Bus service provision

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Campaign for Better Transport

Dear Central Bedfordshire Council,

I am writing to you to request the following information:

1. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal year 2018/19?*

2. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal year 2009/10?*

*Note: These refer to the Department for Transport’s definition of a supported bus service as: “one where a local transport authority has invited tenders for the operation of a service (not e.g. seats on a bus or subsidised tickets etc), and a contract exists as a result of that tender”. Please, exclude extra sources of funding such as Section 106/developer funding, Community Infrastructure Levy, local authority staffing and publicity, RTPI expenditure and revenue, the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), Local Education Authority funding for home to school transport, NHS-funded non-emergency patient transport, social services transport, voluntary transport and other central and national government grants or income streams.

3. How many and which supported routes have had cuts in services in the fiscal year 2018/19 and (for example loss of weekend or evening services)? Please state if these are partial (the numbered service still runs but on fewer times) or total (the numbered service is completely withdrawn) cuts.

4. How many and which of the previously supported routes have been taken on commercially?

5a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds in mainstream education) in 2018/19?

5b. How many pupils was this for?

6a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds in mainstream education) in 2013/14?

6b. How many pupils was this for?

The information provided will be used as part of a national picture of the effect of changes to central Government funding has had on the provision of local bus services. In each case we are only requesting information related to your local authority.

Our work also seeks to promote examples of local authorities that have protected bus services, sometimes in innovative ways. Please do feel free to share any information you feel is relevant on how your council has protected bus services.

Yours faithfully,

Chris Todd

Campaign for Better Transport

Joanne Mulliner, Central Bedfordshire Council

Information request
Our reference: 2477265

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Dear Mr Todd
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 23 April
2019 concerning:
 
I am writing to you to request the following information:
Q1. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal
year 2018/19?*
Q2. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal
year 2009/10?*
*Note: These refer to the Department for Transport's definition of a
supported bus service as: 'one where a local transport authority has
invited tenders for the operation of a service (not e.g. seats on a bus or
subsidised tickets etc), and a contract exists as a result of that
tender'. Please, exclude extra sources of funding such as Section
106/developer funding, Community Infrastructure Levy, local authority
staffing and publicity, RTPI expenditure and revenue, the Bus Service
Operators Grant (BSOG), Local Education Authority funding for home to
school transport, NHS-funded non-emergency patient transport, social
services transport, voluntary transport and other central and national
government grants or income streams.
Q3. How many and which supported routes have had cuts in services in the
fiscal year 2018/19 and (for example loss of weekend or evening services)?
Please state if these are partial (the numbered service still runs but on
fewer times) or total (the numbered service is completely withdrawn) cuts.
Q4. How many and which of the previously supported routes have been taken
on commercially?
Q5a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds
in mainstream education) in 2018/19?
Q5b. How many pupils was this for?
Q6a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds
in mainstream education) in 2013/14?
Q6b. How many pupils was this for?
The information provided will be used as part of a national picture of the
effect of changes to central Government funding has had on the provision
of local bus services. In each case we are only requesting information
related to your local authority.
Our work also seeks to promote examples of local authorities that have
protected bus services, sometimes in innovative ways. Please do feel free
to share any information you feel is relevant on how your council has
protected bus services.
 
We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 and we aim to send a response by 22 May 2019.
 
In some cases, a fee may be payable. If we decide a fee is payable, we
will send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before
proceeding with your request.
 
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 may restrict the release of some or
all of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment
and if any exemptions apply to some or all of the information then we
might not provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is
the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and
to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
 
We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Joanne Mulliner
Freedom of Information Officer
Information Governance
0300 300 4179
[Central Bedfordshire Council request email]
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

Joanne Mulliner, Central Bedfordshire Council

Information request
Our reference: 2477265

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Dear ‎Mr Todd‏
 
Request for Information
 
Thank you for your request for information received on  23 April 2019 in
which you requested the following:

I am writing to you to request the following information:
Q1. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal
year 2018/19?*
Q2. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal
year 2009/10?*
*Note: These refer to the Department for Transport's definition of a
supported bus service as: 'one where a local transport authority has
invited tenders for the operation of a service (not e.g. seats on a bus or
subsidised tickets etc), and a contract exists as a result of that
tender'. Please, exclude extra sources of funding such as Section
106/developer funding, Community Infrastructure Levy, local authority
staffing and publicity, RTPI expenditure and revenue, the Bus Service
Operators Grant (BSOG), Local Education Authority funding for home to
school transport, NHS-funded non-emergency patient transport, social
services transport, voluntary transport and other central and national
government grants or income streams.
Q3. How many and which supported routes have had cuts in services in the
fiscal year 2018/19 and (for example loss of weekend or evening services)?
Please state if these are partial (the numbered service still runs but on
fewer times) or total (the numbered service is completely withdrawn) cuts.
Q4. How many and which of the previously supported routes have been taken
on commercially?
Q5a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds
in mainstream education) in 2018/19?
Q5b. How many pupils was this for?
Q6a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds
in mainstream education) in 2013/14?
Q6b. How many pupils was this for?
The information provided will be used as part of a national picture of the
effect of changes to central Government funding has had on the provision
of local bus services. In each case we are only requesting information
related to your local authority.
Our work also seeks to promote examples of local authorities that have
protected bus services, sometimes in innovative ways. Please do feel free
to share any information you feel is relevant on how your council has
protected bus services. 
 
I am writing to ask you to clarify your request. If you only want 11 to 16
year olds this means that we will have to go through approximately 5,000
records to check pupil ages (as we provide transport for entitled children
from age 5 to 16) and this would take more than 18 hours to complete and
we would therefore not be able to provide the information.  Please advise
if you are happy to receive the information for all entitled children.
 
 
If you need assistance, please contact me on the telephone number 0300 300
4179 or the the email address [Central Bedfordshire Council request email].

Upon clarification, we will process your request and send a response
letter within 20 working days. However we will close the request if we do
not receive clarification from you within 10 working days from the date of
this letter. 

If you have any questions about the content of this email, please do not
hesitate to contact me, quoting reference  2477265 in any future
communications.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Joanne Mulliner
Freedom of Information Officer
Information Governance
0300 300 4179
[Central Bedfordshire Council request email]
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

Central Bedfordshire Council

Information request
Our reference: 2477265

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Dear ‎Mr Todd‏
 
Request for Information
 
Thank you for your request for information received on  23 April 2019 in
which you requested the following:

I am writing to you to request the following information:
Q1. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal
year 2018/19?*
Q2. What was the total net spend for supported bus services in the fiscal
year 2009/10?*
*Note: These refer to the Department for Transport's definition of a
supported bus service as: 'one where a local transport authority has
invited tenders for the operation of a service (not e.g. seats on a bus or
subsidised tickets etc), and a contract exists as a result of that
tender'. Please, exclude extra sources of funding such as Section
106/developer funding, Community Infrastructure Levy, local authority
staffing and publicity, RTPI expenditure and revenue, the Bus Service
Operators Grant (BSOG), Local Education Authority funding for home to
school transport, NHS-funded non-emergency patient transport, social
services transport, voluntary transport and other central and national
government grants or income streams.
Q3. How many and which supported routes have had cuts in services in the
fiscal year 2018/19 and (for example loss of weekend or evening services)?
Please state if these are partial (the numbered service still runs but on
fewer times) or total (the numbered service is completely withdrawn) cuts.
Q4. How many and which of the previously supported routes have been taken
on commercially?
Q5a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds
in mainstream education) in 2018/19?
Q5b. How many pupils was this for?
Q6a. What was the total net spend on free school transport (11-16yr olds
in mainstream education) in 2013/14?
Q6b. How many pupils was this for?
The information provided will be used as part of a national picture of the
effect of changes to central Government funding has had on the provision
of local bus services. In each case we are only requesting information
related to your local authority.
Our work also seeks to promote examples of local authorities that have
protected bus services, sometimes in innovative ways. Please do feel free
to share any information you feel is relevant on how your council has
protected bus services. 
 
I am writing to ask you to clarify your request. If you only want 11 to 16
year olds this means that we will have to go through approximately 5,000
records to check pupil ages (as we provide transport for entitled children
from age 5 to 16) and this would take more than 18 hours to complete and
we would therefore not be able to provide the information.  Please advise
if you are happy to receive the information for all entitled children.
 
 
If you need assistance, please contact me on the telephone number 0300 300
4179 or the the email address [Central Bedfordshire Council request email].

Upon clarification, we will process your request and send a response
letter within 20 working days. However we will close the request if we do
not receive clarification from you within 10 working days from the date of
this letter. 

If you have any questions about the content of this email, please do not
hesitate to contact me, quoting reference  2477265 in any future
communications.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Joanne Mulliner
Freedom of Information Officer
Information Governance
0300 300 4179
[Central Bedfordshire Council request email]
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

Campaign for Better Transport

Dear Joanne,

Sorry for not seeing your request for clarification but it was somewhat lost in all the other text. In answer to your question, yes we are happy to receive the information for all entitled children (5 - 16)

Yours sincerely,

Chris Todd

Campaign for Better Transport

Joanne Mulliner, Central Bedfordshire Council

Information request
Our reference: 2477265

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Dear Mr Todd
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Thank you for your email 8 May 2019 dated which provided us with the
clarification that we requested.
 
We are currently dealing with your request and will be in touch shortly
concerning disclosure of the information you have requested.
 
The legislation obliges us to provide you with this information within 20
working days, so we will endeavour to send our response to you by 6 June
2019.
 
In the meantime if you have any further queries please contact me quoting
the reference number above.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Joanne Mulliner
Freedom of Information Officer
Information Governance
0300 300 4179
[Central Bedfordshire Council request email]
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

Joanne Mulliner, Central Bedfordshire Council

1 Attachment

Information request
Our reference: 2477265

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Dear Mr Todd
 
Thank you for your request for information received on 8 May 2019.
 
Please find attached our response to your request.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Joanne Mulliner
Freedom of Information Officer
Information Governance
0300 300 4179
[Central Bedfordshire Council request email]
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

Campaign for Better Transport

Dear Joanne Mulliner,

Thanks for the information

Yours sincerely,

Chris Todd

Campaign for Better Transport