, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
You talked about social value earlier. When Flintshire went out to procurement of school transport, when they went out for auction for those contracts, there'd be an element of social value to them, and that element would be then used for medical transport…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
And would you be working with the local authorities regarding that provision? Because some local authorities do have fleet services that they offer.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Operators have said that the biggest outlay, especially for the small operators, is the buses. To actually buy a new bus can cost £350,000 to £750,000. So, if there was bulk purchasing by Transport by Wales, or whoever, that might help. Then they could run…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
And then there could be concerns of affordability, I guess, with this model as well, going forwards. As long as the Welsh Government have got the funds to do this, how many services can we keep going? I just wanted to get that in—sorry.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Would you agree that, over the last few years, with the increase in costs of running as an operator, they are now persuaded more to go to this gross cost contract model, rather than the competitive model, which is what I've been hearing? It gives them some…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Can I come in on that?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Okay, thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
And there is the accountability if a person or child gets left behind as well. Okay, thank you. I've probably said enough.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Okay. Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
So, are you taking duties off local authorities then to deliver the rest of the network, for the public bus authorities? Because I know I've pointed to the concern that they've got that relationship with local authorities and they've got the bulk of expertise…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
I know that, in Anglesey, they rely on using public bus transport to deliver school transport, with budgets and things like that, so—.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Can I ask a supplementary question? So, why was the decision made to exclude school transport from this? Because it's very much tied up as well with public bus transport; I know it is in north Wales. So, for example, in Flintshire, when I was there, there…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Okay. And how has Transport for Wales developed their own skills now and capacity to deliver the change? Because I understand there was an issue there regarding knowledge of public bus transport in Transport for Wales for a while, so—.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Road map to Bus Reform - Technical briefing
Good morning. Can you give an overview of the organisations and stakeholders that will be involved in the franchising process, including their roles in the development, governance and delivery of franchising? So, which organisations are involved, okay.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
I'm sorry. The final question is this: do you think legacy coal mines and opencast mines should be dealt with together? If so, can you explain your reasoning? Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
And we could then reflect the need for communities to be involved in the restoration. Sorry, am I going over time?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
If consent is given for sites, though, to continue mining for restoration, that might apply then, mightn't it, do you think?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Is that MTAN 2 on community involvement?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Thank you. Are any changes needed to legislation or policy to ensure successful restoration of the site?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Can we ask for examples of those sites, because that's not what we heard earlier, which was that the restorations that have taken place haven't been adequate? So, can you give examples where you feel it might be working, doing it that way?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
It needs to be strengthened.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
It's got no teeth.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
So, what mechanisms should be put in place to ensure community involvement and input into the restoration, given MTAN 2, which emphasises the importance of consultation?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Merthyr. Okay. Thanks.
