Agenda item

“This Council believes modern, responsive and attractive rail and bus networks demand their operators are properly accountable to the passengers and communities they serve.

This Council therefore confirms its support for the rail network to return to public ownership. Council believes this would end the scandal of the use of public money to bail out private companies which have repeatedly failed to fulfil their financial obligations to the public purse, as reported recently with Stagecoach on the East Coast Mainline. 

The East Coast Mainline is particularly important to Leeds as it provides the gateway to city’s economy with Leeds station being one of, if not the, busiest stations on the Mainline.

Council believes bus services, not just in Leeds but across the country, would improve with increased public accountability, so Council welcomes the commitment from the Secretary of State for Transport calling for councils to consider putting forward proposals for bus franchising arrangements in their areas.

Council therefore calls on the Secretary of State to return the East Coast Mainline to public ownership without delay; and Council requests the Chief Executive works with the council’s partners to develop proposals as soon as possible for bus franchising in Leeds to present to the Secretary of State.” 

It was moved by Councillor R Lewis, seconded by Councillor Wakefield that this Council believes modern, responsive and attractive rail and bus networks demand their operators are properly accountable to the passengers and communities they serve.

This Council therefore confirms its support for the rail network to return to public ownership. Council believes this would end the scandal of the use of public money to bail out private companies which have repeatedly failed to fulfil their financial obligations to the public purse, as reported recently with Stagecoach on the East Coast Mainline. 

Council believes bus services would improve with increased public accountability, so Council welcomes the commitment from the Secretary of State for Transport calling for councils to consider putting forward proposals for bus franchising arrangements in their areas.

Council therefore calls on the Secretary of State to return the East Coast Mainline to public ownership without delay; and Council requests the Chief Executive works with the council’s partners to develop proposals as soon as possible for bus franchising in Leeds to present to the Secretary of State.” 

An amendment was moved by Councillor D Blackburn, seconded by Councillor Leadley

Add after the final paragraph:

“Council also believes that restrictions stopping Local Authorities setting up their own municipal bus companies are unhelpful and not in the interest of passengers.

Council therefore also calls on the Secretary of State to bring forward amended legislation that will allow all Local Authorities to do this, if they wish.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Campbell, seconded by Councillor J Bentley

In paragraph two, replace “the rail network to return to public ownership” with “publicly run and locally accountable rail services”.

A third amendment was moved by Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor Buckley

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“believes that passengers deserve modern, responsive and attractive rail and bus networks. 

“Council notes that since 2010 the rail industry has received new investment and seen a huge increase in the number of passengers. This success has inevitably led to the need for a refreshed approach that can tackle problems arising from a congested network and ensure that passengers receive a more reliable and efficient service.

“Council therefore welcomes proposals in the government’s new Strategic Vision for Rail, which aim to increase railway capacity, reform the franchising system to make it work more efficiently, improve passenger experience through the use of digital technology, introduce a new Rail Ombudsman to ensure fair treatment and boost accountability, and build a railway fit for the 21^st Century. Council regards such proposals as a more realistic way of making improvements to the network, rather than falling back on the flawed and expensive dogma of rail re-nationalisation.

“This Council believes that more local control over bus services could lead to an improved passenger experience, and welcomes the government’s Bus Services Act, which includes options for local authorities to work more closely with bus operators and improve local services. Council requests the Chief Executive works with the council’s partners to develop proposals as soon as possible for bus franchising in Leeds to present to the Secretary of State.”

The amendments in the name of Councillors Campbell and Andrew Carter were declared lost

The amendment in the name of Councillor D Blackburn was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council believes modern, responsive and attractive rail and bus networks demand their operators are properly accountable to the passengers and communities they serve.

This Council therefore confirms its support for the rail network to return to public ownership. Council believes this would end the scandal of the use of public money to bail out private companies which have repeatedly failed to fulfil their financial obligations to the public purse, as reported recently with Stagecoach on the East Coast Mainline. 

Council believes bus services would improve with increased public accountability, so Council welcomes the commitment from the Secretary of State for Transport calling for councils to consider putting forward proposals for bus franchising arrangements in their areas.

Council therefore calls on the Secretary of State to return the East Coast Mainline to public ownership without delay; and Council requests the Chief Executive works with the council’s partners to develop proposals as soon as possible for bus franchising in Leeds to present to the Secretary of State. 

Council also believes that restrictions stopping Local Authorities setting up their own municipal bus companies are unhelpful and not in the interest of passengers.

Council therefore also calls on the Secretary of State to bring forward amended legislation that will allow all Local Authorities to do this, if they wish.