midlands Combined Authority was the Strategic Transport Authority with responsibility for the Bus Service Improvement Plan, a responsibility that is discharged through their transport delivery arm, TfWM.

Bus services within Coventry were primarily operated by National Express and by Stagecoach. The services operated by Stagecoach were primarily cross-boundary services linking Coventry with communities within Warwickshire and those operated by National Express were primarily those that operated within the city boundary, or which provided cross-boundary services to Solihull and Birmingham. 

TfWM had the day-to-day responsibility for setting the bus policy framework for the West Midlands, including the preparation and implementation of the Bus Service Improvement Plan.

The bus industry was facing significant challenges at present, with patronage remaining below pre-pandemic levels and costs having escalated significantly.  These meant that fewer bus services were now commercially viable, and that greater public subsidy would be required to maintain the bus service network at its current level.

Health inequalities were linked to poverty and physical activity. Better walking, cycling and public transport links to employment centres were essential. Air pollution was also a concern, with traffic jams a major cause. Improved public transport was part of encouraging active travel and addressing health inequalities.

The Head of Bus at the TfWM gave a presentation to the Board that highlighted:

Local Context – Coventry

·  Patronage exceeding pre-covid levels – 93% across West Midlands

·  480k passengers per week – June 2023 – 4.77m across West Midlands

·  ENCTS passengers down on pre-covid

·  Current network c.95% of pre-covid – 89% in the region

·  Driver position greatly improved – just 0.4% of mileage was lost in May due to drivers – this continued to reduce

Operator Pressures

·  Cost of running buses had increased to c.125% of 2019 costs.

·  Driver shortages being resolved but at a cost.

·  Fuel cost variable.

·  Utilities

·  Materials

·  Maintenance

·  Revenues have not kept pace with cost inflation

Bus Network - Funding

·  Operators had limited options to address the imbalance – fares increase and/or network reductions.

·  National and Regional Governments - supported operators since April 2020.

·  Current funding mechanism ending 30th June.

·  DfT had changed the approach for how BSIP money could be spent – move away from service transformation to retention.

·  TfWM requested a change in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Business, Economy, and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator that detailed the issues carried over from the Board’s Work Programme 2022/2023 and suggested for meetings of the Board in 2022/2023.

Members had attended a Scrutiny Work Programme Planning Session on the same day as the meeting of the Business, Economy, and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) and noted that, a meeting of all Scrutiny Chairs had been scheduled in July 2023 at which Scrutiny Board Work Programmes would be updated to capture items suggested at the Work Programme Planning Session.

Members were invited to submit further items to the Chair/Scrutiny Co-ordinator.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy, and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3):

1)  Notes the issues carried over from the Work Programme for 2022/2023 and suggested for meetings of the Board in 2023/2024 and that the work Programme would be updated, following a meeting of all Scrutiny Chairs scheduled in July 2023, to capture items suggested at the Work Programme Planning Session.

2)  Members requested that an item on the ‘Development of the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub’ be considered at the meeting of the Board scheduled for 15th November 2023. The Work Programme would be updated accordingly.

There were no other items of public business.