Meetings

8.1 The Committee discussed the Draft report on Bus and Community Transport Services in Wales.

3.1.1 The paper was noted by the Committee.

5.6.1 The paper was noted by the Committee

Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport

Rhodri Griffiths, Deputy Director, Transport Policy, Planning and Partnerships, Welsh Government

5.1 Edwina Hart AM, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport and Rhodri Griffiths answered questions from Members of the Committee.

5.2 Edwina Hart AM, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport offered to provide the following information:

·         Details on the key performance indicators of Bwcabus

·         Details on total public funding for the Bwcabus scheme and the number of passengers carried for each year since 2009-2010

·         Details on the level of subsidy per Bwcabus journey, views on whether it provides value for money and how this has been assessed

·         Details on any smaller Bwcabuses used to link up communities including how many Bwcabuses are operating in each area

·         A breakdown of the number of passengers using the Traws Cymru service and any information available on passengers’ starting point and destination including whether the use of a commercial bus provider is necessary, and whether these commercial passengers are counted twice in the overall passenger numbers for that route.

Jane Lorimer, National Director, Sustrans Cymru

Chris Roberts, Head of External Affairs, Sustrans Cymru

4.1 Jane Lorimer and Chris Roberts answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director, Transport Operations, North East Combined Authority / Nexus

Kamal Panchal, Senior Adviser, Local Government Association

Charles Loft, Adviser (Transport), Local Government Association

Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport

3.1 Tobyn Hughes, Kamal Panchal, Charles Loft and Stephen Joseph answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Professor Stuart Cole, Emeritus Professor of Transport, Wales Transport Research Centre, University of South Wales

Stephen Pilliner, Head of Transport and Engineering, Carmarthenshire County Council

2.1 Professor Stuart Cole and Stephen Pilliner answered questions from Members of the Committee.

2.2 Stephen Pilliner offered to provide further information on the costs involved in running the Bwcabus service.

John Pockett, Director, Government Relations, Confederation of Passenger Transport Wales

Justin Davies, Chair, Confederation of Passenger Transport Wales

2.1 John Pockett and Justin Davies answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Jane Lee, Policy Officer, Welsh Local Government Association

Darren Thomas, Head of Highway and Construction, Pembrokeshire County Council

Richard Cope, Business Manager (Passenger Transport & Transport Strategy), Monmouthshire County Council and Chair of the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers Cymru

Huw Morgan, Team Leader of the Integrated Transport Unit, Caerphilly County Borough Council and Chair of South East Wales Bus Working Group

3.1 Jane Lee, Darren Thomas, Richard Cope and Huw Morgan answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Nick Jones, Traffic Commissioner for the Welsh Traffic Area

Graham Walter, Managing Director, Traveline Cymru

Jo Foxall, Marketing and Deputy General Manager, Traveline Cymru

4.1 Nick Jones, Graham Walter and Jo Foxall answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Rhodri Evans, Senior Communications Advisor, Federation of Small Businesses

Rhyan Berrigan, Policy Officer (Access and Transport), Disability Wales

Graeme Francis, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Age Cymru

3.1 Rhyan Berrigan, Graeme Francis and Rhodri Evans answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Margaret Everson MBE, Director, Bus Users Cymru

Barclay Davies, Deputy Director, Bus Users Cymru

Robert Saxby, North Wales representative, Bus Users Cymru

2.1 Margaret Everson, Robert Saxby and Barclay Davies answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Siân Summers-Rees, Director for Wales, Community Transport Association

Phil Taylor, Transport and Education Manager, Aberfan and Merthyr Vale Youth and Community Project

Sarah Leyland-Jones, Senior Officer Community Transport/Training, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations

4.1 Siân Summers-Rees, Sarah Leyland-Jones and Phil Taylor answered questions from Members of the Committee.

4.5.1 The paper was noted by the Committee.

6.1 The Committee agreed the Bus Services in Wales Inquiry Terms of Reference.