Issue - meetings

This report is written in response to a petition received from Councillor Alexander requesting a freeze in First York bus fares, an end to First York service cuts and a review of outer York bus services to ensure that all villages have sufficient access to bus routes.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member notes the contents of the report and agrees to:

i)                    Support the work currently being undertaken to encourage and sustain commercial bus services with realistic fares on York’s bus network.

ii)                  Request a review of the network of subsidised bus services provided across York prior to the re-tendering of services in Autumn 2011.

iii)                Request officers to include on a future ResOp survey questions (backed up by an “on line” Council web site poll) aimed at discovering residents views on acceptable bus service standards taking into account subsidy levels, comfort, speed, reliability, accessibility and fare cost issues.

REASON:                  That the vast majority of contracts for York’s tendered bus network expire at the end of August 2011. It is within the context of this tendering round that any changes to the existing bus network would best be considered for the delivery of a sustainable, attractive bus network to be achieved.

The Executive Member considered a report which had been prepared in response to a petition received from Cllr Alexander requesting a freeze in First York bus fares, an end to First York bus service cuts and a review of outer York bus services to ensure that all villages have sufficient access to bus routes.

The Officers report had concluded that whilst effort had been made by the Council to influence the first two areas, that it was only the third point over which the Council currently had any level of control.  It was reported that the Council reviewed its level of socially necessary bus provision on a regular basis and that it planned to carry out a further review prior to the forthcoming tender round that would take place in 2011.

Cllr Alexander made representations as lead petitioner and pointed out that the Council only had powers to review bus services in the area. He referred to no agreement having been reached in relation to the introduction of a Quality Contract Scheme and to delay in the trial statutory Quality Partnership on the A59 corridor and surrounds as part of the new park and ride service. Price increases, reductions in paying passengers together with increased profits for First York were all concerns and he therefore requested the Executive Member to approve Option A and undertake an immediate review of the bus network.

Officers confirmed that the North Yorkshire cuts in service were still subject to public consultation on which the Executive would take a decision in November.

The Executive Member pointed out that earlier in the day the Executive had been informed that bus usage in York was increasing and that customer satisfaction with services had risen substantially over the last decade. He went onto confirm that he would also be recommending that a future ResOp survey should request residents views on bus services. With regard to the trial on the A59 corridor he pointed out that a decision on this could not be made until next year when the cost implications were known but that they were still committed to undertaking the trial.

The Executive Member then considered the following options:

Option A – Undertake an immediate review of the bus network in York Outer to establish areas with unsatisfactory access to bus services and ensure that all villages within the constituency receive a minimum level of service.

Option B –  Take no action, accepting that the existing situation is as good a level of service as can be provided within the existing budgetary restrictions.

Option C – Approve a review of the subsidised network of bus services prior to the expiry of contracts for a majority of these services and the concurrent tendering process in 2011.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member notes the contents of the report and agrees to:

i)                    Support the work currently being undertaken to encourage and sustain commercial bus services with realistic fares on York’s bus network.

ii)                  Request a review of the network  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26