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5.0 Conclusions
5.1 DRT plays an important and growing role in the spectrum of transport provision. There are particular market niches, which cannot be served without the ability to provide a flexible transport solution, and particular user groups that require DRT provision to access the services that they require.
5.2 This review has considered the evidence from over a hundred DRT services in Scotland and set this within the context of best international practice. Overall conclusions are that:
- There are many opportunities to enhance provision through joint working and delivery.
- All DRT services need to define clearly for whom and why the services are being funded and delivered.
- Action by local authorities to plan for developing DRT markets needs to be set out in local transport strategies and monitored in best value reviews.
- Best value public transport in most parts of the country can be expected to include DRT.
- The long term sustainability of most of the pilot DRT projects set up by the Scottish Executive is uncertain. There is a heavy reliance on the Scottish Executive funding, and for most pilots, DRT would probably not be prioritised highly enough by the councils to obtain funding within mainstream budgets.
5.3 There is potential for growth in all four main DRT markets: high care needs, high value to agency, best value and premium services, but to achieve this growth will require better targeting of public funding, resolution of some regulatory issues and improved joint working across sectors.
5.4 The high incidence of CT managed and operated DRT services, and the progress made by CT groups involved in the pilot urban CT funding, demonstrates the importance of the CT sector to the development of DRT provision. National funding for CT needs to reflect this, perhaps with the development of the RCTI funding into a larger budget covering both urban and rural CT development.
Recommendations
5.5 To secure these changes, the guidance developed as part of this work can help to inform relevant authorities and groups on how new services can be delivered. However more needs to be done to create a conducive culture for DRT delivery, drawing from the many lessons identified in this research. Of particular importance will be:
- Clear accountability on who pays for what user needs - This requires a coherent approach at national, regional and local levels. Transport planning which meets the travel needs of all people, and closes opportunity gaps, is developing through accessibility auditing and planning agendas, and this needs to be built upon through DRT delivery.
- Amending the rules for BSOG eligibility to include more DRT operations.
- Managing the culture change from expectations of fixed service delivery to more flexible provision - Of particular importance in the short term will be supporting this change within the transport profession itself. Financial support for site specific advice and training within all sectors is therefore needed. Transport providers will then be better placed to work with marketing professionals and other partners to develop the culture change more widely.
- Introducing funding and auditing incentives to ensure that best value public transport delivery includes DRT options where appropriate - Best value indicators need to include DRT options and funding applications for public transport improvements need to demonstrate that DRT options have been considered.
- A clear plan for future patient transport - This needs to recognise changing needs and the growing problems for many providers including the Scottish Ambulance Service.
- The impacts of introducing the free national concessionary fares scheme on DRT need to be considered - From April 2006, the scheme will have major impacts on DRT markets. Exploring these has been beyond the focus of this research. This needs detailed consideration - perhaps as part of the consultation started in December 2005.
- Strengthening community transport - Community transport groups are currently amongst the largest providers of DRT services, so funding decisions and procurement approaches need to recognise the close relationship between growth in DRT markets, and the needs of the CT sector in both urban and rural areas as potentially a best value provider.
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