Agenda item

Bus Services In Sheffield (2)

It was moved by Councillor Terry Fox, seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, that this Council:-

(a)       recalls cuts made under the Coalition Government for funding bus services, including the Bus Services Operators Grant and the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, which have put pressure on bus services across the country;

(b)       recognises that the bus partnership, implemented in 2012, has improved the reliability of the network and reduced fares for many passengers, despite Government cuts, thereby helping to improve the sustainability of bus services;

(c)        however, believes that bus companies have a duty to provide an effective bus route network across the city, and notes that from 1 November, when the bus companies implemented their changes to Sheffield’s bus network, this has not been demonstrated;

(d)       demands that the bus companies swiftly address the problems that have occurred on several routes in recent weeks, and ensure that improvements are put in place as soon as possible; and

(e)       welcomes the action taken by Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to call in the bus companies to answer for these problems.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Joe Otten, seconded by Councillor Ian Auckland, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(a)        notes the recent disastrous cuts to Sheffield bus services by the Sheffield Bus Partnership;

(b)        believes the changes were poorly communicated and the changes were misguided as a result of a flawed consultation that failed to reach, or listen to, those who depend upon our bus services;

(c)         notes that despite representatives of the Sheffield Bus Partnership admitting the consultation could have been improved, the Partnership agreed to go ahead with the changes;

(d)        dismisses the attempt by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to pass the blame for these cuts solely onto the bus companies of Sheffield, as these changes were agreed by the Sheffield Bus Partnership, of which this Council is a part;

(e)        demands that the Sheffield Bus Partnership swiftly addresses the problems that have occurred across the city in recent weeks, and ensure that improvements are put in place as soon as possible, to assure members of the public receive the service they need and rely on; and

(f)         calls on the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to accept responsibility for his role in the poor consultation and poorly thought out cuts to Sheffield’s bus services.

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

It was then moved by Councillor Robert Murphy, seconded by Councillor Brian Webster, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraphs (b) to (e) and the addition of new paragraphs (b) to (e) as follows:-

(b)        notes also the three decades of decline in the bus network in Sheffield and across the country (except London) since deregulation of bus services outside of London in 1985;

(c)         recognises that the Sheffield Bus Partnership is a voluntary agreement and gives local authorities no statutory powers over companies operating bus services in the city;

(d)        believes the changes implemented to the bus network in Sheffield on 1st November are an example of the problems created by a network run for private profit over public service; and

(e)        requests the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Transport outlining the decline of Sheffield's bus network, the inadequacy of voluntary agreements in providing a sustainable service and requesting powers to franchise bus services in all metropolitan areas to be brought forward in the Buses Bill announced in this year's Queen’s Speech.

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

It was then moved by Councillor Keith Davis, seconded by Councillor John Booker, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraph (d) and the substitution of a new paragraph (d) as follows:-                             

(d)        requests that all affected routes are returned to the timetable prior to these changes until a satisfactory and effective solution can be found, and believes that the people of Sheffield should not be made to suffer during this unacceptable period of inadequacy; and

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

It was then moved by Councillor Tony Downing, seconded by Councillor Terry Fox, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a new paragraph (f) as follows:-

(f)         resolves to refer this issue to the appropriate Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

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

Following a Right of Reply by Councillor Terry Fox, the original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-