Issue - meetings

To seek approval to make changes to the method of calculating bus operator reimbursement for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme in 2021/22 as part of a proposed Recovery Partnership government initiative and to support the CIMT recommendation regarding reimbursement for 2020/21.

The ? presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix '?' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Public Report

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a)          For the current 2020/21 scheme year Council supports the CIMT recommendation to approve the 2020/21 reimbursement of bus based on adjusted pre-Covid levels as urged by Central Government; and

(b)          For 2021/22 the formation of a Recovery Partnership with the bus operators to seek a local solution to bus service provision and funding arrangements to include concessionary fares reimbursement be endorsed.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder:

To seek approval to make changes to the method of calculating bus operator reimbursement for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme in 2021/22 as part of a proposed Recovery Partnership government initiative and to support the CIMT recommendation regarding reimbursement for 2020/21.

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Approval was sought to make changes to the method of calculating bus operator reimbursement for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme in 2021/22 as part of a proposed Recovery Partnership government initiative. Further to this Cabinet support was requested for the CIMT recommendation regarding reimbursement for 2020/21.

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a)          For the current 2020/21 scheme year Council supports the CIMT recommendation to approve the 2020/21 reimbursement of bus based on adjusted pre-Covid levels as urged by Central Government; and

(b)          For 2021/22 the formation of a Recovery Partnership with the bus operators to seek a local solution to bus service provision and funding arrangements to include concessionary fares reimbursement be endorsed.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Sustainability

To consider the following Transport and Sustainability related reports scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 13 January:

•   Concessionary Fares Bus Operator Reimbursement

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise the reports and make recommendations to Cabinet as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Mike Greene, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Concessionary Fares Bus Operator Reimbursement - The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Committee Members determined that it was necessary to discuss the report’s confidential appendix when conducting their scrutiny of the item and therefore moved the discussions into confidential session for the remainder of the item.

Having discussed the item in great detail, the committee were content that no formal recommendation needed to be submitted on behalf of the Board to the Cabinet meeting due to be held on Wednesday 13 January 2021.