Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)           Cabinet recommends to Council acceptance of the £5.722m Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025/26 from the Department for Transport

(b)           Cabinet recommends to Council to Delegate delivery of the BSIP programme, developed in conjunction with the Enhanced Partnership Board, to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment

(c)           Cabinet agrees and recommends to Council a full review of all subsidised local bus service contracts ahead of the planned commencement of the withdrawal of the Bus Subsidy budget starting in 2026/27

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley presented the report on Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The Vice Chair advised that there had been a request to take the recommendations separately and as such recommendations (a) and (b) would be taken together and (c) would be taken separately.

Some members expressed concern with regards to the review and potential withdrawal of the bus subsidy budget.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)          Council approved acceptance of the £5.722m Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025/26 from the Department for Transport;

(b)           Council delegated delivery of the BSIP programme, developed in conjunction with the Enhanced Partnership Board, to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment; and

(c)           Council agreed a full review of all subsidised local bus service contracts ahead of the planned commencement of the withdrawal of the Bus Subsidy budget starting in 2026/27

Voting: (a) and (b) Agreed with no dissent

            (c) For:47, Against:2, Abstentions:5

Councillor Clare Weight left the meeting at 22.36pm

The council has been awarded a further £5.722m funding allocation by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2025/26 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

The purpose of this paper is to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, noting progress to date made with the delivery of the initial £8.9m three-year BSIP allocation.

It is also recommending approval of a full review of the subsidised bus service network to support the withdrawal of the council’s Bus Subsidy Budget in accordance with the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)           Cabinet recommends to Council acceptance of the £5.722m Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025/26 from the Department for Transport

(b)           Cabinet recommends to Council to Delegate delivery of the BSIP programme, developed in conjunction with the Enhanced Partnership Board, to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment

(c)           Cabinet agrees and recommends to Council a full review of all subsidised local bus service contracts ahead of the planned commencement of the withdrawal of the Bus Subsidy budget starting in 2026/27

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

(a)           To inform Cabinet of the improvements introduced for the benefit of buses and bus passengers funded by the original BSIP grant award.

(b)           Approval is sought to accept the BSIP funding to support immediate investment in bus service improvements.

(c)           The investment of the BSIP funding is aligned with the Council’s Corporate Strategy and the Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

(d)           To minimise the impact on bus passengers of the withdrawal of the council’s Bus Subsidy budget.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Council has been awarded a further £5.722m funding allocation by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2025/26 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the purpose of this paper was to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, noting progress to date made with the delivery of the initial £8.9m three-year BSIP allocation.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the paper was also recommending approval of a full review of the subsidised bus service network to support the withdrawal of the council’s Bus Subsidy Budget in accordance with the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

Cabinet was advised that the Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) at their recent meeting had discussed the report in detail and whilst there had been no formal recommendations that they had submitted the following comment in respect of this item: -

1.             the possibility of discounted children’s bus passes being delivered outside of the app to negate the need for children to carry smart phones.

Cabinet was advised that in relation to the comment from TAG that the Portfolio Holder and officers had met with the bus company immediately following the TAG meeting and had already raised this with them for their consideration.

Cabinet spoke in support of the recommendations and of the importance of the bus services for communities.

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)           Cabinet recommends to Council acceptance of the £5.722m Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025/26 from the Department for Transport

(b)           Cabinet recommends to Council to Delegate delivery of the BSIP programme, developed in conjunction with the Enhanced Partnership Board, to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment

(c)         Cabinet agrees and recommends to Council a full review of all subsidised local bus service contracts ahead of the planned commencement of the withdrawal of the Bus Subsidy budget starting in 2026/27

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

(a)           To inform Cabinet of the improvements introduced for the benefit of buses and bus passengers funded by the original BSIP grant award.

(b)           Approval is sought to accept the BSIP funding to support immediate investment in bus service improvements.

(c)           The investment of the BSIP funding is aligned with the Council’s Corporate Strategy and the Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

(d)           To minimise the impact on bus passengers of the withdrawal of the council’s Bus Subsidy budget.

The council has been awarded a further £5.722m funding allocation by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2025/26 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

The purpose of this paper is to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, noting progress to date made with the delivery of the initial £8.9m three-year BSIP allocation.

It is also recommending approval of a full review of the subsidised bus service network to support the withdrawal of the council’s Bus Subsidy Budget in accordance with the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

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

The Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) was advised of the report and recommendations being submitted to Cabinet at their meeting on 5 March 2025.

In relation to this TAG was informed that the report advised that the council had been awarded a further £5.722m funding allocation by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2025/26 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

TAG was advised that the purpose of the report was to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, noting progress to date made with the delivery of the initial £8.9m three-year BSIP allocation.

Further to this TAG was informed that the report also recommended approval of a full review of the subsidised bus service network to support the withdrawal of the council’s Bus Subsidy Budget in accordance with the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

TAG raised the following areas of discussion: -

• Members raised a desire of having input into this going forwards
• Purewell bus priority
• The lack of input from motorists who may be affected by buses
• The need to ensure we feed into the partnership with the bus companies
• Children using the bus for school and the requirement to use the app for tickets

Councillor Alisdair Keddie addressed TAG highlighting that at the previous evenings full council meeting a motion had been passed to address the impact of smartphone use on children’s education and safety. In relation to this Councillor Keddie advised that Barnett Council had recently worked with more than 120 of it’s schools to implement a smartphone ban.

Councillor Keddie questioned whether the discounted children’s bus passes could be delivered outside of the app, as currently MoreBus offers its discounted children’s bus passes by app only which has a side effect of incentivising smartphone use by children.

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained within the report were noted and the Transportation Advisory Group agreed the following comments be forwarded to Cabinet on this item:

The Group requested that Officers consult with the bus company with regards to the following: -

1.             the possibility of discounted children’s bus passes being delivered outside of the app; and

2.             review the potential for including school holidays in the £2 unlimited journeys for young people.