Agenda item

This Council welcomes the return to the Council of £17.661m of our money from WYCA’s West Yorkshire + Transport Fund reserve.

Council is concerned as to how a pot of over £50m, which could have been used to underwrite ailing public transport services across the region, was left languishing in WYCA’s coffers. This includes the following axed or reduced services: 7, 9/9a, 60, 60a, 508, 16, 27, the 47 and 48 services, 64, 81, X84, X85, 87, 427, 630, 966 in Leeds.  This is in addition to many other services that have had their frequencies slashed, in addition to route changes meaning that journeys to school and work are no longer possible in many areas of Leeds.

This Council therefore calls upon the Chief Executive to write to the Mayor of West Yorkshire and WYCA to ask that they use the resources available to them to reinstate those vital services which were unnecessarily cut.

In accordance with Council procedure Rule 12.4(b) the white paper in the name of Councillor Lamb was moved by Councillor N Buckley, seconded by Councillor Andrew Carter that this Council welcomes the return to the Council of £17.661m of our money from WYCA’s West Yorkshire + Transport Fund reserve.

Council is concerned as to how a pot of over £50m, which could have been used to underwrite ailing public transport services across the region, was left languishing in WYCA’s coffers. This includes the following axed or reduced services: 7, 9/9a, 60, 60a, 508, 16, 27, the 47 and 48 services, 64, 81, X84, X85, 87, 427, 630, 966 in Leeds.  This is in addition to many other services that have had their frequencies slashed, in addition to route changes meaning that journeys to school and work are no longer possible in many areas of Leeds.

This Council therefore calls upon the Chief Executive to write to the Mayor of West Yorkshire and WYCA to ask that they use the resources available to them to reinstate those vital services which were unnecessarily cut.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Hart-Brooke

In paragraph two, after the number 966  add“, and 444/446”

At the end of the end of the second paragraph, insert a third paragraph:

“Council notes the £70 million made available to Mayor Brabin to deliver a Bus Service Improvement Plan for West Yorkshire bus passengers , delivered  via her West Yorkshire Enhanced Bus Partnership with local private bus operators. Council is disappointed that the £35 million subsidy given to those companies to deliver cheaper ‘Mayors Fares’ has led to no increase in the number of buses on our streets, instead it has been accompanied by fewer less reliable services. Council also regrets that the remaining £35 million to be spent on improving services is being discussed behind closed doors by the Mayoral Authority and private operators, with chosen routes decided without the involvement of local elected members, making ‘devolved’ decision making no more locally accountable than Westminster. Council notes the Mayor has recently been allocated a further £13.4 million to add to her Bus Service Improvement Plan.”

At the end of the final paragraph add the words “during her term of office.”

The amended motion would then read:

This Council welcomes the return to the Council of £17.661m of our money from WYCA’s West Yorkshire + Transport Fund reserve.

Council is concerned as to how a pot of over £50m, which could have been used to underwrite ailing public transport services across the region, was left languishing in WYCA’s coffers. This includes the following axed or reduced services: 7, 9/9a, 60, 60a, 508, 16, 27, the 47 and 48 services, 64, 81, X84, X85, 87, 427, 630, 966 and 444/446 in Leeds. This is in addition to many other services that have had their frequencies slashed, in addition to route changes meaning that journeys to school and work are no longer possible in many areas of Leeds.

Council notes the £70 million made available to Mayor Brabin to deliver a Bus Service Improvement Plan for West Yorkshire bus passengers, delivered via her West Yorkshire Enhanced Bus Partnership with local private bus operators. Council is disappointed that the £35 million subsidy given to those companies to deliver cheaper ‘Mayors Fares’ has led to no increase in the number of buses on our streets, instead it has been accompanied by fewer less reliable services. Council also regrets that the remaining £35 million to be spent on improving services is being discussed behind closed doors by the Mayoral Authority and private operators, with chosen routes decided without the involvement of local elected members, making ‘devolved’ decision making no more locally accountable than Westminster. Council notes the Mayor has recently been allocated a further £13.4 million to add to her Bus Service Improvement Plan.

This Council therefore calls upon the Chief Executive to write to the Mayor of West Yorkshire and WYCA to ask that they use the resources available to them to reinstate those vital services which were unnecessarily cut during her term of office.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Coupar

Delete all after:

 “This Council welcomes the return to the Council of £17.661m of our money from WYCA’s West Yorkshire + Transport Fund reserve.”

Replace with:

“Council notes that this money has been reallocated from future capital projects and could not have been used to support bus services. Council notes the cuts to bus services are a direct result of decisions taken by private operators and is one example of how the current privatised system doesn’t put passengers first, and therefore welcomes WYCA’s bus reform consultation.

Council welcomes the decision of the West Yorkshire Mayor to return this money to Local Authorities across the region as they continue to face unprecedented budget pressures which are a direct result of the current widespread financial crisis in local government.

Council regrets that Central Government have failed to recognise the crippling financial position Local Authorities are in and calls upon the Chancellor to address the situation in his upcoming Autumn Statement, recognising recent research by the Conservative led County Council Network that one in ten of England’s biggest Local Authorities are at risk of bankruptcy.”

The amendment in the name of Councillor Golton was declared lost the amendment in the name of Councillor Lewis was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council welcomes the return to the Council of £17.661m of our money from WYCA’s West Yorkshire + Transport Fund reserve.

Council notes that this money has been reallocated from future capital projects and could not have been used to support bus services. Council notes the cuts to bus services are a direct result of decisions taken by private operators and is one example of how the current privatised system doesn’t put passengers first, and therefore welcomes WYCA’s bus reform consultation.

Council welcomes the decision of the West Yorkshire Mayor to return this money to Local Authorities across the region as they continue to face unprecedented budget pressures which are a direct result of the current widespread financial crisis in local government.

Council regrets that Central Government have failed to recognise the crippling financial position Local Authorities are in and calls upon the Chancellor to address the situation in his upcoming Autumn Statement, recognising recent research by the Conservative led County Council Network that one in ten of England’s biggest Local Authorities are at risk of bankruptcy.