Agenda and decisions

That apologies be received and noted from Councillor Phil Burke.

Apologies were also received from Ian Humphreys (First), Alastair Nuttall (Arriva) and Gary Nolan (One Bus).

The Chair welcomed the attendance of bus operators present at the meeting.

To receive declarations of interest in any item for discussion at the meeting. A blank form for declaring interests has been circulated with the agenda; please ensure that this is returned to the Governance & Scrutiny Officer at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest in relation to any item on the agenda.

To consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held 7 October 2022.

1.    That the minutes of the GM Transport Bus Services Sub Committee meeting held 7 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.

2.    That Nick Roberts would provide a written update to Cllr Vickers regarding the current patronage levels and current status of the Vantage Services.

3.    That Cllr Vickers would provide officers with information as to how the issues with the Vantage were impacting other bus routes, including services 132, 582 and 583.

Report of Stephen Rhodes, Director of Bus, TfGM.

1. That the changes on the commercial network as set out in Annex A be noted.
2. That it be agreed that no action be taken in respect of changes or de-registered commercial services set out in Annex B.
3. That it be agreed that the action be taken in respect of the service changes set out in Annex B.
4. That the proposed changes to general subsidised services set out in Annex C be agreed.

To receive a verbal update from Bus Operators in attendance.

1. That bus operators be thanked for their verbal updates, and their contents noted.
2. That it be noted that Diamond welcome further dialogue with Cllr Phil Burke regarding the specific issues relating to service 471.
3. That TfGM seek a response from GMP / Travelsafe in relation to the recent spate of vandalism on Diamond Buses in Little Houlton.
4. That concerns regarding service 328 to Aquinas College be passed on from Cllr Meller to Stagecoach directly.
5. That it be noted that Stagecoach welcome notification of any further concerns in relation to the 192 service.

Report of Stephen Rhodes, Head of Bus, TfGM.

1. That the report be noted.
2. That a further update on the expansion of the electric fleet for Ring and Ride be provided to the Committee in due course.
3. That officers at TfGM would pick up the concerns raised by Age Concern regarding Ring and Ride in Bury.
4. That the Chair would write to electric wheelchair manufacturers on behalf of the Committee, asking for consideration to be given as to how their chairs could more compatibly work with accessible transport provision to reduce any future exclusion.
5. That TfGM would provide an update to the next meeting on the progress of the Demand Responsive Transport review, with specific reference to Local Link and other areas not included in the Ring and Ride report.

To note the Work Programme for the GM Transport Committee and its Sub Committees.

That the proposed Work Programme for the GM Transport Committee and its Sub Committees be noted.

1. That future dates for the Bus Services Sub Committee be noted as below –

Friday 20 January 2023

Friday 10 March 2023

2. That it be further noted that these meetings would take place in the Boardroom at the GMCA Offices, Tootal Buildings, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester.

That, under section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public should be excluded from the meeting for the following items on business on the grounds that this involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as set out in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

That, under section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public should be excluded from the meeting for the following items on business on the grounds that this involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as set out in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of Stephen Rhodes, Director of Bus, TfGM.

That the financial implications of forthcoming changes to the bus network be noted.