Return to Items for DecisionDelegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport– 27 March 2008Statement of Decision
Bus Services Subsidies
Present:
Also in attendance:
Documentation considered:
A copy is attached to the signed copy of this decision.
RESOLVED: that the public be excluded for the duration of item 11E since it was likely that if they were present during that item there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified below in relation to that item and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information on the grounds set out in that item.
Summary of representations in person
Prior to moving into exempt session Mr Dumbleton emphasised Chilton Village’s desire to retain a useful bus service. It had no local shop and it was particularly important to people with no access to a car to be able to reach the shopping centre and other amenities in Didcot. He added that many people from the village walked to catch buses from the Harwell campus but that that was not an option for some. However, it meant that bus usage from the village was greater than the figures for route 96 would suggest. The village had been pleased to hear that further discussions were being held with funding partners in the area to enhance local services and he hoped that these discussions would be successful.
Councillor Greene spoke to his comments circulated with Exempt Annex 2. He recognised the difficulties in organising services in rural areas but if it was the desire to encourage use of public transport then it was vital to make them more convenient and attractive and this should be pursued as part of future reviews.
Mr Field advised that there was an obligation to serve communities and that tenders were sought for the current option but efforts were made to encourage operators to think more widely in order to encourage development and commercial growth.
Decision
Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before me, the representations made to me and the further considerations set out above, I confirm my decisions on this matter as follows:
(a) in view of planned restrictions on the bus subsidy budget in forthcoming years, to aim for a subsidy cost increase, on the contracts under review at this meeting, not exceeding the current cost;
(b) to approve subsidy as set out in the attached schedule for those services described in the report CMDT11E on the basis of the tender prices (and the periods of time) as set out in Exempt Annex 2;
(c) note the commercial elements declared in respect of contracts S30, S35, S65, S75, S76, and V39;
(d) make decisions on the future support for service 500 in the light of the oral report and recommendations to the meeting;
(e) authorise Officers, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, to make the necessary arrangements to ensure continuation of contract PT/O1 in the light of the award of the new Brookes Bus contract;
(f) record that in the opinion of the Cabinet Member for Transport Implementation the decisions made in (b) above are urgent in that any delay likely to be caused by the call in process would result in service discontinuity and in accordance with the requirements of Scrutiny Procedure Rule 17(b) those decisions should not be subject to the call in process.
Signed ...................................................................... Cabinet Member for Transport
Date …………………………………. Schedule to Item 11E
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