Agenda item

A petition has been received – “Save our 6/7 Bus” - containing approximately 2500 signatures.  In line with the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition containing signatures of more than 1% of the electorate who live, work and study in Bath & North East Somerset is received, it triggers a debate at Council.

The Council considered an item which had been brought forward, following receipt of a petition entitled “Save our 6/7 Bus” containing approximately 2500 signatures.

Mike Parr addressed the Council and called into question the decision making process that had led to the withdrawal of the 6/7 bus service.  He called on the Council not to kick this issue into the WECA long grass.  A copy of Mike’s statement has been added to the Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  Councillor Sarah Bevan asked for Mike’s view of the respective social or commercial values of a bus service, to which he responded that Local Authorities have always provided subsidised services to meet social needs and the case in this instance was fully justified.

Pat Mason made a statement to Council calling into question the validity of the survey which supported the withdrawal of the bus services and calling on the Council to re-consider.  A full copy of Pat’s statement has been added to the Minute book and attached to the online minutes.  In response to a question from Councillor Tim Warren’s question about whether Dial-a-Ride was available, Pat replied that it was not.

Councillor Lin Patterson then formally opened the debate and made a statement in support of the petition.

On a motion from Councillor Mark Shelford, seconded by Councillor Jasper Becker, it was

RESOLVED

1.  To note the concerns of the petitioners in respect of recent changes to the 6/7 bus service following a review of bus services in Bath undertaken by First Bus;

2.  To note that the Bus Services Act gives more tools to local Transport Authorities, particularly Mayoral Combined Authorities, to engage with bus operators to improve bus services, including options such as enhanced partnerships, advanced ticketing and franchising arrangements;

3.  To note that the West of England Combined Authority will be conducting a network-wide review of the local bus network to make recommendations on if and where any changes are needed to deliver a better network for the passenger and meet the transport and economic objectives of the West of England; and

4.  To ask that, through the Leader, the West of England Combined Authority is requested to examine how services between Fairfield Park and Larkhall can be restored without detriment to the improved service now provided to Camden and improved reliability and rider numbers as part of its wider review of bus service provision throughout the West of England.

[Notes;

1.  During debate, a motion was moved by Councillor Lin Patterson and seconded by Councillor Joe Rayment containing the wording of the petition with a further request to the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways to review the way in which the decision had been made.  This was subsequently successfully amended to the resolution above.

2.  The underlined wording in the successful resolution above was proposed by Councillor Rob Appleyard and accepted by the mover and seconder of the substantive motion.

3.  The resolution above was carried with 30 Councillors voting in favour, 8 Councillors voting against and 17 Councillors abstaining.

4.  The successful resolution above was carried with 55 Councillors voting in favour.]