Memorandum submitted by Community Transport Association (CBPS 71)

1 Executive Summary

The CTA is aware that several CT operators run both Wales-England

cross-border journeys as well as journeys across 2 or more LA areas in

Wales. Health and social care services account for the majority of these

journeys, with a few work related journeys and FE/HE journeys as well. Funding seems to be a haphazard affair, with operators relying on a mix of sources to enable these journeys to take place. None of the operators were aware of any arrangements in place to co-ordinate cross-border public service provision.

2 Introduction to CTA

2.1 The CTA is a UK-wide rapidly growing charity giving voice and providing

leadership, learning and enterprise support to member organisations and individuals across the third sector who are delivering innovative and flexible transport solutions to achieve social change. The CTA promotes excellence through providing training, publications, advice, events and project support on voluntary, community and accessible transport.

2.2 The CTA operates a country structure, and in Wales is funded through the

Welsh Assembly Government as "the voice of community transport". CTA Wales has two offices in Clydach and Rhyl, and has over 90 members in Wales. More information can be found on the CTA website at www.ctauk.org.

3 Factual Information

3.1 The CTA requested information from its members on any cross-border

journeys they undertake, including Wales-England and across 2 or more Local Authority areas in Wales. Responses were received from 5 CT operators and 1 Local Authority who runs a demand-responsive service..

3.2 All of the respondents, bar one, ran both types of journeys. Percentages of Wales-England journeys ranged from 5% to 98% of overall journeys, with journeys across 2 or more LA area ranging from 0% to 32% of total journeys.

3.3 Passenger journey numbers for the six groups during last 12 months for Wales-England journeys totalled 1,603 with numbers for journeys across 2 or more LA areas totalling 3,201.

3.4 Respondents were asked to categorise journeys as follows;

§ Health Care

§ Social Care

§ Further/Higher Education

§ Other public service

3.5 The percentage of Wales-England journeys for Health ranged from 1% to

90% , Social Care from 0% to 5%, FE or HE from 0% to 2%, and Other

from 1% to 90% (although this was not clarified). The percentage of

journeys across 2 or more LA areas in Wales ranged from 0% to 30% for

Health, 1% to 2% for Social Care, 0% for FE or HE and up to 2% for Other

(not clarified).

3.6 Journeys were either funded by the Welsh Assembly Government's

pilot Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative (CTCFI), by a Local Health Board, by flexible bus pass, by LA grant or by client fares or a mixture of these. Some specific concerns raised included lack of funding for journeys to the Countess of Chester Hospital and the fact that one LA would not reimburse concessionary fares travel on Section 19 journeys despite this being the case over the border in Shropshire. (CTA is only aware of one LA in Wales who does reimburse Section 19 operators, and since this system was not generally in place prior to the introduction of concessionary passes, the need for the CTCFI pilot became evident.)

3.7 None of the CT operators were aware of arrangements in place to co-

ordinate Wales-England cross-border public service provision, and

therefore had no comments on ways in which this could improved.

The one LA respondent was aware, and thought it worked well.

4 Recommendations

4.1 There needs to be a clearer dialogue between Local Authorities and other

public service providers and the CT sector on arrangements in place for cross-border funding. All too often, operators are left to try to find their way through the maze.

4.2 There needs to be improved co-ordination across public sector service

providers and commissioners of services such as Local Health Boards, particularly in terms of the way health journeys are funded. Currently, each one seems to operate within silos.

4.3 There needs to be better co-ordination between departments in Local

Authorities, since more than one department may be funding the same CT operator for different types of journeys necessitating different Service Level Agreements being negotiated

4.4 Given that the legislation on Section 22 permits is likely to change shortly, we anticipate a high level of registrations across Wales. In terms of concessionary fares, this is likely to cause issues for cross-border journeys where all-Wales and all-England criteria may differ.

10 April 2008