Tracy Keating, Manager at Central Lancs Dial-a-Ride to provide a verbal presentation.
Minutes:
The Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Sustainable Public transport welcomed Tracy Keating, Manager at Central Lancs Dial-a-Ride.
She explained that Central Lancashire Dial A Ride provided community, door to door transport service and had been operating since 1982. There were six employees, two were based in the office and four were drives. The fleet consisted of six minibuses, three were used daily. The service was to provide transport for people that were unable to access public transport. Drivers were Midas Trained, and DBS checked.
The service covers certain areas on specific days and times, with customers required to book 24 to 48 hours in advance.
To use Dial-a-Ride, users had to be members. There was no age limit in place, but there was a misconception that Dial-a-Ride was exclusive to the elderly or disabled, the only requirement was for the user to be unable to access other means of public transport.
Dial-a-Ride operated Monday to Friday 8:30 – 16:30, on Saturday’s out of town trips were organised for community groups, theatres, and cinemas, all prior to Covid-19.
Funding
Part of the funding was received by Lancashire County Council, but this had reduced 30% in the previous 5 years. Chorley and South Ribble Council provided funding over three years, but this didn’t cover the whole service and cut backs were made. Other sources of funding have been explored including the Big Lottery, and funding bids for environmentally friendly minibuses.
Capacity
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2500 trips were made a month. At present, that figure was 750.
Covid-19 regulations have reduced bus capacity, a minibus with capacity for 12 – 14 passengers, was now reduced to 4 or 5.
The Community Car Service is a volunteer car scheme with six volunteers and volunteers used their own vehicles to take passengers to their destinations, usually appointments or shops.
There was difficulty in finding volunteers, during the last drive for recruitment, 2000 leaflets were distributed with 2 responses.
The Community Car Service drivers did not require an additional license as they were not taking fares, but were refunded 40p per mile and compensated for the dead mileage, which was mileage operated without a passenger. DBS and extra insurance were paid by Dial-a-Ride.
The car service had been funded by Eccleston Parish Council to serve the people of Eccleston.
Members recommended that Tracy made contact with the Parish Council clerks as there was significant interest from Members to have a Dial-a-Ride service in their wards and Parish’s, and suggested that Dial-a-Ride featured in Parish Council’s Newsletters, and notice boards. It was also recommended for Dial-a-Ride to attend Chorley Liaison to raise awareness.
Costs
The diesel minibuses cost between £48,000 - £60,000 each, the buses required full accessibility functionality, to ensure wheelchairs compatibility. The vehicles were serviced and checked every 10 weeks. The youngest bus was from 2012 and oldest 2008.
Members believed that there was a great opportunity to scope what work could be completed to ensure vulnerable groups and those at risk were able to remain mobile during the pandemic.
Decision: The report was noted.