Agenda item

Notice of Motion given by Councillor George Lindars-Hammond

That this Council:-

 

(a)       notes that in 1986 the Conservative government deregulated the bus market here in Sheffield and throughout England (outside of London); this record of deregulation has seen fares rise faster than inflation, patronage fall by more than a third nationally and bus market monopolies have become the norm;

 

(b)       notes that the number of people using buses in South Yorkshire since the Conservatives’ deregulation of the bus service has dropped significantly; according to figures from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) there were 268,000,000 bus passengers in 1986 but now the number has fallen to 102,000,000; a drop in passenger numbers of 62%;

 

(c)        notes that this Administration is committed to improving the standards of the bus service and welcomes the positive work undertaken with the bus partnership to improve on bus services in the city;

 

(d)       believes that better bus services for the people of Sheffield are essential in providing affordable and convenient travel and notes that this Administration is actively exploring all options at its disposal to improve public transport in the city; in turn, reducing congestion and air pollution;

 

(e)       is encouraged that the forthcoming Bus Services Bill will allow local communities to have a much greater say over the operation of bus services in their area and hopes are raised that this Bill could go some way to re-regulating the bus industry;

 

(f)        notes, however, that despite positive aspects of the Bus Services Bill, including enhanced bus partnerships and greater franchising powers, there is considerable concern about the inclusion of Clause 21 when the Bill was proposed; the clause would have banned local authorities from forming and running their own bus companies in the future;

 

(g)       notes that municipal bus operators provide some of the best services in the country as evident by the service provided by Nottingham City Council which consistently performs well in all outcomes measures; being well used and good value for local taxpayers;

 

(h)       welcomes the work by the Labour Party in successfully implementing an amendment in the House of Lords to remove what this Council believes is a senseless clause; a clause which seems to be driven by an ideological commitment that the ”market knows best” in providing public transport, despite extensive evidence to the counter;

 

(i)         regrets that despite Labour’s victory in the Lords, the Government has reintroduced this clause during House of Commons Committee stage; and it is likely that Clause 21 will be reinstated into the Bus Services Bill when considered at the Report Stage and Third Reading commencing on 27 March;

 

(j)         believes that any attempts by the Government to reinstate the clause should be fought and supports Labour’s opposition in Parliament; and

 

(k)        believes that the running of local bus services should be determined by the local communities they serve, and that all methods for ensuring this is so should be at the disposal of local authorities; whether in the form of franchising, bus partnerships or by local authorities running services themselves.

 

Minutes:

 

Bus Services Bill And Municipal Bus Companies

 

 

8.1

It was formally moved by Councillor George Lindars-Hammond, and formally seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)       notes that in 1986 the Conservative government deregulated the bus market here in Sheffield and throughout England (outside of London); this record of deregulation has seen fares rise faster than inflation, patronage fall by more than a third nationally and bus market monopolies have become the norm;

 

(b)       notes that the number of people using buses in South Yorkshire since the Conservatives’ deregulation of the bus service has dropped significantly; according to figures from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) there were 268,000,000 bus passengers in 1986 but now the number has fallen to 102,000,000; a drop in passenger numbers of 62%;

 

(c)        notes that this Administration is committed to improving the standards of the bus service and welcomes the positive work undertaken with the bus partnership to improve on bus services in the city;

 

(d)       believes that better bus services for the people of Sheffield are essential in providing affordable and convenient travel and notes that this Administration is actively exploring all options at its disposal to improve public transport in the city; in turn, reducing congestion and air pollution;

 

(e)       is encouraged that the forthcoming Bus Services Bill will allow local communities to have a much greater say over the operation of bus services in their area and hopes are raised that this Bill could go some way to re-regulating the bus industry;

 

(f)        notes, however, that despite positive aspects of the Bus Services Bill, including enhanced bus partnerships and greater franchising powers, there is considerable concern about the inclusion of Clause 21 when the Bill was proposed; the clause would have banned local authorities from forming and running their own bus companies in the future;

 

(g)       notes that municipal bus operators provide some of the best services in the country as evident by the service provided by Nottingham City Council which consistently performs well in all outcomes measures; being well used and good value for local taxpayers;

 

(h)       welcomes the work by the Labour Party in successfully implementing an amendment in the House of Lords to remove what this Council believes is a senseless clause; a clause which seems to be driven by an ideological commitment that the ”market knows best” in providing public transport, despite extensive evidence to the counter;

 

(i)         regrets that despite Labour’s victory in the Lords, the Government has reintroduced this clause during House of Commons Committee stage; and it is likely that Clause 21 will be reinstated into the Bus Services Bill when considered at the Report Stage and Third Reading commencing on 27 March;

 

(j)         believes that any attempts by the Government to reinstate the clause should be fought and supports Labour’s opposition in Parliament; and

 

(k)        believes that the running of local bus services should be determined by the local communities they serve, and that all methods for ensuring this is so should be at the disposal of local authorities; whether in the form of franchising, bus partnerships or by local authorities running services themselves.

 

 

8.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Lewis Dagnall, and formally seconded by Councillor Mazher Iqbal, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (l) and (m) as follows:-

 

 

 

(l)         raises concerns that the Bus Services Bill has now been passed in its entirety (in the third reading stage) by MPs and that a Labour amendment to remove Clause 21 was defeated by 276 to 188 votes; and notes that the Bill will now go back to the House of Lords before it can be passed into law; and wishes to continue to put pressure on Lords to consider removing Clause 21 and allowing councils such as Sheffield to decide themselves whether they wish to run bus services themselves or not; and

 

 

 

(m)      reaffirms that, despite the inclusion of Clause 21, the Bus Services Bill should be welcomed for allowing local authorities to replace the current deregulated system of bus provision by allowing for enhanced bus partnerships and greater franchising powers; something this Administration has been calling for.

 

 

8.3

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

 

 

8.4

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

(a)       notes that in 1986 the Conservative government deregulated the bus market here in Sheffield and throughout England (outside of London); this record of deregulation has seen fares rise faster than inflation, patronage fall by more than a third nationally and bus market monopolies have become the norm;

 

(b)       notes that the number of people using buses in South Yorkshire since the Conservatives’ deregulation of the bus service has dropped significantly; according to figures from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) there were 268,000,000 bus passengers in 1986 but now the number has fallen to 102,000,000; a drop in passenger numbers of 62%;

 

(c)        notes that this Administration is committed to improving the standards of the bus service and welcomes the positive work undertaken with the bus partnership to improve on bus services in the city;

 

(d)       believes that better bus services for the people of Sheffield are essential in providing affordable and convenient travel and notes that this Administration is actively exploring all options at its disposal to improve public transport in the city; in turn, reducing congestion and air pollution;

 

(e)       is encouraged that the forthcoming Bus Services Bill will allow local communities to have a much greater say over the operation of bus services in their area and hopes are raised that this Bill could go some way to re-regulating the bus industry;

 

(f)        notes, however, that despite positive aspects of the Bus Services Bill, including enhanced bus partnerships and greater franchising powers, there is considerable concern about the inclusion of Clause 21 when the Bill was proposed; the clause would have banned local authorities from forming and running their own bus companies in the future;

 

(g)       notes that municipal bus operators provide some of the best services in the country as evident by the service provided by Nottingham City Council which consistently performs well in all outcomes measures; being well used and good value for local taxpayers;

 

(h)       welcomes the work by the Labour Party in successfully implementing an amendment in the House of Lords to remove what this Council believes is a senseless clause; a clause which seems to be driven by an ideological commitment that the ”market knows best” in providing public transport, despite extensive evidence to the counter;

 

(i)         regrets that despite Labour’s victory in the Lords, the Government has reintroduced this clause during House of Commons Committee stage; and it is likely that Clause 21 will be reinstated into the Bus Services Bill when considered at the Report Stage and Third Reading commencing on 27 March;

 

(j)         believes that any attempts by the Government to reinstate the clause should be fought and supports Labour’s opposition in Parliament;

 

(k)        believes that the running of local bus services should be determined by the local communities they serve, and that all methods for ensuring this is so should be at the disposal of local authorities; whether in the form of franchising, bus partnerships or by local authorities running services themselves;

 

(l)         raises concerns that the Bus Services Bill has now been passed in its entirety (in the third reading stage) by MPs and that a Labour amendment to remove Clause 21 was defeated by 276 to 188 votes; and notes that the Bill will now go back to the House of Lords before it can be passed into law; and wishes to continue to put pressure on Lords to consider removing Clause 21 and allowing councils such as Sheffield to decide themselves whether they wish to run bus services themselves or not; and

 

(m)      reaffirms that, despite the inclusion of Clause 21, the Bus Services Bill should be welcomed for allowing local authorities to replace the current deregulated system of bus provision by allowing for enhanced bus partnerships and greater franchising powers; something this Administration has been calling for.

 

 

 

8.4.1

The votes on the Substantive Motion were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

 

 

 

For the Substantive Motion (50)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Anne Murphy) and Councillors Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Ian Saunders, Karen McGowan, Michelle Cook, Kieran Harpham, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Craig Gamble Pugh, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Andy Bainbridge, Steve Wilson, Abdul Khayum, Alan Law, Abtisam Mohamed, Lewis Dagnall, Cate McDonald, Chris Peace, Bob Johnson, George Lindars-Hammond, Josie Paszek, Lisa Banes, Terry Fox, Pat Midgley, David Barker, Tony Downing, Mohammad Maroof, Julie Dore, Ben Miskell, Jack Scott, Mike Drabble, Dianne Hurst, Peter Rippon, Dawn Dale, Peter Price, Garry Weatherall, Tony Damms, Jayne Dunn, Richard Crowther, Olivia Blake, Ben Curran, Neale Gibson, Adam Hurst, Zoe Sykes, Mick Rooney, Jackie Satur and Paul Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Against the Substantive Motion (0)

-

Nil

 

 

 

 

 

Abstained on the Substantive Motion (0)

-

Nil

 

 

8.5

(NOTE: In the absence of a mover for the amendment, Amendment Number 1 on the list of amendments circulated at the meeting, was not considered by the Council.)