THE Dial-a-Ride disability bus service has received a boost from the council after a decision was taken to exempt its entire fleet of vehicles from bus lane enforcement.

The organisation's recognisable white and blue vehicles act as a lifeline for people who would be otherwise unable to get out and socialise, work or attend medical appointments.

While some of the minibuses - those adapted or constructed to carry more than eight passengers - were already able to use the bus lanes and bus gates, it was not the case for all vehicles.

During a recent council debate of the future of the service, Labour councillor Jim Robbins asked the cabinet member responsible to look into extending the provision, or alternatively to ensure that any fines incurred were not pursued.

Oliver Donachie, the cabinet member who oversees such matters, was able to provide that commitment during the meeting and has since provided more information on the changes planned.

"The Conservative group values the Dial-a-Ride service, and the benefit it gives to those residents physically unable to use public transport," said Coun Donachie.

"As cabinet member for enforcement, I am very pleased to announce that Dial-a-Ride will be allowed to use bus lanes, and be exempt from any fines from next month.

"This is one of the ways the council is supporting the company, and we hope that it helps them provide a more efficient and effective service."

Fellow Conservative councillor, Emma Faramarzi, added: "This measure has been championed by our group for many months. It was agreed by Coun Dale Heenan last year, and I raised it at Scrutiny last month.

"Officers are finally finishing the legal paperwork so this is great news."

The council will publish the formal exemption shortly.

Coun Jim Robbins, who raised the issue of bus lane enforcement at the full council meeting, welcomed the decision.

"I'm delighted that Dial-a-Ride will be able to use bus lanes from next month," he said. "I really hope it helps them to be more effective and support more local people.

"There is more that we need to do to support Dial-a-Ride in this era of austerity, but I'd like to thank Coun Donachie for his willingness to listen and to work effectively across party divisions.

"I hope that we can find a way to give more long-term certainty to local organisations that we fund so that they can develop their strategic plans with more confidence about what they can achieve."

Coun Robbins' cautious optimism was echoed by his Labour counterpart Derique Montaut, a long-time campaigner on the future of Dial-a-Ride.

Coun Montaut has said that while moves like that on bus lane enforcement are welcome, they do little to address the issue of long term certainty.

Last year, the service saw a reduction in the amount of council funding it receives leading to the scrapping of services outside peak hours.

It remains the council's policy that by 2020, no money should be spent on subsidised transport and as yet, no specific solution has been identified to avoid Dial-a-Ride falling into that category.

One suggestion, put forward most recently by Coun Montaut, is that in recognition of the vital support it provides people with disabilities who would otherwise be housebound in many cases, the Dial-a-Ride service be moved from the transport budget to the adult health and social care budget.

In any case, he has called for ongoing discussions and cautioned against letting the issue disappear into the background until next year when the contract next comes up for tender.