By the Transport & Access Team Leader (Lynne Penn), RBWM.

The Transport & Access Team Leader, Lynne Penn, gave Members an update on the Staff Travel Plan. 

Members were informed that the Council was in the throws and process of a transport review in order to bring together all elements of transport under one umbrella which the Transport & Access Team Leader had been delegated responsibility for.  It was noted that different elements such as fleet, home to school transport, social care transport, community transport and the shop mobility service now came together as one group. 

It was noted that in July 2015 the Energy Savings Trust had been invited to meet with the Council to review what had taken place to date (making provision for staff to go about their duties) and to look at the vehicles being used across the Council.  A copy of the Energy Savings Trust report would be provided by the Transport & Access Team Leader to the Clerk so that it could be circulated with the minutes.  Members were informed that some of the information included in the report for the period 2014 – 2015 was that as a whole the Council had driven 1.69 million miles which equated to 553 tonnes of carbon dioxide.  The Transport & Access Team Leader explained that most of that mileage had been staff mileage (1.2 million miles / 71%) which had produced 358 tonnes of carbon dioxide (65%). 

Members were informed that the Fleet Manager, Mark Green, now worked for the Transport & Access Team Leader. 

Members were informed that a question that would be asked going forward would be:

v  Do you need to travel or can you use telephone and video conferencing facilities instead? 

It was noted that whilst all journeys (e.g. by social workers, street care officers, etc) could not be eliminated, the possibility of sharing vehicles, using public transport to conferences and hiring cars might all be an option.  It was noted that another big aspect of this was pool cars and whilst there had originally been seven pool cars that had been ‘pretty well used’ there were a new fleet of fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles available for business use which were arriving this week (a fleet of thirteen Minis with increased availability based at various Council locations).  The Transport & Access Team Leader explained that the Council, through the Staff Travel Plan, hoped to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint by making a 30% reduction in the mileage of fleet vehicles and increase efficiency, whilst securing saving for the Council in line with the financial priorities of the Council.

The potential benefits of this initiative were considered to be considerable as travel was one of the Council’s most significant expenses, and a great deal of officers’ (and members’) time was lost shuttling back and forth to meetings. Reducing travel would enable the Council to cut costs and use time more productively.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

Ø  The Nissan Leafs (electric vehicles) had been leased vehicles based at Tinkers Lane.  It was noted that some services going forward might be delivered by a third party hence the electric van leases had not been renewed.

Ø  That the majority of trips were made within the Royal Borough and that it made more sense to Members to charge an electric car up rather than using a petrol car.

Ø  That the booking facilities for the pool cars would be moved towards keyless entry of the vehicles via a third party, Alphabet, which would allow staff to book the pool cars online via a new scheme called Alphacity.  It was noted that the pool cars would be tracked allowing Alphabet to know where the pool cars were at any one time. 

Ø  It was noted that the unleaded Minis had been the only small vehicles available to the Council via this scheme at this time.   

Ø  That pool cars were available for Members to use. 

Ø  That going forward the use of the pool cars at weekends and in the evenings might be opened up to residents.

Ø  Councillor Yong explained that in London residents were able to hire cars for an hour or two which she felt was a very useful and cost effective system.

Ø  Councillor Ed Wilson explained that the Car Share Club scheme in London had designated parking spaces and that was something that could be looked at for the Royal Borough (particularly Windsor) in the future.  It was noted that electric vehicles were available in the Car Share Club scheme in London.

Ø  Success of the Staff Travel Plan would be measured by maximum usage of the pool cars but with a reduction in mileage overall.

The Chairman stated that he was appalled with what was being reported regarding the new pool car scheme as he felt it was going against the Borough policy to promote a greener environment (by the use of electric cars).  After a short debate the Chairman of the Panel explained he understood the decision was not the responsibility of the Transport & Access Team Leader or the Panel, he agreed to ask for further information from the relevant Head of Service to understand the full details behind the discussion.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLEY: That further details be provided to show the usage of the pool cars and explain;

·       The basis of and who had decided on the new pool car scheme.

·       Why the new pool car scheme had been sanctioned.

·       The explanation about why the proposed scheme had not come to the Sustainability Panel before it had been agreed.

·       Whether the new pool car scheme had been part of a Cabinet report.

·       Confirmation that the reintroduction of electric cars as part of this new scheme would be looked into for the future.

·       Whether a fleet plan existed and if so for it to be shared with the Panel.