Agenda item

Increase to the bus fare cap - Motion Included on the Agenda by Councillor de Freitas on behalf of the Conservative Group

Council notes that:  

 

The recent budget announced by the Labour Government increases the current bus fare pricing cap with effect from the 1st January 2025. 

Due to the Labour Government increasing the cap by 50%, from £2 to £3, a commuter commuting on a bus five days a week will suffer a yearly fare increase of several hundred pounds.

 

Council believes that:  

The increase in the bus fare cap will

Result in declining passenger numbers.

Will have a catastrophic impact on the essential bus services, particularly those in our rural areas, which so many residents in West Lancashire rely on.

Will have a negative impact on young people travelling to access education, and those reliant on buses to reach their place of employment.

Will have a negative impact on elderly people who do not drive but need to access services, healthcare and visit family.

At a time when many residents in West Lancashire are struggling with soaring costs and expenses, this sudden increase in fares will punish some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Increasing the fare cap will discourage sustainable travel and remove an incentive to use public transport to access our town centres, increasing the number of cars on the road.

 

Council resolves: 

To request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Transport Secretary to outline the Council’s dismay at this decision and ask the Government to reconsider.

 

Minutes:

The following Motion was moved and seconded:

 

"Council notes that:  

 

·       The recent budget announced by the Labour Government increases the current bus fare pricing cap with effect from the 1st January 2025. 

·       Due to the Labour Government increasing the cap by 50%, from £2 to £3, a commuter commuting on a bus five days a week will suffer a yearly fare increase of several hundred pounds.

 

Council believes that:  

·       The increase in the bus fare cap will result in declining passenger numbers.

·       Will have a catastrophic impact on the essential bus services, particularly those in our rural areas, which so many residents in West Lancashire rely on.

·       Will have a negative impact on young people travelling to access education, and those reliant on buses to reach their place of employment.

·       Will have a negative impact on elderly people who do not drive but need to access services, healthcare and visit family.

·       At a time when many residents in West Lancashire are struggling with soaring costs and expenses, this sudden increase in fares will punish some of the most vulnerable in our community.

·       Increasing the fare cap will discourage sustainable travel and remove an incentive to use public transport to access our town centres, increasing the number of cars on the road.

 

Council resolves: 

 

To request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Transport Secretary to outline the Council’s dismay at this decision and ask the Government to reconsider."

 

An Amendment, which was displayed on the screens, was moved and seconded in the following terms:

 

"Council notes that:

The recent budget announced by the Labour Government increases the current bus fare pricing cap with effect from the 1st January 2025. Due to the Labour Government increasing the cap by 50%, from £2 to £3, a commuter commuting on a bus five days a week could suffer a yearly fare increase of several hundred pounds.

Due to the Conservative-run Lancashire County Council increasing the fare in West Lancashire by 50%, from £2 to £3, a commuter commuting on a bus five days a week will suffer a yearly fare increase of several hundred pounds.

Meanwhile, Labour-run Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region have both opted to retain the £2 fare.

Council believes that:

The increase in the bus fare by the Conservative-run Lancashire County Council could

·       Result in declining passenger numbers.

·       have a catastrophic impact on the essential bus services, particularly those in our rural areas, which so many residents in West Lancashire rely on.

·       have a negative impact on young people travelling to access education, and those reliant on buses to reach their place of employment.

·       have a negative impact on elderly people who do not drive but need to access services, healthcare and visit family.

At a time when many residents in West Lancashire are struggling with soaring costs and expenses, this sudden increase in fares by the Conservative-run Lancashire County Council will punish some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Increasing the fare will discourage sustainable travel and remove an incentive to use public transport to access our town centres, increasing the number of cars on the road.

Council resolves:

To request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Leader of Lancashire County Council and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to outline the Council’s dismay at this decision and ask the Conservative-run Lancashire County Council to reconsider."

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.6, the Chief Legal & Democratic Services Officer ruled the Amendment as not valid, as it negated the Motion.

 

The Amendment was WITHDRAWN.

 

The Motion was WITHDRAWN.