Issue - meetings

To advise the Executive Member of a petition presented to Council earlier this year seeking retention of the route 13 bus service linking Heworth to Monks Cross and York College.

RESOLVED:                  That the Executive Member agrees to:

i)        Note the content of the petition and inform the lead petitioner of the outcome of the report.

ii)      Allow the route and service changes of Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009 to become established and revisit the issue if the services do not adequately connect Heworth to Monks Cross or York College.

REASON:                  Council officers are working to further promote, sustain and develop the local bus network in Heworth and continue to monitor the development of ‘Yorcard’ in the interests of introducing a cross-operator ticket at the earliest opportunity.

The Executive Member considered a report, which related to a petition, presented to Council earlier in the year, which sought retention of the No 13 bus service linking Heworth to Monks Cross and York College.

Officers confirmed that since the petition had been submitted a number of changes had been made to the bus network in Heworth.

Councillor Potter who, spoke on behalf of the Ward Members, confirmed that they were pleased that service changes had been made but that these were unfortunately not joined up, as different bus companies required different tickets.

Officers confirmed that cross Bus Company ticketing had been discussed with all operators but that the Council were unable to impose this on them.

The Executive Member stated that unfortunately the introduction of a system that would allow for a single fare to be paid for split journeys would cost over a third of a million pounds to introduce plus an ongoing commitment from taxpayers.

The following option was presented for the Executive Member’s consideration: To allow the route and service changes of Autumn 2008 and Spring 09 to become established and revisit the issue if the services do not adequately connect Heworth to Monks Cross or York College.

RESOLVED:                  That the Executive Member agrees to:

i)                    Note the content of the petition and inform the lead petitioner of the outcome of the report. ¹.

ii)                  Allow the route and service changes of Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009 to become established and revisit the issue if the services do not adequately connect Heworth to Monks Cross or York College. ².

REASON:                  Council officers are working to further promote, sustain and develop the local bus network in Heworth and continue to monitor the development of ‘Yorcard’ in the interests of introducing a cross-operator ticket at the earliest opportunity.