Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure advising members of the implementation plans for community transport services in the city that were due to come into operation on 29 March, 2010. 

The Committee on 1 September, 2009 (Article 20 of the minute refers) had noted plans for introducing community transport schemes, and also an assessment at that time of the impact of changes to the TaxiCard scheme.  In particular, this had drawn attention to discussions with the Red Cross and the Scottish Ambulance Service on the possibility of providing joint transport services, and those discussions were still continuing with a view to establishing shared schedules to increase utilisation and reduce costs. 

The TaxiCard scheme would cease to operate on 28 March, whereupon 2500 people would be looking towards other modes of transport, and the model of taxicard use (outlined in the earlier report) had guided plans for the community transport schemes now being advanced. 

In particular, the previous report had proposed a survey of taxicard users who had lost entitlement.  This had been requested by the Civic Forum, and the Forum had been given a copy of the resultant report which drew attention to changes in travel patterns.  This again had helped to shape the development of the new community transport initiatives.

Also, a group set up with the assistance of the Disability Advisory Group had met on 30 November, 2009, and this too had had an input.

In particular, it had been agreed that future initiatives should progress as planned prior to the decision to end taxicard arrangements, but that the strong feeling remained that carers should travel free. 

Work also continued on introducing greater potential for connection between all areas in the city. 

The five operating areas were shown on plans circulated with the report, and were as follows:-

            Route 1:          Kingswells – Hazlehead – Ashley/Queen’s Cross – Airyhall – Broomhill – Garthdee

            Route 2:          Northfield – Mastrick – Sheddocksley – Summerhill – Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – Berryden – Midstocket – Rosemount

            Route 3:          Dyce – Bucksburn – Woodside – Old Aberdeen – Tillydrone

            Route 4:          Bridge of Don – Danestone – Tillydrone – Seaton – Old Aberdeen

            Route 5:          Kincorth – Torry – Ferryhill

Bus Service 93 (Peterculter/Garthdee/City Centre) was supported by Aberdeen City Council, Asda and Sainsburys (through development contributions at Garthdee) and served the Lower Deeside area.  This service had been launched to replace a First Aberdeen service in July, 2009.  Funding would be reviewed in 2010 to establish whether a community transport scheme would be more cost effective here than the current arrangement.

The report recommended:-

that the Director for Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure go ahead and implement the schemes as set out in the report and report back. 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve those recommendations, to request that the report back be within six months, and to emphasise in particular the importance of smooth and transparent administrative arrangements and good marketing measures, and to add sheltered housing to the eligibility list.