In depth scrutiny is used to investigate a matter thoroughly, considering evidence and opinions from a wide range of interested people and organisations to recommend improvements. The results of these investigations have a real impact on policy and service improvements. Bristol City Council conducts 2-3 scrutiny projects each year.
We are keen to investigate and review issues that matter to the people of Bristol and want to hear from you about what themes and policies you would like us to examine in depth.
Here are previous examples of in-depth scrutiny to give you an idea of the sorts of citywide public service issues that we can investigate. These have already been covered so we are interested in your suggestions for new topics.
Your suggested topic should be a city wide issue of public concern. Issues related to your local neighbourhood are addressed through the committee of your neighbourhood partnership www.bristol.gov.uk/neighbourhoodpartnerships
In your comment, please say - Your suggested topic for scrutiny and why you think this matter needs to be addressed?
We’re asking for your views on what’s to like – and what’s not to like about Bristol’s central area, soon to be subject of a major planning consultation.
The Bristol Development Framework Core Strategy envisages significant change in the city centre, including new homes, new high quality office floorspace, new transport infrastructure and expansion of key institutions. It proposes that the city centre is expanded to accommodate growth and aims to ensure that members of more deprived communities close to the city centre benefit directly from change.
This level of change raises critical questions:
What kind of central area do we want?
How do we create a shared vision that reflects the concerns and aspirations of people who live and work in the central area and those of the wider public?
How do we meet challenges such as responding to climate change and securing sustainable transport?
How do we make the most of our streets and public spaces, and attract investment?
What are the tools we need, and what do we need to do to make these things happen?
The Bristol Central Area Action Plan will set out some of the answers to those questions, and provide some of the tools, through its policies and programmes. The Plan will form part of the Bristol Development Framework
The community will have a range of opportunities to be involved in the preparation of the Plan and we need to start by understanding the issues that concern the community and the challenges presented in addressing those issues. One of the ways we are building an understanding is by “Asking Bristol” two simple questions:
What is it that you like about the central area of Bristol
What is it that you hope will be different in a future central area?
Place your cherish and change points on our map
Hence our Ask Bristol web survey – Cherish and Change. Please follow the link to the map of the central area to let us know what you Cherish in the central area and what you think could be Changed for the better. We’d like you to pinpoint up to three locations in each category and tell us why you cherish or would change them. You can attach pictures to your pinpoint if you like, to emphasise your view, and you can add your comments to the pinpoints of others.
The Greater Bristol Bus Network is on its way. And it will provide a fast, efficient network of major commuter bus routes into the city centre from in and around Bristol.
902 Park and ride bus centre
But what about Bristol’s wider network of routes which serve local neighbourhoods? Most people would agree that these routes need a radical overhaul. Years of tinkering around the edges has led to a network that is patchy and inconsistent.
Many of the routes haven’t changed for decades, and others have been scrapped for commercial reasons, or for lack of funding, leaving passengers feeling last in line.
The experience of other cities in the UK and Europe shows us how buses in Bristol could be better organised. So now Bristol City Council is looking to work with private sector service providers to overhaul the existing network to make it serve the city better.
As a first step, the council is holding an ASK Bristol discussion to gain an understanding of residents experience with local bus routes, how far they have to walk to their nearest stop and how long they have to wait for a change of bus.
It’s only a ‘public conversation’ at this stage to gather some informal views before we sit down with local bus operators and map out a first draft of a full bus review for consultation.
Throughout 2010, there will be a number of further stages to this and ways to get involved, and we will be sharing more information about this on ASK Bristol.
Cllr Jon Rogers - Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability
Councillor Jon Rogers – Executive Member for Transport and Sustainability –
I’m a great believer in early engagement and keeping people informed about fundamental issues like the Bristol’s bus route review. We used this approach on the city centre layout debate on ASK Bristol and we’re asking people once again to join the debate on ASK Bristol about Bristol’s bus routes and network. This will help us decide what the review should cover and how we go about it. By getting involved at this very early stage, it means we can keep you informed as we proceed.
We’re using our new approach to involving citizens and groups with the bus route review which is about sharing early ideas and developing them together. This process will continue through 2010 and changes to bus routes and the network won’t begin until 2011 at the earliest. Use this forum to talk about:
• How should we carry out the Bristol bus route review
• What are the main citywide / strategic issues which should be considered in this review
We’ll be adding an interactive map soon which will enable you to place pointers on a map, comment on individual services and suggest new routes.
By getting involved in this debate or by signing-up for the ASK Bristol newsletter, we’ll keep you informed as the review progresses.
Young people on public transport
The Sustainable Development and Transport Commission asked young people for their views on public transport. Here is the video the commission watched:
On March 9th 2010 ‘Ask Bristol’ commenced a debate on behalf of the then Executive member for Transport and Sustainability (Cllr Jon Rogers) to discuss a proposed review of the bus network.
Responses were received up to October 2010, although the majority of the debate ran during March to May 2010.
The intention had been to inform a full review of the commercial and Council supported network during 2011.
During Summer 2010 it became clear that FIRST would not be in a position to resource such a comprehensive review and the commercial review was reduced to considering minor changes to improve the existing network (for example around the Hengrove area). There was also limited interest in a major review from the neighbouring authorities.
The change in government and emphasis on cuts in budgets has also had a significant impact on the ability to consider a detailed review of the network.
However, this initial debate has helped to inform the process of preparing new Contracts for the bus services supported by the Council (as considered by the more recent Ask Bristol conversation on “Supported Transport Services” which closed on May 11th 2011). These have included:
Some assessment of the transport models to recognise where there may be significant numbers of car journeys and no direct competition from an existing bus route to assess whether introducing a bus service could be viable.
Consideration of the potential patronage and viability of a new or revised bus route to serve the Crews Hole area of East Bristol.
Consideration of splitting existing supported orbital services and adjusting their routes and frequencies to improve overall use, clarity and reliability.
The procurement of services supported by the Council at the same time to make it possible to package the services, attract other companies into the market and to reduce the impact of the expected significant increase in costs.
Other comments associated with the development of SMART/through ticketing, major transport schemes, bus lanes and enforcement, parking controls and other measures have been noted as part of the ongoing development work in these areas.
The Frome Greenway Transformation is an ambitious project which sets out a vision for an important transport corridor, and includes a range of enhancements. It will be implemented as part of the Cycling City Project, and is funded from s106 contributions from the Cabot Circus development, under an air quality provision.
We want to greatly increase the usage of the route by cyclists and pedestrians, whilst achieving a shift away from vehicle use, leading to associated air-quality improvement. Creating a well marked, continuous route that has the following attributes:
environmental enhancement
distinct identity
high quality designed features
good linkages along (and into) the corridor
improved ecology
amenities
safety
The project presents a unique opportunity to contribute towards making Bristol a better, greener, more livable place.
This scheme will provide the final missing link in a continuous, largely off road, route from Cabot Circus to Eastville Park, Snuff Mills and Frenchay. Part of the route will be on a shared-use footway alongside the one way section of Stapleton Rd where there is currently no provision for cyclists to go north. This will require some re-location of parking, but more parking will be created to replace that which is lost and also to provide some additional spaces. The extra width and removal of pavement parking will be of huge benefit to pedestrians, wheelchair users, the elderly and families as well as cyclists.
You can see a summary and a map with sketches of how new elements along the path might look. You will need to zoom into the document and scroll around to see the whole route. Links to the PDF’s can be found at the bottom of the page if you find it easier.
In depth scrutiny is used to investigate a matter thoroughly, considering evidence and opinions from a wide range of interested people and organisations to recommend improvements. The results of these investigations have a real impact on policy and service improvements. Bristol City Council conducts 2-3 scrutiny projects each year.
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