Community Transport Schemes (x13)

Community Transport Schemes' purpose is to provide transport to those in the community who cannot access public transport for reasons of limited mobility, because of geographical isolation, disability, etc.

The Community Transport Schemes enable ECC to comply with the Transport Act 1985. 11 of the 13 schemes in Essex are run on ECC grants and other revenue they generate themselves, as registered charities with a Board of Trustees and paid Chief Executive and staff, plus volunteers, in accordance with agreements with ECC and the District/Borough Council. ECC directly runs the remaining two schemes and coordinates the volunteers. Southend and Thurrock unitary councils fund and manage their own schemes. Overall, patronage is increasing, satisfaction is high and the partnerships are growing.

The schemes provide brokerage of vehicles provided by the CVS and other charitable organisations; a social car scheme using private cars owned by volunteers from the general community on reimbursement of costs from ECC funding; and the Dial-A-Ride Scheme for disabled people using specialised vehicle funded by ECC or ECC-owned vehicles in the case of the two ECC operated schemes. Users pay contributions but not for full cost recovery, and the charities seek other non-ECC funding to enhance the services. ECC also encourages the charities to seek other work to win revenue and improve fleet utilisation. However, ECC Services are not permitted to use the Community Transport Services, and must limit their use to ECC s Community Link service.

Membership

• ECC Development Highways and Transportation
• Essex County Council
• District and Borough Councils
• The registered charities operating some of the community transport schemes.
• The users

Members

People

No users

Organisations

No organisations

Working groups

No working groups