Agenda item

This Council fully supports a franchised bus system in West Yorkshire as set out in the recently published West Yorkshire Combined Authority consultation on bus reform.  Council calls for a report to be presented to the December Executive Board meeting to provide Council’s formal response.

It was moved by Councillor Hayden, seconded by Councillor Carlill that this Council fully supports a franchised bus system in West Yorkshire as set out in the recently published West Yorkshire Combined Authority consultation on bus reform.  Council calls for a report to be presented to the December Executive Board meeting to provide Council’s formal response.

An amendment was moved by Councillor N Buckley, seconded by Councillor Amanda Carter

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“wants to see improved bus services for Leeds and West Yorkshire and to get the best deal for the fare payer and the tax payer.

“Council notes that public consultation on West Yorkshire bus reform is still live; therefore, the original motion is yet another example of the ruling administration treating consultation as a tick box exercise, declaring the outcome before the people of Leeds have had their chance to respond. Council encourages members of the public in Leeds and across the region to make their views known through the formal consultation.

“Council notes that the Enhanced Partnership Plus model, combined with the Mayor’s current powers, could deliver improvements immediately. In contrast, franchising could cost hundreds of millions of pounds more, and not deliver improvements until 2028 at the earliest.

“Council therefore sees the value in rolling out an Enhanced Partnership Plus model for bus reform across the region, and only in the event that this does not deliver the expected improvements, revisiting the option of franchising.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Downes, seconded by Councillor Lay

Delete all after “bus reform” and replace with:

“However, this Council is increasingly concerned about the protracted timeline for implementing bus franchising under the current Mayor. The slow pace of progress not only hinders the development of a more efficient, accessible, and sustainable public transport network but also delays the potential economic and environmental benefits that such a system promises. This delay in execution raises questions about the West Yorkshire Mayor’s commitment to public transport reform, and the Council urges for a more proactive approach. In light of these concerns, Council calls for a report to be presented to the December Executive Board meeting to provide Council’s formal response, including addressing these delays and proposing a revised, expedited timeline for the implementation of the bus franchising system.”

The amended motion would then read:

This Council fully supports a franchised bus system in West Yorkshire, as set out in the recently published West Yorkshire Combined Authority consultation on bus reform. However, this Council is increasingly concerned about the protracted timeline for implementing bus franchising under the current Mayor. The slow pace of progress not only hinders the development of a more efficient, accessible, and sustainable public transport network but also delays the potential economic and environmental benefits that such a system promises. This delay in execution raises questions about the West Yorkshire Mayor’s commitment to public transport reform, and the Council urges for a more proactive approach. In light of these concerns, Council calls for a report to be presented to the December Executive Board meeting to provide Council’s formal response, including addressing these delays and proposing a revised, expedited timeline for the implementation of the bus franchising system.

The amendments in the name of Councillor N Buckley and Councillor Downes were declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council fully supports a franchised bus system in West Yorkshire as set out in the recently published West Yorkshire Combined Authority consultation on bus reform.  Council calls for a report to be presented to the December Executive Board meeting to provide Council’s formal response.

On the requisition of Councillor Flint and Coupar the voting on the motion in the name of Councillor Hayden was recorded as follows;

YES – 73

Akhtar, Ali, Arif, Bithell, Bowden, Bromley, Brooks, Burke, Carlill, Coupar, Dowson, Dye, Edwards, Farley, Flint, France-Mir, Garvani, Gibson, Grahame, Gruen, Hamilton, Hannan, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, Hinchcliffe, Holroyd-Case, A Hussain, Z Hussain, Iqbal, Jenkins, Jones, Khan, Lennox, Lewis, Maloney, Manaka, Marshall-Katung, Martin, McCluskey, McKenna, Millar, Parnham, Pryor, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Rontree, Scopes, Sewards, Shahzad, Sharpe, Taylor, Thomson, Tudor, Venner, Wilson, Wray, Campbell, Chapman, Downes, Golton, Hart-Brooke, Lay, Finnigan, Gettings, Newton, Senior, Blackburn, Carlisle, Stables, Dixon and Pogson-Golden.

NO – 15

Alderson, B Anderson, C Anderson, L Buckley, N Buckley, Amanda Carter, Andrew Carter, Cohen, Firth, Flynn, Harrington, D Seary, S Seary, Smith and Stephenson.

ABSTAIN - 0