Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public have up to 30 minutes to ask questions submitted in advance of the meeting, questions should be submitted to Democratic Services by midday on Friday 21 February 2025.

It was agreed that:

Members of the Bee Network Committee would like to recommend to the Democratic Arrangements Forum that public question time be introduced at meetings of the Bee Network Forum and in addition, consider appointing a young persons representative to sit as a co-opted member on the Forum.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27^th November 2024 be approved.

To receive an update from Transport for Greater Manchester

Fran Wilkinson (TfGM) presented an update on the delivery of the Bee Network, fully integrated public transport, highlighting work undertaken to introduce of a new ‘pay-as-you-go’ contactless ticket system in March.

The TfGM representative presented an overview of the new system, including information on the rationale, benefits and costing of the new pay as you go system.  The presentation also contained information on the methodology for the campaign plan to let people know about the changes and the representatives report that it is the first step towards an integrated network.

Members welcomed the proposals, the TfGM reported that children will not be able to use the system at the moment and this will only operate on buses in the Greater Manchester footprint.

The TfGM representative reported that work to develop an App as well as this process has been rigorously tested, staff supporting the process including the contact centre are based in Manchester.  These staff will also deal with any appeal/complaint issues arising from the new system.

Members were updated on a new scheme with Manchester Credit Union to enable people to get financial support from the Credit Union to facilitate purchase of an Annual pass, Members were encouraged to inform their constituents of this scheme.

It was agreed that:

The Transport For Greater Manchester stakeholder newsletter produced weekly, will be shared with colleagues in Democratic Services for onward circulation to all Elected Members.

To receive a presentation from Transport for Greater Manchester

Daniel Coles representing TfGM provided Elected Members with a verbal update on the Bury Bee Network Bus Review, advising that network reviews were a mechanism for considering public needs and aspirations for the bus network across Greater Manchester. As of February 2025, Network Reviews have started in Wigan & Leigh, Bolton, Salford and Bury.

The first reviews in Wigan and Bolton have moved through the first stage of engagement and the second stage of appraisal.

The first stage of the review in Bury is the Engagement and Evidence Gathering and this took place at the end of 2024

To date, those first Network Reviews undertaken in Bolton and Wigan & Leigh have identified a set of interventions which aim primarily to:

•      Improve bus services by increasing frequency and capacity, ensuring they align with local priorities and contribute to our goal of increasing bus use by 30% by 2030.

•      Enhance network efficiency by reviewing underused routes and feeder services to ensure resources are allocated where they are most needed.

Through ongoing engagement with local stakeholders, we have received strong feedback that improving accessibility and expanding coverage should be a priority. This will help ensure that all communities benefit from a better-connected public transport network, making it easier for people to access jobs, education, an essential services.

In line with the Network Review process approved by GM Bee Network Committee, will:

Commence a GM-wide Coverage & Connectivity Review – this exercise will measure accessibility to and through the network, to provide a baseline and inform the network planning undertaken for all current and future reviews. It will enable us to develop a consistent set of criteria against which future recommendations can be measured and demonstrate that every district is being considered in a single review taking place at the start of the cycle.

Agree a series of Thematic Network Reviews, starting with Night Services - Outputs from these reviews will enable us to deliver service interventions across GM while the cycle of area-based reviews is progressing, in addition to on-going operational/performance improvements.

Reset Area-Based Network Review programme – fewer, broader areas to allow wider, cross-district network connectivity to be considered and alignment with GM Growth Corridors

In discussion that followed Members wanted to ensure that any Local transport strategy is aligned with this wider GM review work and that Council are kept fully informed and utilised as part of the process.  In addition, Councillors wanted to ensure that specific ward issues are addressed as part of the engagement exercise and that bus services that cross-boundaries are captured to.

Members discussed safe travel in particular safety at night for young people.  The TfGM representative reported that they work closely with colleagues at GMP, the TfGM app has an alert function to allow a user to notify a person where they are, GMP live chat has a similar facility on their App.

In addition, CCTV is installed on bus shelters and information screens will provide regular updated information.

TfGM representatives reported that safety is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive a presentation from Lee Buggie, Public Health Specialist – Live Well & Healthy Place on the role of the Bee Network in promoting public health.

Lee Buggie, Public Health Specialist, Live Well & Healthy Place attended the meeting and provided members with a verbal update on work being undertaken in public health, with a particular focus on:

•     Governance

•     Early Years & action plans

•     Schools & Colleges

•     Maps, History, Culture, Innovation

•     Businesses, new audiences

•     Infrastructure, Policy and Strategy

•     Showcase events

The update included information on projects including: Bury Active Schools Accreditation and Bury walking and cycling pages.

Members discussed whether it was possible to get yellow paint / signage to integrate the cycle bike sheds with the bee network branding. 

It was agreed that:

Lee Buggie, Public Health Specialist, Live Well & Healthy Place will liaise with colleagues from Transport for Greater Manchester regarding signage for Bike Sheds.