The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC)

28 July 2015

Attendees:

DPTAC Members
Keith Richards (Chair)
Andrew Probert
Roger Mackett
Will Bee
Paulette Lappin
David Partington
Sharon Brennan
Helen Dolphin
Department for Transport
Deborah Lewis
Neil Priest
Mike Speirs
Beth Droy
Elena Barcan
Shane Snow
Pauline Reeves
Phil Pool (Secretariat) / Observers
John Ballentine (Scotland – MACS)
Apologies
Heather James DPTAC
Tanvi Vyas DPTAC
Kirsten Hearn DPTAC
Olav Ernstzen DPTAC
Jessica Uguccioni DPTAC – on sabbatical
Niki Glazier Mental Health Action Group (observer)
Rhodri Griffiths - (Welsh Government)

1.Buses Bill – Deborah Lewis, DfT Buses and Taxis

1.1Deborah explained the background to the current Buses Bill. The content and scope of the Bill is still under development and proposals will be put to Ministers in September. The basic aim of the Bill is to allow for areas, such as Greater Manchester, to introduce local bus franchises. It is a 1st Session Bill and will need to be introduced to Parliament between November and February.

1.2General points raised in discussion with DPTAC were –

  • New arrangements will need to be funded from existing budgets
  • The scope and style of the franchises has not been determined – these could be prescriptive such as the arrangements in London or could be outcome-based. We need decide to what extent central Government is involved in this level of detail.
  • There are a wide range of issues to consider, such as the expertise and resources of local authority areas looking to franchise.

1.3Specific, disability related points were –

Meeting the needs of all (including potential) travellers and disabled people in particular needs to be part of the fabric of the Bill.

DPTAC said that this is a good opportunity to clarify the currently ambiguous issue over the use of the “priority” wheelchair accessible space. It was noted that the timing of the Bill will not provide for it to take account of the outcome of the current Supreme Court case – DPTAC said that the Bill is an opportunity to provide powers that would allow for this sort of issue to be address through secondary legislation.

DPTAC said that the Bill is also an opportunity for powers to be provided, perhaps again through secondary legislation, to allow for the franchises to require measures that go beyond the PSVAR requirements, such as the provision of audio/visual announcements on buses.

DPTAC noted that in many areas, such as Cornwall (one of the areas under consideration) there might be scope for meeting the needs of travellers, and disabled people, more effectively if a more unified approach with buses and taxis is considered. Current taxi licensing arrangements would be likely to be a barrier.

1.4Points of agreement were –

Deborah will continue to seek DPTAC’s views as the Bill is developed

DPTAC will set out, and send to, Deborah a set of “asks” to include in the Bill

2.Workshop on the Role, Structure and Functions of DPTAC

2.1The remainder of the meeting focussed on priorities for DPTAC, how it works and how it may work more effectively in future. This was a workshop based discussion and the outcomes of the workshop will be circulated later for consideration and decisions at the September meeting of DPTAC.

Next Meeting –

23 September 2015

150310 DPTAC Meeting Minutes1|Page