Issue - meetings

Recommendations:

Executive Members are asked to consider the contents of this report and recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency delegated powers he:

i.     Agree the ‘making’ of the plan and scheme, following satisfactory completion of the second operator consultation period;

ii.    Delegate the submission of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme to the Department for Transport following completion of the second operator consultation period to the Corporate Director Business and Environmental Services, following consultation with the Executive Member for Access.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director – Business and Environmental Services proposing an update of the Executive on the North Yorkshire Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie introduced the report, and provided an overview of the background to the development of an enhanced partnership arrangement.  He also drew attention to the consultation undertaken and its findings, as detailed in the report.

Karl Battersby, Corporate Director – Business and Environmental Services outlined the next stage in the process i.e. to set up the governance for an enhanced partnership and have a scheme in place by 1 April 2022.  He also confirmed there had been only one objection to the proposed partnership approach, which the Authority was confident could be resolved.

Executive Members noted the funding allocation was not yet known, and was likely to be less than applied for due to the high number of applications submitted.  They also noted that third party funding contributions would be required to deliver some elements of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, and that dependent upon the funding received there might be some constraints on deliverability and scalability.  It was confirmed that any funding received would be allocated based on the hierarchy outlined in the report, and that it would still be possible to achieve some of proposed elements even if no funding was received.

Karl Battersby confirmed the Authority was still awaiting the outcome of both its BSIP bid and its Zero Emissions Buses bid, and County Councillor Don Mackenzie reassured Executive Members that the levelling up of rural bus services was a key priority.

In regard to the ongoing on-demand bus service pilot, County Councillor Gareth Dadd welcomed the innovative approach to the delivery of rural bus services and confirmed there were signs of increased demand.

Having considered the report and considered the information provided at the meeting, Executive Members

Resolved: To recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency delegated powers he:

i.     Agree the ‘making’ of the plan and scheme, following satisfactory completion of the second operator consultation period;

ii.    Delegate the submission of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme to the Department for Transport following completion of the second operator consultation period to the Corporate Director Business and Environmental Services, following consultation with the Executive Member for Access.