Agenda item - Local Bus Service Updates

This report seeks the Executive’s approval of changes to the local bus services and note BISP funding and ZEBRA2 bids.

Resolved:

Bus Network Review

i. Noted the York Bus Network Review findings and report produced by Momentum;

ii. Approved the procurement of short-term bridging extensions to existing subsidised bus contracts for services 1, 4, 6, 10/10A, extending them from 28th April to 2nd June 2024;

iii. Approved a short-term contract for the weekday bus service 13 for until 2nd June 2024;

iv. Approved an extension to the short-term contract for the weekday bus service 19, until 2nd June 2024;

v. Noted the consultation response to proposed supported bus service changes affecting services 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 24, 25 and 26;

vi. Agreed to implement the changes recommended in paragraphs 38 to 64 of this report to supported bus services, between June and December 2024

vii. Delegated authority to the Director of Transport, Environment and Planning (and their delegated officers) in consultation with the Director of Governance and the Chief Finance Officer (and their respective delegated officers) to amend or procure and enter into bus contracts in line with the approved recommendations ii to vi of the report.

BSIP

viii. Noted the BSIP programme update;

ix. Noted and approved acceptance of the BSIP Phase 3 allocation of up to £1,153,000 of revenue funding to support delivery of York’s BSIP in 2024/25 and to delegate authority to the Director of Transport, Environment and Planning (and their delegated officers) in consultation with the Director of Governance and the Chief Finance Officer (and their respective delegated officers) to enter into any related funding agreements.

ZEBRA2

x. Noted the ZEBRA2 bid submission and that an outcome is expected in March 2024, with a further paper to follow if successful.

Reason: In support of a stable, efficient, sustainable, and affordable bus network that delivers the CYC’s stated Bus Service Improvement plan objectives in line with the National Bus Strategy and council policy.

Officers introduced the report they confirmed that proposals set out in the report focused on stabilising the bus network in York. They highlighted rising costs and a decline in patronage since the Covid-19 pandemic as having affected the Council’s ability to subsidise parts of the network and outlined the proposed criteria for what routes would be subsidised. They confirmed new BSIP and Zebra 2 funding and made a note of progress in converting the last set of buses in York to electric. Finally they confirmed a correction within the report, that recommendation vi of the report should read paragraphs 38 to 64 not 38 to 52 of the report.

The Executive Member for Transport noted that there was a clear clash between the Council’s desire for a bus network that meets residents needs and bus operators which wanted to run routes that were profitable. He outlined that until properly funded there would remain this challenge and therefore the proposals set out in the report were focused on stabilising the current network and add certainty for passengers that services would not be under further threat of ending. He acknowledged that the loss of routes such as Flaxman Court would negatively affect residents but that the subsidies were not enough to continue running the route and welcomed cross party work into alternatives such as Dail and Ride. Finally he noted that proposals to meet the Council’s target of increased patronage and lower congestion would come as part of the Local Transport Plan.