Agenda item

To consider the decisions taken by the Executive on 17 November 2009 with regard to the above item, which have been called in by Cllrs Alexander, Merrett and Potter in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for the call-in and the remit and powers of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) in relation to the call-in procedure, together with the original report to and decisions of the Executive.

Members received a report which asked them to consider the decisions made by the Executive at their meeting on 17 November 2009 in relation to the Introduction of a Quality Contract for Bus Service Provision in York.

Details of the Executive’s decisions were attached as Annex A to the report.  The original report to the Executive was attached as Annex B.  The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Alexander, Merrett and Potter on the grounds that:

“The Executive:

1.         Has failed to take into account the primacy of Full Council's passing a motion on Quality Contracts on 2nd April this year;

2.         Has also failed to explore using the tools that a Statutory Quality Contract would make available to improve bus reliability, punctuality and the level of fares;

3.         Is blind to the opportunity provided to introduce cross-ticketing given that some local bus companies are not prepared to co-operate, thus creating an incentive for the public to use local bus services; and

4.         Failed to consider the possibilities of seeking Government funding to be the first authority to implement a Quality Contract scheme.”

Members were invited to decide whether to confirm the decisions of the Executive (Option A) or to refer them back to the Executive for re-consideration (Option B).

Cllr Alexander addressed the meeting on behalf of the Calling-in Members, concentrating on the first of the calling-in grounds.  He outlined the history of the Council Motion and expressed that view that the Executive’s decisions on this matter amounted to an attempt to overturn the decisions of Full Council.  He urged Members to refer the matter back to the Executive for reconsideration.

With the consent of the Chair, Cllr Merrett also spoke on behalf of the Calling-In Members.  He focused on the Officer report to the Executive, which he considered to be complacent in its assessment of current bus services in York.  He stressed the need for a whole network approach, rather than concentrating on individual routes, stating that the introduction of a QCS would provide an opportunity for proper negotiation with bus operators to ensure delivery of essential service improvements.  He circulated some information on an integrated approach to bus services and ticketing introduced in St Albans.

In response to the above comments and to Members’ questions, Officers confirmed that in their view the report to Executive provided a proper and balanced response to the Council Motion.  No specific date had been given for publication of government guidance on Quality Contract Schemes.  Developing a scheme before receipt of the guidance could result in carrying out unnecessary work.  The Department for Transport had confirmed that there would be no funding available for introducing a QCS, but technical support would be available at the development stage.  Developing a trial scheme based on a corridor approach, as agreed by the Executive, would be cheaper and easier to procure, although it would not produce an integrated ticketing scheme.

After a full debate, Cllr Orrell moved, and Cllr R Watson seconded, that Option A be approved and the original decisions of the Executive be confirmed.  Four Members voted in favour of this motion and four voted against.  The Chair then used his casting vote in favour of the motion and it was therefore

RESOLVED: That Option A be approved and the original decisions of the Executive in this matter be confirmed.

REASON:      In accordance with the procedures set out in the Council’s Constitution for dealing with called-in decisions, and in accordance with the reasons given by the Executive for their decisions.