The following items were considered by the Environment Scrutiny Panel at its meeting on 9 December 2003. The Cabinet Member received, considered and noted the panel’s recommendations.
33 (33) PUBLIC TRANSPORT : EVENING JOURNEYS - BUS SERVICE 350 - SCUNTHORPE – BARTON – HULL - The Head of Highways and Transport submitted a report seeking approval for changes to the Scunthorpe – Barton – Hull evening bus service.
The council currently paid for an hourly evening service, Monday to Saturday, between Scunthorpe, Barton and Hull. The service was provided by Lincolnshire Road Car and East Yorkshire Motor Services. The annual cost was £64,000 and bridge tolls were a significant part of this cost.
This service had recently been reviewed and had identified a low passenger base on the mid evening service throughout the week and late night services on Friday and Saturday. If the frequency of this service was reduced from hourly to two-hourly, this would enable operators to use two buses in the evening instead of three.
It was therefore proposed to reduce the present service by:
- withdrawing the 20:10 bus from Scunthorpe to Hull and the 20:25 bus from Hull to Scunthorpe. There would still be buses from Scunthorpe at 21:10 and from Hull at 21:25;
- ending the additional Friday and Saturday late evening journeys at 22:10 from Scunthorpe and 22:25 from Hull.
A £1 maximum fare was introduced some time ago as a marketing initiative, but this had not resulted in many extra users. It was therefore proposed to end this arrangement and return to standard fares.
Resolved - That approval be given to (i) the proposed changes to the 350 evening service, Scunthorpe – Barton – Hull, to be made as soon as possible and (ii) standard fares being applied.
34 (34) PUBLIC TRANSPORT : EVENING JOURNEYS - BUS SERVICE 356 - SCUNTHORPE – CROWLE – GARTHORPE - The Head of Highways and Transport submitted a report seeking approval for changes to the Scunthorpe – Crowle – Garthorpe evening bus service.
The council currently paid for an evening service, Monday to Saturday, between Scunthorpe and Crowle. An extra late journey on Friday and Saturday ran to Crowle and Garthorpe. This service was provided by Lincolnshire Road Car and the annual cost was £15,300.
A recent review of the service had identified a low passenger base on all evening journeys Monday to Thursday and the last evening journey on Friday and Saturday.
Ticket machine records showed that the evening journeys Monday to Thursday carried an average of three passengers per journey and the last evening journey on Friday and Saturday carried an average of four users only.
In 2000 a free fare experiment was introduced to encourage bus passenger use. The result of this experiment did not lead to many additional passengers and fares were re-introduced.
It was therefore proposed to reduce the present service by:
- withdrawing evening journeys on this route from Mondays to Thursdays. (19:35 and 21:35 from Scunthorpe, 20:05 and 22:05 from Crowle);
- retaining the 19:35 and 21:35 journeys from Scunthorpe, and the 21:35 and 21:05 from Crowle on Friday and Saturday only, when more people travelled;
- ending the extra Friday and Saturday late journey at 22:35 from Scunthorpe to Crowle and Garthorpe.
A maximum fare of £1 was introduced some time ago as a marketing initiative, but again this had not resulted in many extra users. It was therefore proposed to end this arrangement and return to standard fares.
Resolved - That approval be given to (i) the proposed changes to the 356 evening service, Scunthorpe – Crowle – Garthorpe, to be made as soon as possible and (ii) standard fares being applied.
35 (35) EXPANSION OF THE SHOPMOBILITY SERVICE TO BARTON ON HUMBER - The Head of Highways and Transport submitted a report seeking approval to expand the current Shopmobility Service, to a satellite site based in the Local Link in Barton upon Humber.
An improvement issue identified in the Best Value review of Highways and Transportation, suggested expanding the Scunthorpe town centre based Shopmobility service to other areas of North Lincolnshire.
Investigations into possible sites for Shopmobility suggested use be made of some Local Links. The suitability of sites was examined and subsequent approval given to create a satellite operation at Ashby, which was currently attracting small numbers of new users each week.
Further expansion of the scheme to include Barton upon Humber would require initially the transfer of one mobility scooter from the existing Scunthorpe service. This would not impact on the Scunthorpe based scheme as the fleet had been expanded with new machines. The expansion to Barton upon Humber would also need relevant publicity.
The further outlet could be managed by the current Shopmobility team, and training would be provided for Link staff in the use and care of mobility equipment, administration issues and the assessing of users.
Resolved - That approval be given to (i) expand the Shopmobility service to Barton upon Humber, and (ii) training and support to be given to the Link staff by the existing Shopmobility team.
36 (36) STOPPING UP OF APPROXIMATELY 770 METRES OF PUBLICLY MAINTAINED HIGHWAY – FALKLAND WAY, BARTON UPON HUMBER - The Head of Highways and Transport submitted a report seeking approval to make an application to the Magistrate’s Court to stop up approximately 770 square metres of highway forming part of Falkland Way, Barton upon Humber, using powers under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980.
An area of land had been disposed of, a section of which had now been identified as highway verge. The location was shown on plans attached to the report.
A proposed development of seven industrial units had now received full planning permission, but before the development could commence the highway verge had to be stopped up as surplus to requirement.
An application had therefore to be made to the Magistrate’s Court, which would allow the required stopping up to be made.
Resolved - That approval be given to proceed through the Magistrate’s Court with an application to stop up approximately 770 square metres of highway forming part of Falkland Way, Barton upon Humber, using powers under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980.
37 (37) PROPOSED CHANGES TO STAFFING IN THE PARKING SERVICES TEAM - The Head of Highways and Transport submitted a report seeking approval to make changes to the staffing of the Parking Services team.
The current staffing structure of the Parking Services team had been in place since October 2002. This was shown in appendix 1 of the report. The post of Car Park Supervisor (Pay on Foot) was now vacant and the opportunity had been taken to consider improvements to the service.
The Parishes car park had been open for a year and operational experience and usage levels now indicated that changes could be made to the current arrangements. These would improve the day to day operations and ensure more efficient use of existing staff resources.
It was proposed to delete the post of Car Park Supervisor (Pay on Foot) currently vacant and to create a new post of Parking Services Officer (Operations). This post would have responsibility for day to day operational issues in all car parks in Scunthorpe, Ashby and Brigg. Once the proposed changes had been achieved, it would be possible to absorb the work currently undertaken in the Church Square multi-storey car park by an outside contractor (unlocking site, security patrol and closure procedures). A proposed staffing structure together with a job description for the proposed new post were attached as appendices 2 and 3 of the report.
The newly created post of Parking Services Officer (Operations) would provide an important link between the management and administration functions of Parking Services, and allow greater control of the day to day activities on the various sites. The postholder would be tasked with making best use of available staff resources to improve efficiency and communications within and between teams. It would also allow the Principal Parking Services Officer to concentrate on more strategic aspects of the service.
Resolved – (a) That approval be given for the proposed revision to the staffing structure of the Parking Services team, and (b) that the staffing implications be referred to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.
38 (38) STREET NAMING IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE - The Head of Planning and Regeneration submitted a report seeking approval to name five roads in North Lincolnshire, details of which were summarised in his report.
Consultation had taken place with the Kirton in Lindsey Town Council and the Royal Mail.
Resolved - That the roads be named as follows:-
- Windmill Way, Kirton in Lindsey
- Millers Close, Kirton in Lindsey
- Selbys Close, Kirton in Lindsey
- Barley Close, Kirton in Lindsey
- Millstone Close, Kirton in Lindsey
39 (39) MAPS OF OPEN COUNTRY AND REGISTERED COMMON - The Head of Planning and Regeneration submitted a report seeking approval to ratify the comments sent to the Countryside Agency about the draft Maps of Open Country and Registered Common.
As a result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Countryside Agency was mapping areas of England where the public would enjoy legal access on foot (the so-called "right to roam"). The areas where the public would enjoy such access would comprise either "open country" (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common.
North Lincolnshire fell within Area Eight. Area Eight was the last area to be mapped and covered much of eastern England.
The process of compiling a map of open country and registered common had three parts. First, a draft map was published and anyone could comment on what it showed. The consultation period for comments on the Area Eight draft map was presently underway. Secondly, a provisional map had to be published based on whatever modifications might have taken place as a result of the consultation on the draft map. Only persons with an interest in the land could comment on the provisional map. Then, thirdly, a conclusive map had to be published once appeals arising from the provisional stage had been dealt with. The areas shown on the conclusive map were where the public were at liberty to walk.
The information relating to the featured commons had been derived from the Commons’ Register. This legal document was held by North Lincolnshire Council for the area and was prepared under the Commons’ Registration Act 1965. The information in respect of registered commons, therefore, did not require further comment.
There appeared to be significant omissions, however, in respect of open country. The appendix attached to the report highlighted the areas thought to have been overlooked. It was proposed, therefore, that consideration be given to notifying the Countryside Agency with details of these apparent omissions in order that these areas might appear on the provisional map for Area Eight.
The deadline for comments was midnight on 2 December 2003. Because of the tight schedule, provisional comments had already been sent to the Countryside Agency. It was made clear to the Countryside Agency, however, that these comments had yet to be ratified by the Cabinet Member.
Resolved – That approval be given for the areas identified in the appendix to be forwarded to the Countryside Agency with the advice that these areas be included in the provisional map as areas of open country.
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