Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport on the implementation of the a concessionary fares regime across the District.

On the understanding that all City and District Council’s in Cambridgeshire formally commit to the proposed scheme, Option 2 contained in Table 1 of the report was approved for implementation with effect from 1^st April 2006.

Free travel will be made available on Community Transport Services to pass holders for services accessing market towns in Huntingdonshire.

The Head of Environmental Services was requested to report back to the Cabinet after the scheme has been in operation for 6 months and the Communications and Information Officer was asked  to give it wide publicity.  

Further to Minute No. 108, consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) updating the Cabinet on progress achieved towards the introduction of a new Concessionary Fares regime on 1st April 2006.  Reference also was made to a Members briefing note prepared by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is also appended in the Minute Book).  Members were advised that since their previous meeting, negotiations had continued among Cambridgeshire authorities and the bus operating companies to finalise a scheme that was acceptable to all parties. 

It was explained that agreement had been secured for the operation of a scheme which would involve free travel within the District and a part subsidy for travel within other Cambridgeshire areas.  This would operate for a period of one year commencing on 1st April 2006.  The scheme would be reviewed and developed further following an assessment of recorded travel data in the first year of operation.

Having noted the financial implications of the scheme illustrated in Table 1 of the report now submitted and the extent of the supplementary issues still requiring agreement prior to its implementation, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that on the understanding that all City and District Councils in Cambridgeshire formally commit to the proposed scheme, Option 2 contained in Table 1 of the report now submitted be approved for implementation for the twelve months period commencing 1st April 2006;

  (b)  that free travel on Community Transport services be made available to pass holders for services accessing market towns in Huntingdonshire; and

  (c)  that the Head of Environment and Transport be requested to report to the Cabinet on the progress of the scheme after 6 months operation and appropriate publicity given to the scheme.