Issue - items at meetings - Tenders for Provision of Subsidised Bus Services

This report asks the Executive Member to consider tenders received for continuation of most bus services subsidised by the Council, in either their existing or modified form, and to decide on appropriate action in respect of the bus services involved.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to;

(i) Approve an extension of existing contracts, or temporary contracts awarded, for continuation of the following bus services in broadly their current form until 25 February 2007:

· 10 (York – Poppletons; weekday evenings)

· 11 (York – Bishopthorpe; weekday evenings)

· 11 (York – Bishopthorpe; Sundays & Public Holidays)

· 12 (York – Acomb Park; weekday evenings)

· 12 (Haxby – York – Acomb Park; Sundays and Public Holidays)

· 13 (Monks Cross – York – Copmanthorpe; Sundays and Public Holidays)

· 14 (York – Clifton, Green Lane; weekdays)

· 16, 17, 17A (Clifton Moor – Acomb – Askham Bar/York & Monks Cross; every day)

· 20 (Clifton Moor – Haxby – Monks Cross; daily)

· 21 (Acaster Malbis – Middlethorpe Estate – York; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays)

· 26 (York – Acomb – Askham Bar; weekdays)

· 128, 129 (Monks Cross – Heworth/Haxby Road & York – University; Mondays to Fridays)

· 746 (York – Pocklington; early Monday to Friday morning journey)

· C3 (Askham Bryan/Richard – Askham Bar; weekdays)

(ii) Approve the awarding of a contract for continuation of bus services 22, 23, 27 in the modified form as proposed in Annex C to this report (reduced weekday frequency between York & Fulford).

(iii) Approve the empowerment of the Director of City Strategy, in consultation with the Executive Member, to take appropriate action, guided by the aims embodied in this report, to respond to any changes in the situation brought about by commercial bus service registrations, with any such action reported to a subsequent meeting of this Panel.

(iv) Delegate Authority to the Director of City Strategy to negotiate with the existing tenderers to explore opportunities for savings which would bring the cost of the service within existing budgets whilst minimising any adverse effect of the bus services affected.

(v) Delegate Authority to the Director of City Strategy to re-tender all or any of the services where these cannot be delivered within existing budgets.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:

(i) To ensure, as far as possible, continuity, in the short term, of established subsidised bus services, which supplement and complement the existing network of bus services provided commercially within the City, to form a comprehensive and convenient overall network of services designed to achieve the LTP and Corporate goals. To enable more detailed consideration to be given to the issues raised by this report, with the aim of seeking to minimise any possible adverse longer term outcomes.

(ii) To reflect recent increases in commercial bus service provision between York & Fulford and to contribute towards containment of expenditure within allocated budgets.

(iii) To facilitate a timely response to any unforeseen changes, which may be made with a minimum of eight week’s notice, to the network of bus services provided commercially by the private sector.

(iv) To reduce the financial implications and bring the costs within budget.

(v) To encourage bidders to become more competitive and ensure that the ... view the full decision text for item 29

This report asked the Executive Member to consider tenders received for continuation of most bus services subsidised by the Council, in either their existing or modified form, and to decide on appropriate action in respect of the bus services involved.

Officers updated that there had been an error in the report. The date in recommendation (i) should have been 18February 2007. Members discussed the following:

An extra fee maybe payable if a return half of ticket was used with a different bus company.
The only major changes to bus routes involved route numbers 22 and 23.
Members thanked Officers for their hard work in ensuring there were minimum cuts in bus services, whilst still remaining within budget. [Amended on 11/9/06]