Agenda item

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Tuesday 17 May 2016.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

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It was reported that there had been seven registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

John Bibby stated that he was a member of the York Bus Forum and was opposed to the reductions in the subsidised bus service budget for the following reasons:

·        He did not believe that the cuts were necessary. The total amounted to £400,000 and was a small amount. The proposals were short sighted and accountancy led. 

·        The proposed cuts were vicious and discriminatory and would impact on the most needy and those without their own transport.  Members’ attention was drawn to the health, educational and social impact of the proposals.

·        The consultation that had taken place had been rushed and unfit for purpose.

·        The Bus Forum was currently developing long term policies to improve local transport and it called upon the Council to not proceed with the proposed cuts.

The Chair stated that Members of the committee had also received written representation from Mr Bibby on behalf of the Bus Forum.

Mrs Linda Nelson stated that she supported the comments made on behalf of the York Bus Forum.  She explained some of the impacts of the removal of bus subsidies, particularly on the elderly and on children travelling to school.  She stated that Dial a Ride was not a suitable alternative.  Mrs Nelson drew particular attention to the impact of changes to the Number 20 service.

Mr Graham Collett stated that the proposed cuts amounted to a saving of only 0.3% of the council’s budget and therefore would hardly be noticeable.  There was no justification for the cuts to be implemented and no evidence to justify the proposed actions.  Mr Collett requested that the Committee advised the Executive Member to reject the proposals and await the outcome of legislation on bus services.

Mr Ron Healey drew particular attention to the impact of the proposed reduction in subsidy to route 20.  He stated that a more strategic view needed to be taken. The focus should be on alternatives to car travel and tackling emissions on a city-wide basis.  It was important to take time to develop the options, given that legislation on buses was expected.

Mr Derek Paterson spoke on behalf of Rawcliffe Parish Council. He stated that the Parish Council had not been consulted on the proposals as the timing of the parish council meeting had not provided an opportunity for the proposals to be discussed.  Rawcliffe residents had raised issues in respect of bus travel for a number of years.  Mr Paterson expressed concern at the use of the word “significant” in the report, as the responses were not statistically significant in number.  He urged that a statistically significant survey be undertaken.

Mr Toby Hart expressed concerns regarding the impact of the proposals on social and economic inclusion.  He stated that the consultation had not included visitors to the city.  The proposals would make bus travel less competitive.  Mr Hart requested that, in the immediate and longer term, consideration be given to seeking alternative sources of funding in order to have a balanced transport system.  Mr Hart requested that, as an alternative to the proposals, the decision to freeze car parking charges be reversed.

Mr Dave Merrett expressed concern at the impact on Sunday services.  He stated that he was particularly concerned about the impact on services in the Southbank and Bishopthorpe area.  Cuts to services would make it particularly difficult for shift workers, those who worked late or people using the bus services to get to events in town.   It was also socially important to maintain the services.  Whilst the pressures on budgets were recognised, the decision to freeze car parking fees could be re-examined as an alternative.  York was unusual in that its Park and Ride facility generated substantial profits.

Members noted that written representation had also been submitted by:

·        John Yates – Executive Member of York Older People’s Assembly

·        Carol Atkinson