Agenda item

White Paper Motion (in the name of Councillor D Blackburn) - Public Transport

Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire, and believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take over the running of these operations.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago, such as the one in Wortley and the two in Armley.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly owned bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.

 

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor D Blackburn, seconded by Councillor A Blackburn that Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire, and believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take over the running of these operations.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago, such as the one in Wortley and the two in Armley.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly owned bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Howley, seconded by Councillor Downes,

 

 In the first paragraph delete all after “Yorkshire” and replace with:

 

“.  It believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take control of First’s operations and to be given franchising rights to control routes, frequency and ticketing of the bus services in West Yorkshire.”

 

In the second paragraph delete all after “disused” and replace with:

 

“/under used rail infrastructure along with the provision or re-provision of local railway stations including Wortley, Armley, Otley, Marsh Lane and Woodside Quarry.”

 

In the third paragraph remove “owned” and replace with “controlled”.

 

The amended White Paper will then read:

 

“Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire.  It believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take control of First’s operations and to be given franchising rights to control routes, frequency and ticketing of the bus services in West Yorkshire.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused/under used rail infrastructure along with the provision or re-provision of local railway stations including Wortley, Armley, Otley, Marsh Lane and Woodside Quarry.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly controlled bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.

 

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Buckley, seconded by Councillor Smith,

 

Delete all after “bus operators in West Yorkshire” in the first line, and insert the following:

 

“and is concerned about the substantial amount of public investment in buses which may now be at risk if and when First is sold.

 

Council does not believe that public ownership of buses provides a solution in itself to Leeds’ transport problems. Questions of service efficiency, significant traffic congestion, and carbon emissions would not be solved magically by having the Combined Authority run buses in the city. There could also be exposure to pension liabilities with such an approach, and the only way of raising capital would be via the taxpayer. Council is however open to opportunities for there to be greater public sector influence over the running of the buses in Leeds and the wider region.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago, such as the one in Wortley, the two in Armley, and others in the North of the City.

 

It is Council’s view that only with a comprehensive transport strategy, encompassing a mass transit solution and expanded local rail services, can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North. Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.”

 

Motion would read as follows:

 

“Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire, and is concerned about the substantial amount of public investment in buses which may now be at risk if and when First is sold.

 

Council does not believe that public ownership of buses provides a solution in itself to Leeds’ transport problems. Questions of service efficiency, significant traffic congestion, and carbon emissions would not be solved magically by having the Combined Authority run buses in the city. There could also be exposure to pension liabilities with such an approach, and the only way of raising capital would be via the taxpayer. Council is however open to opportunities for there to be greater public sector influence over the running of the buses in Leeds and the wider region.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago, such as the one in Wortley, the two in Armley, and others in the North of the City.

 

It is Council’s view that only with a comprehensive transport strategy, encompassing a mass transit solution and expanded local rail services, can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North. Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.”

 

A third amendment was moved by Councillor Groves, seconded by Councillor Carlill,

 

Delete “such as the one in Wortley and the two in Armley” and replace with “across the city.”

 

Add a new third paragraph to read: “Council believes the impact of investment in rail infrastructure needs to be accompanied by improvements in rail services. Council therefore calls for the renationalisation of the rail service with Local Authorities given more power over local provision to ensure services are run when and where they are needed.”

 

Full amended motion to read:

 

“Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire, and believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take over the running of these operations.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago across the city.

 

Council believes the impact of investment in rail infrastructure needs to be accompanied by improvements in rail services. Council therefore calls for the renationalisation of the rail service with Local Authorities given more power over local provision to ensure services are run when and where they are needed.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly owned bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.”

 

 

The amendments in the name of Councillor Howley and Councillor Buckley were declared lost, the amendment in the name of Councillor Groves was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

 

RESOLVED – That Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire, and believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take over the running of these operations.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago across the city.

 

Council believes the impact of investment in rail infrastructure needs to be accompanied by improvements in rail services. Council therefore calls for the renationalisation of the rail service with Local Authorities given more power over local provision to ensure services are run when and where they are needed.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly owned bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.”

 

Supporting documents: