ROSIE MINIBUS ORGANISATION
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2022/23
The Rosie Minibus was started originally to take clients to the Rosefield Day Centre in Hartley Wintney from the village and surrounding area and return them home. The Day Centre was open on most weekdays and its clients were largely people with a form of dementia. It was funded by Hampshire County Council and increasing property improvement demands by HCC lead to it moving to the former Odiham Cottage Hospital.
The Rosie Minibus carried on this task after the move but was eventually replaced by the hospital’s bus in 2015.
Rosie had had other clients, and it was decided to keep it operating to serve local groups. The mileage per annum dropped but an important service was maintained for the village.
Then came covid which changed everything. Public local bus services declined substantially, and Hartley Wintney Parish Council wanted to set up a community bus service to compensate. This was done in consultation with Rosie, and we played a large part in setting it up and buying the bus.
There was an initial trial period when the community bus started, and the Rosie bus was kept off the road. The trial showed that there was still need for the Rosie bus and operations were resumed.
We now have a well-established relationship with the community bus. Our drivers drive it on shopping trips and on all the group trips it has been used for.
2022/3 was the year that Rosie, after all that had happened between whiles, got back up to a very respectable usage and mileage.
Graham Gillies has provided a very interesting summary of the miles driven each year since 2007/8 which I have attached.
The Scouts and the Bluebell Café account for almost ninety percent of usage for the year, but the local school and local events, for which there is no charge, are also important.
This is only possible because of the hard work and dedication of all our volunteers. We have managed to recruit four new drivers who have passed the Minibus Driver Awareness course and should enable us to increase our trips in future, including free trips for the over fifty fives.
David Tunnell’s report shows our financial position, but strenuous efforts are made to control costs. Unfortunately, it has now been confirmed that under our Permit 19 we have to have an inspection of the bus every ten weeks and this will cost some £660 this year.
The committee will, in the near future, decide whether to replace our current sixteen-year-old bus and also review our hire charge rates. These have not changed from £1 per mile and half that after 30 miles, for many years.
I will finish this report by thanking all of our volunteers. You are providing a service valued by the community which would otherwise not be available. You should all be proud of the contribution you are making to the well-being of our village.
Derek Trendell
20 October 2023
ROSIE MINIBUS ORGANISATION
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS STATEMENTS
| 2022-23 | 2021-22 | |
|---|---|---|
| BANK BALANCES 1 September 2022 | £ | £ |
| Cambridge and Counties Bank Saver Account | 50783.84 |
61217.77 |
| NatWest Current Account | 1678.14 |
4530.44 |
| Total | £52461.98 | £65748.21 |
| RECEIPTS | ||
| Hire of Community Bus | 1345.04 |
1113.77 |
| Hire of Rosie | 2196.50 | |
| Bank Interest | 1133.95 | 566.07 |
| VAT Refunds | 0.00 |
|
| Bus Services Operator’s Grant | 0.00 |
|
| £4675.49 | £1679.84 | |
| PAYMENTS | ||
| Minibus Fuel | 893.06 | 0.00 |
| Insurance |
1011.17 | 631.75 |
| Minibus Servicing & repairs including MOT | 1381.26 |
337.22 |
| Ramp |
396.00 | |
| Section 19,Blue badge | 21.00 | |
| Vehicle Tax | 255.75 | |
| Training & CRB checks of volunteers | 240.00 | 770.00 |
| Other items |
239.67 | |
| Sundry Expenses | 7.15 |
|
| Contribution to Community Bus | 0.00 | 13206.00 |
| Total | £4445.06 | £14966.07 |
| EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS | (230.43) | |
| (£13286.23) | ||
| BANK BALANCES 1 September 2023 | ||
| Cambridge and Counties Bank Saver Account | 49917.79 | 50783.84 |
| NatWest Current Account | 2774.62 |
1678.14 |
| Total |
**£52692.41 ** | £52461.98 |
D.A.Tunnell, Honorary Treasurer. 16.10.2023