Bus Strategy Delivery Project
Options for Delivery of the Bus Strategy in Tyne and Wear
Informal Stakeholder Engagement Results
(December 2011 – February 2012)
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
Summary
1.
Athree-monthinformalengagementperiod,onoptionsforthefuturedeliveryofthebus
networkinTyneandWear,ranfrom1stDecember2011until29thFebruary2012.
ThiswasanoutcomeofarequestfromtheITAtoNexusinNovember2011toinvestigate
twopotentialmodelsfordelivery:aQualityContractsScheme(QCS)andVoluntary
PartnershipAgreement(s)(VPA).
2.
Theinformalconsultationconsistedofmeetingswithcouncillorsinallfivedistrictsplusupto
threemeetingsineachdistrictforinvitedstakeholders,aswellasaseriesofmeetingsforbus
operators.Therewerealsoanumberofmeetingsforspecificinterestsincluding
NorthumberlandandDurhamcouncils,regionalMPs,TradesUnionrepresentativesand
others.Inaddition,informationabouttheproposalsandanopportunitytorespondwas
availableontheNexuswebsite.
3.
Feedbackwassoughtatthemeetings,viaafeedbackformintheinformationbrochureand
viathewebsite.Intotal,234peopleattendedcouncillorandstakeholdermeetingsand
111writtenresponsesweresubmitted.Exceptforthebusoperators,theresponsesshowed
asubstantialmajoritypositivereactiontotheproposals,withapotentialQualityContracts
SchemereceivingsubstantiallymoresupportthanVoluntaryPartnershipAgreements.
4.
BusoperatorsweregenerallyaversetoaQCSbutareactivelyconsideringtheVoluntary Partnershipapproach.Anumberofoperators,includingthethreemainonesactiveinthe
region,havesetupaNorthEastBusOperatorsAssociationtoprogressproposalsfor
VoluntaryPartnershipAgreementsandtobetheformalpointofcontactbetweentheITA,
Nexusandthebusoperatorsforthepurposeofthisproject.
5.
Themainareasofconcernandcommentfromallconsulteesrelatedto:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Theneedforamoreintegratednetworkwithconsistentstandardsacrossallservices
Bettersolutionsforfullyintegratedticketing
Theneedtoreducethenumberofservicechanges/servicecuts
ImplicationsofbothoptionsonCross-boundaryservices
Consultationonproposedchanges
Whatisinvolvedinimplementingthelegislation
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
1.
Introduction
Background
1.1
InNovember2011,theTyneandWearIntegratedTransportAuthorityrequestedNexustoinvestigate
proposalsrelatingtothedeliveryoftheBusStrategy.Specifically,itaskedNexustoconsidertwo
optionsforthedeliveryofthebusnetworkinTyneandWear:todevelopadraftQualityContracts
Scheme(QCS)forbusservicesinTyneandWear;andinparalleltoaskthebusoperatorsactivein
TyneandWeartoputforwardalternativeproposalstoachievesimilarbenefitsinvolvingoneormore
VoluntaryPartnershipAgreements(VPA).Thecurrentintentionisthatthetwosetsofproposalswill
bereturnedtotheITAlaterin2012foradecisionastowhichoptiontoadopt.
1.2
CurrentlywithinTyneandWearthereismuchgoodpracticeandhighlevelsofcustomer
satisfactionwithbusserviceswheretheoperatorschoosetooperate.However,therearesignificant
issuesrelatingtointegration(includingroutes,timetablesandfaresandticketing),thedeliveryofan
overallnetworkratherthanasetofindividualroutes,andthevariabilityofstandardsbetween
operators.Thesemeanthatpassengersinsomeareascannotaccessequivalentlevelsofservicein
termsoffrequency,qualityandconsistencycomparedtothatofferedtopassengerswhohaveaccess
tothebestservices.Therearealsoissuesofaccessibilitywhereoperatorssimplychoosenottorun
servicesduetocommercialreasons.
1.3
TheDepartmentforTransporthasproducedstatutoryguidancetolocaltransportauthoritiesabout
exerciseoftheirfunctionrelatingtoQualityContractsSchemes.Partofthisguidancerelatesto
undertakingaformalconsultationprocesswhichincludespublishingastatutoryconsultation
document,settingouttherationaleanddetailsoftheproposedQCS.Itisanticipatedthatformal
consultationwouldbeundertakeninlate2012iftheITAdecidetoadoptthisoption.
ThisconsultationwouldbetargetedatallinterestedpartiesinTyneandWearandneighbouring
authorityareas.AnapproachtoconsultationwithinanyVPAwillbedeveloped.
1.4
Aspartoftheinitialdevelopmentprocess,Nexusdecidedtoundertakeaperiodofinformal
engagementwiththecouncilsinTyneandWearandkeystakeholdersincludingNorthumberland
andDurhamcouncils,toraisepeople’sawarenessoftheoptionsbeingconsideredforthedelivery
ofbusservicesinTyneandWear.Thepurposeofthisengagementwastoseekpeople’sviewsonthe
optionsthemselvesandalsotoidentifythemajorareasofinterest.Theresponsesreceivedduring
theinformalconsultationperiodwillinformfurtherschemedevelopment.
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
1.5
TheinformalconsultationconsistedofbriefingsofferedtoallcouncillorsinTyneandWeartogether
withanumberofeventsforkeystakeholdersandapageontheNexuswebsite.Theseevents
generallyconsistedofapresentationbyaNexusDirectoroutliningtheprojectfollowedbythe
opportunityforquestionsandcomments.Printedbrochureswereavailabletoallparticipants,and
thesameinformationwasprovidedonthewebsite.ThebrochuresareprovidedasAttachmentsA
andB.TheprogrammeofeventsisshowninAppendix1.Alleventswerebyinvitationtocouncillors
andkeystakeholders.Thestakeholderswereidentifiedinagreementwithappropriateofficersin
eachdistrict.
1.6
Allfeedbackandcommentsateventsandsubmittedbypostandonlinehavebeenrecordedand
logged,andasummaryoftheresultsisgiveninsection2,withmoredetailinsection3.
1.7
ThisdocumentissuppliedtotheTyneandWearIntegratedTransportAuthority.Itwillbeprovided
toallstakeholderorganisationswhichwereinvitedtostakeholderbriefings,andwillalsobemade
availabletointerestedpartiesontheNexuswebsite,andinprintedformonrequesttoNexus.
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
2.
Consultation and results
Consulteesandresponsesreceived
2.1
Briefingswereheldwitharangeofkeystakeholders.ThereweremeetingsforCouncillorsand
relevantOfficerstoascheduleagreedwitheachofthefivedistrictsofTyneandWeartoexplain
thetwooptions(QCSandVPA)underconsiderationandprovideanopportunityforcommentsand
questions.Inaddition,threebriefingsforkeystakeholderswereorganisedacrosseachofthefive
districts,ofwhichninemeetingstookplace,theremainderbeingmergedduetoasmallernumberof
responses.TheoverallattendancewashighestinSunderland.Additionalmeetingshavebeenheld
withindividualgroupsincludingregionalMPs,tradeunionrepresentatives,andcollegesand
universities.
2.2
FurtherbriefingsandmeetingsareongoingwithrelevantMembersandOfficersinNorthumberland
andDurhamCouncilsandwiththelocalbusoperators.Allbusandtaxioperatorscurrentlyactivein
TyneandWearhavebeeninvitedtobriefingsand12havebeenengaged,includingallthreemajor
operators.ThebusoperatorshavesetuptheNorthEastBusOperatorsAssociationtonegotiatewith
NexusontheproposalsforQCSandVPA.
2.3
TheinformationwasalsoavailableontheNexuswebsitefrom16thJanuary–29thFebruaryfor
interestedpartiesnototherwiseengaged.Therewassignificantdiscussionbymembersofthe
publicontheissuesaroundtheBusStrategyonsocialmediasitesincludingtheNexusdiscussion
boardandGoNorthEastFacebookpage.
2.4
Atotalof234peopleattendedcouncillorandstakeholdermeetingsand77writtenresponseswere
receivedduringtheconsultationperiod,whichranbetween1stDecember2011and29thFebruary
2012.TherelevantthreadonthemainNexusdiscussionforumhasreceived34poststodate.
ThegeographicspreadofresponsescoveredalldistrictswithinTyneandWear,withasmaller
numberofwebsiteresponsesfromNorthumberlandandCountyDurham.
2.5
TheITA’sdecisiontoaskNexustoexploretherespectivemeritsofaVoluntaryPartnership
AgreementandQualityContractsSchemeledtoanumberofnews,analysisandcommentarticles
inlocalnewspapersbeforethestartoftheinformalconsultationperiod.Towardstheendofthe
periodtherewasfurthercoverageinthebroadcastandprintmedia,followingthepublicationof
GoNorthEastproposalsforvoluntarychange.Allcoverageexaminedthenatureofproposalsata
strategiclevel.Whilstthemediahasreportedandgivenprominencetothehostilecommentsmade
abouttheproposalsbycertainbusoperatorsNexus’sassessmentisthatover70%oftheactual
commentaryon/analysisoftheproposalsinthemediacoverageduringtheinformalconsultation
periodhasbeenpositive.
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
2.6
ResponsesandfeedbackfromCouncillorsindicatethatallfivedistrictsareinfavourof
progressingtheproposalsfurther;theyhaveconcernsovertheuntriednatureofthelegislationand
therisksinvolvedindevelopingandimplementingaQualityContractsScheme,butonbalancethere
iscurrentlymoresupportforthisapproachthanaVoluntaryPartnership.Councillorsweresupportive
oftheconceptsofanintegratedpublictransportnetworkandforsimplifiedfaresandticketing.They
requestedfurtheropportunitiestodiscussthenetworkproposalsinMarchthroughtoearlyApril.
2.7
Asignificantmajorityofresponsesfromstakeholdersthroughbriefingsandviapostandemailhave
beensupportiveoftheprojectandparticularlyoftheQualityContractoption.Stakeholders
especiallyaresupportiveoftheprojectbeingdevelopedfurtherandcurrentlysupporttheprincipleof
theQCSratherthantheVPA.Onlyfourrespondentssupportedthestatusquooutofthe77written
responsesplusfeedbackatmeetings.Questionsraisedbystakeholdersfocusedaroundconcerns
overcrossboundaryservicesandwhetheraQCSwasachievable.Stakeholderswantedtosee
accessibilityimprovements,andbetterfaresandticketingintegrationbetweenbusandMetro.
Themainissuesstakeholdershadwiththecurrentsituationwasunreliabilityofservices,expensive
andconfusingfares,currentfaresfor16-18yearolds,inadequatefrequenciesandissueswithroutes
withintheexistingnetwork;particularlyintermsofaccessibilityandstabilityofthenetwork.
2.8
BusoperatorsaregenerallyopposedtotheQualityContractproposalbutaredevelopinga
partnershipproposal.OneoperatorhasengagedaPRagencyandhasactivelyapproached
districtauthoritiesformeetings.Theyhavealsoorganisedtheirownstakeholdereventsand
launchedawebsite.
Nexus’currentunderstandingoftheoperators’positionisthattheyaresupportiveinprincipleof
theunderlyingobjectiveswhichhaveledtotheproposalofaQCSbutobjecttotheformallegal
constraintsthattheyperceivewouldbeimposedonthembyaQCSandhencetheresultantlossof
autonomy.Theextenttowhichtheoperatorsarepreparedinpracticetoco-operatewithNexusand
theITAtogivepracticaleffecttotheobjectiveswillbecomeclearerasthecurrentdialogue
progressesandtheoperatorscomeforwardwiththeirpartnershipproposal.
2.9
NorthumberlandandDurhamcountycouncilsarenotagainsttheprinciplesbutwantreassurances
ontheimpactonthemandtheirresidents.Theyhavejointlyappointedaconsultanttoadvisethem.
Nexuswillgainaclearerunderstandingoftheirpositionasthedetailoftheschemesandhencetheir
potentialcrossborderimpactsarefleshedout.
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
3.
Comments about the proposals
3.1
Respondentsprovidedanumberofcommentsabouttheproposalswhichhavebeensorted
duringthedataanalysisintodifferentcategories,asshowninTable3-1.Overall,more
than9outofevery10(91%)ofrespondentswhoexpressedanopinioneitherinwritingor
atmeetingswereinfavourofthevision,thoughanumberacknowledgedthatfurtherdetails
wereneededbeforetheycouldfullysupportit.
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
TABLE3-1
ExamplesofcommentsabouttheoverallvisionforbusservicesinTyneandWearincluded:
Comment category
Example quotes
Type of respondent
Overallvision
WehavelongsupportedtheideaofQuality
Olderpeople’sorganisation
Contractsandfeelthatthisisprobablythe
bestwaytoimproveBusTransportinTyneand
Wear.
(32comments)
QCappearstobethegoldstandardwhilstthe Councillor
voluntaryoptionisjust‘A’standard
QCSisanobrainer.Butcanyououtlinethe
risksassociatedwithit?
Voluntaryorganisation
Ihaverecentlyreturnedtousingpublic
transportandagreewithallyourcomments.
Individual
Residentsorganisation
Inprinciplethechangessoundpositiveand
goodforthefuturebutwithoutspecificdetail
suchashowmuchwouldfaresbeandhow
wouldcurrentservicesbeaffecteditisdifficult
tomakeusefulcomments.
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
ThenewproposalNexusareoffering,which
iscalledQualityContracts,givesusachance
toinfluencebusstrategyandplacethepublic
interestabovethecommercialinterest.
TradeUnionrepresentative
Ibelievefirmlythatthe‘QualityContract
Scheme’istherightwaytogo,sothatthe
servicepatternresultingisoperationallyefficient,withoutlotsofduplication,which
willmeanitcansatisfymaximumconsumer
demandatminimumcost.
ManagingDirector,localbusiness
Isthereaspecificsampleareayoucantest
firsttoprovetheconceptasitwouldtake34
monthsforthefullQualityContractacross
TyneandWear?
Usergroup
IdonotthinkthatQualitypartnerships[sic]
wouldprovideabetterservice.Theservice
thatIreceiveatthemomentisaverygood
serviceandIwouldnotwishforittobe
changed.
Resident
Comment category
Example quotes
Type of respondent
Faresandticketing
Integratedticketingwiththemetroandmove
tocashlesstransport.
Educationalinstitution
(44comments)
Faresaretoohighandtoo
complicated
Councillor
Wouldwelcomeaoneticketsuitsalloption.
Travelplanner
Onesinglesourceformarketingand
ticketing.
Organisation
Farestructureisalsoimportant,especiallyfor Councillor
youngpeople.
Forme,thebiggestbenefitofdoingsoisthe Passenger
opportunitytohaveafullyunifiedfare
systemthatdoesn'tpenalisethosewhohave
tousebusesfromdifferentcompaniesto
completeasinglejourneywithinTyne&Wear.
Hopecommonfarestructureacrossbusand Resident
metronetworkdoesnotmeanbusfareswill
risetomatchcurrentmetropricingstructure.
Passenger
NEXUSaregoingtohavetobeverycareful
withtheticketingarrangementstoensurethat
thoseofuslivingontheedgeoftheareain
questionarenotpenalisedasaresult.[refers
tocurrentzoneboundaries]
Cross-boundary
considerations
Whatconsiderationhasbeengiventobuses
thatoperatecrossboundary,intoDurham?
Councillor
(24comments)
Howwillcross-boundaryservicesbe
managed?
Voluntaryorganisation
Theschemeneedstoincludetravel
optionsforregionwidetravel,aswellasjust
TyneandWear.
Localbusinessperson
Northumberlandresident
YouneedtointegrateTyneandWearmore
withNorthumberlandasit'sveryexpensivefor
thoseofuswholivejustacrosstheborder!
Network
Coordinationoftimetablesonmajorroutes
Educationalinstitution
(44comments)
Thereisalsoaneedtoensurethatall
communitieshaveaguaranteedlevelof
service,andthateveningandweekend
servicesareprovided.
Voluntaryorganisation
Itneedstobelookedatwherebyfeeder
serviceslinkintomajorbusrouteslike
spiderslegs.
Councillor
Privateoperatorsfocustoomuchoncore
servicesandtakeawayfromlessfrequent
servicesforcingthemintodecline.
Usergroup
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
Comment category
Example quotes
Type of respondent
Integration
Ifeelamuchbetterintegrated
transportsystemwouldgreatly
improvetheCityofNewcastle
Anintegratedapproachwillbeusefulwhen
planningnewdevelopments.
Metrosandbusesshouldbe
co-ordinated
AtthemomentIdon’tthinkthatthereare
enoughconnectionsbetweentheMetroand
thebuses.
Somethinglikethisweneedtogetright–we
onlyhaveoneshotatit.Itneedsalotof
consultation.
Whataboutlocaltransportworkers,willyou
consultwithlocalunionsandtaketheirviews
intoconsideration?
Resident
(24comments)
Consultation
(23comments)
Socialhousingprovider
Passenger
Passenger
Councillor
Transportemployee
Notethatthetotalnumberofcommentsisdifferentfromthenumberofrespondentsassomerespondents
commentedonmorethanonearea.Commentsaredrawnbothfrommeetingsandfromwrittenresponses.
Appendix 1 General Stakeholder Events Programme
District
Venue
Date
Newcastle
CivicCentre
17thJanuary
Newcastle
ChillinghamRoadSchool
19thJanuary
Sunderland
CityLibrary
23rdJanuary
Sunderland
WashingtonLibrary
25thJanuary
Sunderland
HettonCentre
26thJanuary
Gateshead
CivicCentre
31stJanuary
NorthTyneside
SavilleExchange,NorthShields
9thFebruary
NorthTyneside
NorthTynesideCouncil,Quadrant
14thFebruary
SouthTyneside
TownHall,SouthShields
24thFebruary
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
BusStrategy,Nexus,FreepostNT277,NewcastleuponTyne,NE11BR,
[email protected]
TYNE AND WEAR
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY