Purpose

In December 2022 Lichfield
District Council was awarded £3,285,310 from the UK Shared
Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).   The
objective of the funding is to level up and create opportunities
for people and place across the UK, delivering on priorities within
the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.    
 
The On Demand Transport Project
is one of the UKSPF funded Community and Place
projects.  The project will provide a
pilot scheme to connect residents in rural towns and villages
across the locality with urban centres in Burntwood and Lichfield
through an on-demand mini-bus service. 
The planned outcomes include the support of 20 events or local
activities and reaching 5000+ people in the district.
 
Using a mobile phone app and/or
call centre residents will be able to pre-book journeys from rural
areas into population centres or to connect with current bus/train
services, the technology will join up journeys from certain areas
and times to ensure the service is full where possible.
 
This report is seeking approval
to appoint WeDRT to deliver both sections of the project
‘Application and Call Centre’ (408b) and ‘Vehicle
and Drivers’ (408a).

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Visitor Economy,
Ecology & Climate Change agreed to appoint WeDRT to deliver two
on demand transport projects - ‘Application and Call
Centre’ (408b) and ‘Vehicle and Drivers’ (408a)
for a trial period commencing October 2024, funded by the UK Shared
Prosperity Fund.