Agenda item

Sam Millington, SYMCA, gave the following updates:

-         There was a new 21S school day only service that ran between Aston and Rotherham for Thomas Rotherham College. This had resulted from concerns raised by the Council and the public regarding overcrowding on the existing Stagecoach 21. The service was implemented on 3rd November and ran twice a day on school days.

-         A change had been made to the 26 and 26A bus in Aston following local feedback. A slight reroute had been made to serve Worksop Road and Lodge Lane rather than directly down Mansfield Road.

-         Following consultation with Stagecoach, the 114 was to be rerouted passed Badsley Moor Lane Hospital at the request of Rotherham Teaching Hospital.

Members were invited to attend an engagement session taking place on the afternoon of the meeting (19th November) at Rotherham Interchange regarding bus franchising. On Saturday, 22nd November, a demonstration vehicle would be displayed so members of the public could see what a future electric double decker bus would look like.

There were no updates to provide in relation to tram or rail from a SYMCA perspective.

The Chair asked that feedback on the engagement sessions be provided to the next meeting and Mr. Millington agreed.

In relation to questions on the Magna Tram Stop, it was confirmed that the works were on schedule, and it was expected that the Saturday evening suspension of the tram service would continue until completion of the stop. However, Mr Millington. agreed to confirm this with tram colleagues.

(After the meeting the following information was received:-

There was no current open date to advise other than early 2026.  The programme was still on track and SYMCA was working with the operator towards becoming operationally ready.  Testing and commission could not take place until construction was completed.

Saturday evening services were planned to be reinstated as from 6^th December.  SYMCA would be releasing public communications from 24^th November confirming that the final Saturday evening disruption would be on 29^th November.  Construction would continue after this time but would not require any further line closures.)

Councillor Bennett-Sylvester referenced the Bus Lane Review Project consultation that was due to commence from 10th November and asked why it had not yet started. Nat Porter explained that key stakeholders and Ward Members had not yet been briefed so the consultation had been delayed to allow those briefings to take place.

Councillor Currie asked about the ongoing issues impacting school transport for children with SEND, specifically how budget changes and pressures would affect travel plans. Mr. Millington agreed to take the question away. This matter was also discussed under Minute No. 47 (RMBC Transportation Unit Update) and it was agreed that a SEND School Transport update be included on the agenda for the next meeting and relevant officers be invited to attend.

(After the meeting the following information was received:-

Home to School transport, including SEND transport, remained a function and responsibility for the Local Authority.  Franchising did not change this and SYMCA continued to support Local Authority partners with mainstream home to school transport.  Mainstream school buses continued to be procured by SYMCA and this continued with franchising but, as with the current situation, SEND transport remained solely with the Local Authority.

Wider local bus and mainstream bus decisions that affected those travelling with additional accessibility needs would continue to be made by SYMCA and the MCA Board)

 

Agreed:-  (1)  That the update be noted.

(2)  That SYMCA provide updates at the next meeting in relation to the engagement sessions and Saturday evening tram suspension.

(3)  That a SEND School Transport Update be included on the agenda for the next meeting and relevant officers invited to attend.