Agenda item

To receive Motions on Notice.

Councillor C Wilson submitted the following motion on notice: 

“The Council recognises that there is a need to improve public transport in the District, and laments the decline in availability and use of buses in the area. The relative paucity of public transport negatively affects the air quality in the District, and also contributes to the failure to produce a modal shift. Moreover, it disproportionally disadvantages the more elderly, the disabled, and rural and poorer members of our society.

In some other Local Authority areas, public transport has been greatly improved by setting up an "On-Demand Service" - mainly using an app on people's mobile phones.

This Council therefore requests its Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate the possibility of working with Hertfordshire County Council to research the possibility of setting up such an "On-Demand" service in East Herts.”

Councillor Wilson said the new technology to support on-demand, responsive public transport, existed and the benefits to residents of this District should be explored.  He outlined the benefits this proposal could bring, in terms of flexibility, reduced journey times and contribution to reduction of car use.  He proposed the motion. 

Councillor J Dumont seconded the motion.  

Councillor G McAndrew proposed an amendment.  The amendment would remove words and add or substitute other words, as follows:

“The Council recognises that there is a need to improve public transport in the District, and laments the decline in availability and use of buses in the area.  The relative paucity of public transport negatively affects the air quality in the District, and also contributes to the failure to produce a and encourage modal shift.   This Council supports local on-demand services such as Hertfordshire County Council’s ‘Dial-a-Ride’ service which plays a vital role in providing sustainable transport for

 Moreover, it disproportionally disadvantages the more elderly, the disabled, and rural and poorer members of our society.

“This Council also recognises that local town and parish councils have worked hard to improve local transport options through community transport schemes such as the Sawbo bus, Stortford Shuttle and the Hadham Hopper.

“This Council also supports the Community Car Scheme, which is operated by the CVS for Broxbourne and East Herts, has 600 clients and enables thousands of journeys a year.

“This Council will therefore continue to work with Hertfordshire County Council and other local stakeholders to improve local public transport and encourage modal shift.

“In some other Local Authority areas, public transport has been greatly improved by setting up an "On-Demand Service" - mainly using an app on people's mobile phones.

“This Council therefore requests its newly formed Environmental and Climate Change Forum Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate the possibility of working with Hertfordshire County Council to research the possibility of setting up such an "On-Demand" service in East Herts.”

Councillor G McAndrew said at the meeting of Shaping Stortford that day he had raised the issue of an On-Demand service with Hertford County Councillors. 

Councillor D Andrews seconded the motion, and spoke in favour of the amendment.  He described the extensive work which had already been undertaken, and said all Members recognised the issue as important.  However there were some issues, such as the fact that the likely user demographic tended not to be familiar with app technology and in rural areas, it was not necessarily the case that such a service could take shorter routes.  He supported the amendment.

Councillor J Dumont welcomed the positive reception the substance of the motion had received.  The route detours he had suggested were for urban not rural areas.  However, clearly any improvement of transport needed to be practical, and he would support taking account of lessons learned and outcomes of similar initiatives being trialled or implemented elsewhere.

Councillor McAndrew referred to the Interlink Partnership, which was the first in the County, and which adhered to sustainable travel. 

Councillor Wilson said he had no issue with the wording of the amendment. 

Councillor L Haysey said it was also relevant to note that the Growth, Infrastructure, Planning and Environment strategy for the A414 corridor had been approved.  This strategy would look at establishing a more rapid transport system. 

Councillor S Bell supported the motion, and referred to difficulties faced at Watton-at-Stone by rail commuters.  An option for residents other than driving and parking was needed.

Councillor L Corpe said all Members were concerned about environmental and transport matters.  The Council should make every effort to reduce car use by changing people’s attitudes.  The task was challenging as buses were deemed unreliable and expensive, so radical suggestions were needed.  Smartphone technology was an opportunity and should be explored. 

The amendment having been proposed and seconded, it was put to the meeting and a vote taken.  The amendment was declared CARRIED, and became the substantive motion. 

The substantive motion was put to the meeting, and a vote taken, and declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - The Council recognises that there is a need to improve public transport in the District, and encourage modal shift.   This Council supports local on-demand services such as Hertfordshire County Council’s ‘Dial-a-Ride’ service which plays a vital role in providing sustainable transport for the more elderly, the disabled, and rural and poorer members of our society.

This Council also recognises that local town and parish councils have worked hard to improve local transport options through community transport schemes such as the Sawbo bus, Stortford Shuttle and the Hadham Hopper.

This Council also supports the Community Car Scheme, which is operated by the CVS for Broxbourne and East Herts, has 600 clients and enables thousands of journeys a year.

This Council will therefore continue to work with Hertfordshire County Council and other local stakeholders to improve local public transport and encourage modal shift.

In some other Local Authority areas, public transport has been greatly improved by setting up an "On-Demand Service" - mainly using an app on people's mobile phones.

This Council therefore requests its newly formed Environmental and Climate Change Forum to investigate the possibility of working with Hertfordshire County Council to research the possibility of setting up such an "On-Demand" service in East Herts.

Councillor M Goldspink submitted the second motion on notice, which was seconded by Councillor T Beckett, as follows:

“East Herts District Council is dismayed by H.M.Treasury’s recent and unexpected decision to raise the interest rate charged by the Public Works Loans Board. This 1% increase has come without any warning and it takes effect immediately. It will have serious consequences for many Local Authorities across the Country and may put many excellent projects at risk.

“This Council requests that its Leader and the Executive member for Financial Sustainability should write immediately to H.M. Treasury and ask for the increase to be scrapped and for the interest rate to be kept at 1.8%.”

Councillor Goldspink expressed dismay at the lack of funding for local government, and said the Council needed to look at investing to raise income.  The Government’s increase in the interest rate for loans should be opposed as this made the task of local government much harder. 

Councillor G Williamson said there were issues around local authority financing, and the Financial Sustainability Committee had looked at opportunities for investment.  Whilst the Public Works Loan Board proposal could impact on the Council’s schemes, the Council’s loan had been taken out with fixed interest rates, so had the benefit of certainty.  The Council had capital reserves which it could use, but as a contingency the Council had already assumed the higher interest rate.  The matter had already been taken up by the Local Government Association and the Society of District Council Treasurers.

Councillor Goldspink welcomed these assurances, but said she saw no reason why this Council could not write to HM Treasury, to add weight to such representations. 

The motion being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, it was declared LOST.