Agenda item

To note any reports of the work of the Combined Authority, if available, since the last meeting of Council.

The Deputy Leader explained that despite the best efforts of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Stagecoach were planning to make cuts to several bus services.

Councillor Dr James Hobro expressed concern about the decision taken by Stagecoach to cut the 18 and 915 bus services which many of the District’s residents relied on. The Deputy Leader assured Council that the Leader and Councillor John Williams had been working with the Mayor of the Combined Authority and others to try and replace the cut services.

Councillor Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya explained that many Cambourne residents relied on the 18 service, in particular students of Comberton Village College. She asked what alternative services could be provided. The Deputy Leader explained that Stagecoach was a private company and local authorities could not force them to maintain their service. The Council was working with the Combined Authority to replace the service.

Councillor Lina Nieto expressed her disappointment at the short notice provided to the public on the cuts to the Stagecoach bus service. She hoped that the Combined Authority would take action to ensure that sufficient bus services were provided for rural communities. Councillor John Williams explained that Stagecoach had provided 56 days notice of the change, as they were required to do. Prior to this the proposed changes were not known. The Combined Authority was using its emergency powers to tender for services that were being withdrawn. He added that the only way to prevent this reoccurring was for bus services to be delivered by the public sector.

Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins declared a non-registerable interest as her son attended Long Road Sixth Form college and was directly affected by the removal of the Citi 4 service. She expressed the hope that the Combined Authority would address the loss of this services as it affected the residents of Cambourne, Bourn, Caldecote and Hardwick. Councillor John Williams stated that the Combined Authority Board would meet in October and Councillor Dr Hawkins would be provided with a written response to her concerns regarding the Citi 4 service.

The Chair requested that a list be provided of all the routes that were being affected.

Councillor Sue Ellington suggested that all councillors in the affected villages identify how these changes were impacted on their residents. It was noted that there were many villages in the District that did not have a bus service.

Councillor Heather Williams suggested that the decision taken by Stagecoach to reduce buses on its routes indicated that buses could not provide an alternative to those not wanting to pay a future congestion charge. Councillor Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya also asked how a congestion charge could be justified if bus services were being reduced. The Chair explained that the congestion charge would be discussed under the Questions from Councillors section.

Councillor John Williams explained that taking a bus service’s franchise back under local council control was a lengthy process. He reported that the counties of Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire were experiencing similar cuts to their rural bus services.

Councillor Daniel Lentell suggested that the Councillor who had stood for Mayor of the Combined Authority should be representing the Council on the Board.

Councillor Brian Milnes stated that the Combined Authority had limited influence over a private bus company. The solution was to restore the bus franchise to local authority control.

Council noted the report.