That this Council calls upon Lancashire County Council's Conservative Administration to reverse the 50% cut of funding to the Community Transport Consortium, which includes our own Dial a Ride service in West Lancashire.
That Councillor Ian Moran, as the Leader of West
Lancashire Borough Council writes to County Councillor Geoff Driver
expressing this Council's shock and dismay and requesting a reverse
to this cut to Community Transport including our Dial a Ride
Service.
That this Council recognises the contribution that
Community Transport services play in West Lancashire, having a
major role in promoting good health and wellbeing, reducing
loneliness and isolation and helps people to access important
services. Noting that the recent public consultation resulted in
over a thousand responses demanding that the services are not cut;
that Dial-a-Ride services provide a door to
door service for some of the most vulnerable in our
communities; and that these are the elderly, disabled and people
who suffer from long term illness, who cannot stand at the bus
stop.
That the Chief Executive and the Leader of Lancashire County Council be asked to write to the Minister for Transport, Mr Chris Grayling MP requesting that he gives councils control over the Bus Service Operators’ Grant, a fuel duty rebate currently paid directly to bus operators. The effect of this would also enable councils to protect vital bus routes, and give them the funding they need to provide an effective and efficient bus service.
Minutes:
The following Motion was moved and seconded:
"That this Council calls upon Lancashire County Council's Conservative Administration to reverse the 50% cut of funding to the Community Transport Consortium, which includes our own Dial a Ride service in West Lancashire.
That Councillor Ian Moran, as the Leader of West
Lancashire Borough Council writes to County Councillor Geoff Driver
expressing this Council's shock and dismay and requesting a reverse
to this cut to Community Transport including our Dial a Ride
Service.
That this Council recognises the contribution that
Community Transport services play in West Lancashire, having a
major role in promoting good health and wellbeing, reducing
loneliness and isolation and helps people to access important
services. Noting that the recent public consultation resulted in
over a thousand responses demanding that the services are not cut;
that Dial-a-Ride services provide a door to door service for some
of the most vulnerable in our communities; and that these are the
elderly, disabled and people who suffer from long term illness, who
cannot stand at the bus stop.
That the Chief Executive and the Leader of Lancashire County Council be asked to write to the Minister for Transport, Mr Chris Grayling MP requesting that he gives councils control over the Bus Service Operators’ Grant, a fuel duty rebate currently paid directly to bus operators. The effect of this would also enable councils to protect vital bus routes, and give them the funding they need to provide an effective and efficient bus service."
A vote was taken on the Motion, which was CARRIED.
RESOLVED: A. That this Council calls upon Lancashire County Council's Conservative Administration to reverse the 50% cut of funding to the Community Transport Consortium, which includes our own Dial a Ride service in West Lancashire.
B. That Councillor Ian Moran, as the Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council writes to County Councillor Geoff Driver expressing this Council's shock and dismay and requesting a reverse to this cut to Community Transport including our Dial a Ride Service.
C. That this Council recognises the contribution that Community Transport services play in West Lancashire, having a major role in promoting good health and wellbeing, reducing loneliness and isolation and helps people to access important services. Noting that the recent public consultation resulted in over a thousand responses demanding that the services are not cut; that Dial-a-Ride services provide a door to door service for some of the most vulnerable in our communities; and that these are the elderly, disabled and people who suffer from long term illness, who cannot stand at the bus stop.
D. That the Chief Executive and the Leader of Lancashire County Council be asked to write to the Minister for Transport, Mr Chris Grayling MP requesting that he gives councils control over the Bus Service Operators’ Grant, a fuel duty rebate currently paid directly to bus operators. The effect of this would also enable councils to protect vital bus routes, and give them the funding they need to provide an effective and efficient bus service.
(Note: Councillor Blane left the meeting during consideration of this item.)