Agenda item

Notice of Motion Regarding "Bus Services"

That this Council:-

 

(a)      notes the publication by the Department for Transport of “Bus Back Better - National Bus Strategy for England”;

 

(b)      believes that the City Region Mayor must exercise powers to bring bus services back under local control (franchising), at the earliest practicable date, and central government must continue to provide significant funding to revitalise local transport;

 

(c)      fears that once again the City Region Mayor has “missed the bus” regarding improving bus services in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, as we must, as an alternative, commit by 1st July 2021 to implementation of “Enhanced Partnership” arrangements;

 

(d)      supports Clive Betts MP’s call for the roll-out of Bus Franchising to be speeded up and fully endorses the consistent commitment, over very many years, of the major opposition party to introduce bus franchising in Sheffield;

 

(e)      believes that excellent public transport and people friendly neighbourhoods are key to reducing pollution, congestion, improving health, and contributing to zero carbon, and notes proposals, made within successive budget amendments proposed by the major opposition party, to devolve funding and powers to Community Assemblies which would have enabled them to introduce local highway schemes, which invariably aim to make neighbourhoods more accessible by walking and cycling to local services, and discourage very short trips by private car; and

 

(f)       regrets “eight wasted years” by the Administration, in bringing forward proposals for Local Area Committees, which this Council believes should be called Community Assemblies.

 

 

Minutes:

6.1

It was moved by Councillor Ian Auckland, and seconded by Colin Ross, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)      notes the publication by the Department for Transport of “Bus Back Better - National Bus Strategy for England”;

 

 

 

(b)      believes that the City Region Mayor must exercise powers to bring bus services back under local control (franchising), at the earliest practicable date, and central government must continue to provide significant funding to revitalise local transport;

 

 

 

(c)      fears that once again the City Region Mayor has “missed the bus” regarding improving bus services in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, as we must, as an alternative, commit by 1st July 2021 to implementation of “Enhanced Partnership” arrangements;

 

 

 

(d)      supports Clive Betts MP’s call for the roll-out of Bus Franchising to be speeded up and fully endorses the consistent commitment, over very many years, of the major opposition party to introduce bus franchising in Sheffield;

 

 

 

(e)      believes that excellent public transport and people friendly neighbourhoods are key to reducing pollution, congestion, improving health, and contributing to zero carbon, and notes proposals, made within successive budget amendments proposed by the major opposition party, to devolve funding and powers to Community Assemblies which would have enabled them to introduce local highway schemes, which invariably aim to make neighbourhoods more accessible by walking and cycling to local services, and discourage very short trips by private car; and

 

 

 

(f)       regrets “eight wasted years” by the Administration, in bringing forward proposals for Local Area Committees, which this Council believes should be called Community Assemblies.

 

 

6.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Julie Grocutt, seconded by Councillor Ben Miskell, 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 that the city’s bus services have been devastated by central government funding cuts since the formation of the coalition government in 2010, with funding to South Yorkshire’s bus service slashed by 48% - leading to routes reduced and fares going up;

 

 

 

(b)      notes the regional imbalances for bus funding whereby buses in London get the funding equivalent of £76 per head, and yet in Sheffield it is only £5, and believes this is simply unacceptable;

 

 

 

(c)      believes that everything possible must be done to bring greater investment into the city’s bus service and that Sheffield is best served by taking matters into its own hands, and notes the repeated calls from this Administration for re-regulation of the bus services – including franchising – to be considered;

 

 

 

(d)      notes that as a result of the Sheffield Devolution Deal, the Mayor of Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, and the leaders of the Combined Authority have been able to bring forward much needed investment into the city’s bus service and recently announced increased support for young people with the extension of concessionary travel fares for under 21s;

 

 

 

(e)      notes that South Yorkshire local leaders, including Sheffield, and the Region’s Mayor, are investing £3.2 million to improve the region’s network, as part of the Mayoral Combined Authority’s recovery plan for the region, which will replace up to a third of community transport buses with electric vehicles, upgrade 300 bus shelters, and install electronic displays to 250 bus stops, and notes that the funding for this is a direct result of the Sheffield Devolution Deal;

 

 

 

(f)       notes that in the longer term this Administration is collaboratively working across the region to deliver cheaper fares, improved services and better integration with other transport, as well as widespread conversion to zero-emissions vehicles;

 

 

 

(g)      notes the recent comments from South Yorkshire Leaders and the Region’s Mayor that ultimately, we need a structure that lets us build the service right for the city’s passengers, including the possibility of franchising;

 

 

 

(h)      commits to building a stronger, greener and fairer economy – and that a sustainable, accessible, affordable and reliable bus network must play a central role in delivering this;

 

 

 

(i)       notes that this Administration is working collaboratively to urgently work on how to implement lessons from the comprehensive review of bus services in South Yorkshire, conducted by Clive Betts MP - looking at fares, services, integration with other transport, and conversion to zero-emissions vehicles;

 

 

 

(j)       believes that Greater Manchester’s commitment to franchising is a major shot in the arm for reform, and that the city needs a structure that builds the service we need; and

 

 

 

(k)      believes that as we gradually transition and exit lockdown, we need to be actively encouraging people back onto the buses, and that the Government must recognise the need for increased support - for our Supertram and rail networks - as well as our buses.

 

 

6.3

It was then moved by Councillor Richard Shaw, seconded by Councillor Barbara Masters, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (g) and (h) as follows:-

 

 

 

(g)      applauds the decision of the Mayor of Greater Manchester to proceed with arrangements for Bus Franchising; and

 

 

 

(h)      believes that following the pandemic there is a real opportunity to revolutionise public transport and that the Council and the Sheffield City Region Mayor need to act now to futureproof Sheffield’s public transport system.

 

 

6.4

After contributions from five other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Ian Auckland, the amendment moved by Councillor Julie Grocutt was put to the vote and was carried.

 

 

6.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Richard Shaw was then put to the vote and was negatived.

 

 

6.6

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 the city’s bus services have been devastated by central government funding cuts since the formation of the coalition government in 2010, with funding to South Yorkshire’s bus service slashed by 48% - leading to routes reduced and fares going up;

 

 

 

(b)      notes the regional imbalances for bus funding whereby buses in London get the funding equivalent of £76 per head, and yet in Sheffield it is only £5, and believes this is simply unacceptable;

 

 

 

(c)      believes that everything possible must be done to bring greater investment into the city’s bus service and that Sheffield is best served by taking matters into its own hands, and notes the repeated calls from this Administration for re-regulation of the bus services – including franchising – to be considered;

 

 

 

(d)      notes that as a result of the Sheffield Devolution Deal, the Mayor of Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, and the leaders of the Combined Authority have been able to bring forward much needed investment into the city’s bus service and recently announced increased support for young people with the extension of concessionary travel fares for under 21s;

 

 

 

(e)      notes that South Yorkshire local leaders, including Sheffield, and the Region’s Mayor, are investing £3.2 million to improve the region’s network, as part of the Mayoral Combined Authority’s recovery plan for the region, which will replace up to a third of community transport buses with electric vehicles, upgrade 300 bus shelters, and install electronic displays to 250 bus stops, and notes that the funding for this is a direct result of the Sheffield Devolution Deal;

 

 

 

(f)       notes that in the longer term this Administration is collaboratively working across the region to deliver cheaper fares, improved services and better integration with other transport, as well as widespread conversion to zero-emissions vehicles;

 

 

 

(g)      notes the recent comments from South Yorkshire Leaders and the Region’s Mayor that ultimately, we need a structure that lets us build the service right for the city’s passengers, including the possibility of franchising;

 

 

 

(h)      commits to building a stronger, greener and fairer economy – and that a sustainable, accessible, affordable and reliable bus network must play a central role in delivering this;

 

 

 

(i)       notes that this Administration is working collaboratively to urgently work on how to implement lessons from the comprehensive review of bus services in South Yorkshire, conducted by Clive Betts MP - looking at fares, services, integration with other transport, and conversion to zero-emissions vehicles;

 

 

 

(j)       believes that Greater Manchester’s commitment to franchising is a major shot in the arm for reform, and that the city needs a structure that builds the service we need; and

 

 

 

(k)      believes that as we gradually transition and exit lockdown, we need to be actively encouraging people back onto the buses, and that the Government must recognise the need for increased support - for our Supertram and rail networks - as well as our buses.

 

 

 

 

6.6.1

(NOTE: The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Vic Bowden, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Kevin Oxley, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Alan Hooper and Mike Levery, voted for paragraphs (b) to (k) and voted against paragraph (a) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.)