Issue - meetings

Report of the Planning Services Manager

Noted and supported the on-going development of the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Initiative  and the work of the Governance and Solutions Group in association with the community objectives contained within the Council Plan for 2011 – 2015 and approved in principle the alignment of the current District Council Rural Transport Budget with the budgets of other Cambridgeshire partners within the future Transport Initiative, in order to deliver more effective transport services, subject to the protection of existing services or their replacement as part of the overall project.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Initiative, being developed to provide alternative ways of meeting county-wide transport needs. The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well Being) whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet.

Members were acquainted with the background to the initiative which had been agreed by those partners involved in the delivery of passenger transport across Cambridgeshire in response to an announcement by the County Council that all public transport subsidies across the County would end by April 2015. The work was being overseen by a cross-authority member led Governance group comprising the County Council, NHS Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire Acre with representation from Huntingdonshire District Council and support from consultants and would result in the development of Transport for Cambridgeshire partnership .

In considering the perceived implications for the Council, Executive Councillors were advised that the authority currently supported comprehensive and highly regarded community transport based services across the District within a budget of £83.5k per annum.  Under the new arrangements this budget would be aligned with other partners to improve transport services throughout Cambridgeshire.  The Cabinet recognised the importance of safeguarding current services delivered through Service Level Agreements and the need to ensure that the Initiative’s objectives reflects those within the new Council Plan.

Having acknowledged the Overview and Scrutiny Panel’s input into the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the on-going development of the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Initiative  and the work of the Governance and Solutions Group in association with the community objectives contained within the Council Plan for 2011 – 2015 be noted and supported; and

(b)  that the alignment of the current District Council Rural Transport Budget with the budgets of other Cambridgeshire partners within the future Transport Initiative, in order to deliver more effective transport services, be approved in principle subject to the protection of existing services or their replacement as part of the overall project.

To receive a report by the Transport Team Leader on the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Initiative.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on a future transport initiative for Cambridgeshire. Members were informed of the need for alternative ways of meeting countywide transport requirements following the announcement by the County Council that by April 2015, it would cease to fund public transport. A broad agreement had been reached amongst those partners involved in the delivery of passenger transport to work collaboratively to achieve wide community benefits through a more efficient, effective and co-ordinated approach to transportation. It would involve working across organisational boundaries to co-ordinate resources, priorities, people, journeys and transport operators.  This work would be overseen by a Member led governance group, which comprised the County and District Councils, NHS Cambridgeshire and Cambridgeshire Acre. Consultants had been appointed to advise on the process.

The Panel was advised that under the new arrangements, from 2012/13 onwards, the Council’s budget of £83.5k would be aligned with that of other partners.  Members stressed that although they supported moves to create a more efficient and cost effective service, they would not want to jeopardise the highly regarded community transport services that the budget currently supported.  They, therefore, endorsed a proposal to amend paragraph 5.2 of the report and part a. of the recommendation requiring the Council’s involvement and the eventual outcomes to align with the priorities contained in the Council Plan.  In so doing, Members emphasized the importance of safeguarding the Council’s interests in community transport, which often provided a lifeline to rural communities.  The Panel also agreed with the principle of aligning the District Council’s rural transport budget with other Cambridgeshire partners within the Future Transport Initiative but Members did not want Council funds to be committed without protection being afforded to existing services. Their view was that this funding should not be committed without there being certainty that they would add value and robustness to the service.  It was therefore 

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be invited to consider the Panel’s comments as part of its deliberations on the report by the Head of Planning Services.