Issue - meetings

This report draws the Executive Members attention to the unsatisfactory financial performance and poor patronage of bus route 55, which is procured by the Council under competitive tender.

RESOLVED: That the Executive Member agrees the proposal to maintain the present operation of route 55 until the expiry of the existing contract in 2011.

REASON:                  This will provide sufficient time for officers to assess the effects on the bus network in York resulting from the changes to the commercially operated routes and investigate and propose alternatives that best meet the requirements of the local transport plan and the residents of York. 

The Executive Member considered a report which drew his attention to the unsatisfactory financial performance and poor patronage of bus route 55, which operated between the city centre, Huntington Road, Monks Cross Shopping Centre, York University and Fulford and which was procured by the Council under competitive tender.

Officers had identified that for much of its length the route mirrored other, more frequent commercial services on which popular day tickets could be used. It was suggested that a thorough review was undertaken of the effects of recent changes to the commercial bus network.

The Executive Member reported receipt of late representations from Councillor Ayre in which he raised strong objections, on behalf of Heworth Without residents, to proposed changes to the No. 13 bus route. He asked First to reconsider their decision or to work with the authority towards finding an alternative solution.

The Executive Member explained that this was a report, which had been overtaken by events, as First had now deregistered sections of the No 13 commercial bus route. He stated that it was therefore only right that the No 55 service should be retained at least till the impact of First’s decision had been evaluated.

The following nil cost options had been presented for consideration by the Executive Member:

• To continue with the current route unchanged until the contract expires, despite this operation failing to meet the Council’s own criteria.

• Withdraw the route completely without replacement.

• Replace route 55 with a new, more frequent, end to end route (provisionally numbered 15) operating solely between Monks Cross Shopping centre and the Designer Outlet, St. Nicholas Avenue via Heworth, University of York, Fulford Broadway and the A19.

RESOLVED: That the Executive Member agrees the proposal to maintain the present operation of route 55 until the expiry of the existing contract in 2011. ^1.

REASON:                  This will provide sufficient time for officers to assess the effects on the bus network in York resulting from the changes to the commercially operated routes and investigate and propose alternatives that best meet the requirements of the local transport plan and the residents of York.