To consider any matter referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to the call-in of a decision.

The Committee was aware that on 15 September 2009 the Executive had considered a report from the Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities outlining a strategy to avoid overspending on supported (subsidised) local bus services in the current financial year. The Executive had also received comments from the meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1 September 2009.  Following consideration the Executive had agreed to withdraw support for a number of selected poorer performing bus services with effect from 1 December 2009. The outcome of these reductions in subsidy would be a saving of £60,000 in 2009/10 and a further saving of £120,000 in 2010/11.

This decision of the Executive was subsequently called in by the Chairman of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration by the Committee at its meeting on 29 September 2009.

The reasons given by the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the call-in were as follows:

’'In the absence of a full review of bus services from Transport Officers, the Executive may not have been in a position to make a robust decision which fully considered (a) the impact of the (extensive) proposed cuts on residents, and (b) the use of alternative transport including, but not limited to, buses used in the mornings or evenings which could be used to provide alternative transport options.’  

In response to the Chairman’s action the Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities emphasised to the Committee that it was necessary for reductions in subsidy to be made as soon as was possible in order to maximise savings within the current financial year and reduce the projected level of overspend.  He stressed that it was not possible for a decision on this matter to be deferred until the outcome of a review.  In connection with this the Committee noted that whilst a full review of existing service provision had been requested by the Executive this review would take between 12 to 16 months to carry out. It was further noted that the review would be presented to the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee as part of the review process.

Following full debate on this matter the majority of the Committee made clear that they could not, themselves, give their support to the implementation of a reduction in subsidy to individual services without first considering the results of the review and indicated their support for the Committee’s original decision.

RESOLVED that the decision be referred back to the Executive for reconsideration with the following alternative recommendations:

That the Executive:

1a.       Call for a full review of subsidised bus services prior to making a decision to cut services other than those services which are operated primarily or entirely outside of Central Bedfordshire and should be fully supported by other authorities;

or

1b.      Call for a full review of subsidised bus services and, based on the existing information before them, consider a reduction in the overspend by cutting subsidies for a number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11

The report explains why various local bus services are supported by the Council and outlines a strategy to avoid over spending in the current financial year. 

1.         That support be withdrawn from a selected number of poorer performing bus services as set out on pages 69 to 71 of the submitted report in order to bring spending in line with the budget.

2.                  That the above services be cut with effect from 1 December 2009.

3.                  That the outcome of the already started full review of existing service provision be reported  to the Executive at the earliest opportunity. 

4.                  If cases of significant financial hardship are identified as a result of these actions, that the Rural Transport Partnership, and other related bodies, be requested to assist, where possible, with alternative means of transport.     

The Executive considered a report from Councillor David McVicar, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities outlining a strategy to avoid overspending on supported local bus services in the current financial year.

The report provided background on the reasons for supporting various local bus services as set out in The Bedfordshire Local Transport Plan 2006/07 – 2010/11 (LTP 2). Also detailed was the vision statement of the Bedfordshire Bus Strategy.  It was noted that the Strategy, inherited from the County Council, was based on a larger geographical boundary and was one of the reasons contributing to an analysis that had already started of existing service provision.  It was noted that the review was a large piece of work and was not expected to be completed until summer 2010.

Also set out in the report were details of the projected overspend and the implications of failing to cut services that would lead to an overspend of at least £100,000 by the end of 2009/10.

The Executive’s attention was drawn to the comments of the Sustainable Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee where it considered proposals at its meeting on 1 September 2009. Whilst the Overview & Scrutiny Committee broadly supported the withdrawal of poor performing services it asked that a full review of all supported bus services be carried out and that this be done prior to cutting any services.

During consideration of the report a non Executive member, whilst welcoming the review referred to in the report, was sceptical about its outcome. The member referred to difficulties encountered by the County Council in reviewing its Public Transport Plan.  Changes in circumstances and demands such as Stagecoach threatening to withdraw services without subsidies impacted on that Council’s ability to carry out a thorough review of its public transport policy.

In response to a question the Executive was informed that there had been some discussion with neighbouring authorities also providing subsidy on the proposed withdrawal of funding and some concern had been expressed.

Some members whilst supportive of the withdrawal of poor performing services based on an objective criteria (Option D –urgent action required) were concerned about the impact on the community from the withdrawal of all supported bus services (Option C – plan for improvement) and for this reason recommended only supported services categorised as Option D should be withdrawn, including the third service listed at the bottom of page 69 of the submitted report being categorised as ‘D’ not ’C’. This recommendation on being put to the vote was lost.

The Executive in discussing the review suggested that the impact on the rural community needed to be looked at which led to a further recommendation being put forward that if cases of significant financial hardship are encountered as a result its actions that the Rural Transport Partnership, and other related bodies, should be asked to assist, where possible, with alternative modes of transport.

The Executive noted that any withdrawal of subsidised services would not take effect until 1 December 2009 as two  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60