Agenda item

Councillor Wilson presented his motion on notice. He said that the consultation had now been extended to 1 September 2023. He said that he was travelling on a train before the meeting and his journey had been delayed as a passenger had taken ill and he said that it was a reminder that trains were a public service. Trains were the only way to travel for some people and had become a monopoly. He said that there was no other sustainable transport into London.

Councillor Wilson said that there were many reasons why people could not drive and if the ticket offices were closed, those who did not understand the different types of ticket would not be able to travel and could get fined if they purchased the wrong ticket. He said that train franchise owners were being pushed to cut budgets by the government and it was a political choice to decide as a nation how to spend its money.

Councillor Clements seconded the motion and reserved his right to speak.

Councillor Deering thanked Councillor Wilson for his motion. He noted that the consultation had been extended and said this incapsulated the position of the Conservative group. He said they were concerned that elderly and vulnerable people might be challenged when buying tickets but on the other hand, he said it might be better to relocate staff from behind the glass into the body of the station so they were available to all customer. He said he did not know the outcome of the consultation and  said the Conservative group would be abstaining from the vote but acknowledged the issues on both sides of the argument.

Councillor Goldspink said she strongly supported the motion. She said that machines were not as good as humans for dealing with problems. She said that the staff at Bishop’s Stortford station were excellent and provided good advice about the best routes to take and the best ticket option. She highlighted that the Royal National Institute of Blind People were very concerned about the proposed ticket office closures.

Councillor Hopewell said she also supported the motion. She said she had personally benefitted from the staff at Hertford North station when she was travelling with her children as it was difficult to know what the cheapest ticket option was. She referred to Councillor Goldspink’s point about visually impaired people and said if the staff were not at the ticket office, they would not be able to find a staff member on the platforms.

Councillor Parsad-Wyatt echoed the comments so far from councillors. However, he felt that it was missing the point that the consultation was trying to achieve and was assuming that all ticket offices would be closed which he did not think was the case. He said that there were some benefits to having staff being in visible locations, for example, they could help prevent suicides. He said he would be abstaining from the vote and would await the consultation results.

Councillor Clements thanked the Liberal Democrat group for submitting the motion. He highlighted that the loss of ticket offices would have a disproportionate effect on elderly and disabled people and the value of ticket offices was more than just a place to buy tickets. Passengers had certainty where they could access help and there was the risk with no ticket offices that customers would have to hunt down a member of staff for help. He felt that there was a responsibility on everyone to create an environment that was welcome to all in society. He encouraged Members to exert their influence and support the motion.

Councillor Hart said that moving staff from the ticket offices onto the platforms was not about staffing, but a commercial decision to cut costs. She said that staff were unlikely to be retained if offices were closed.

Councillor Crystall said that Members had made some good points. He said that having staff in the right places was critical and the worry was that if people did not make their voices heard now, then it could be seen as an opportunity to do the things people were concerned about. He said that the motion was trying to be proactive in trying to prevent the worst that could happen. He said it was important to make the statement now and he fully supported the motion.

Councillor Swainston said that staff employed in the ticket offices might not be able to carry out duties on the platforms as it required a different skill set.

Councillor Wilson responded to the points made in the debate. He thanked the Labour group for their support on the motion. He said there were other ways to cut costs and said that train stations in Switzerland had diversified what they sold in the office to make money.

The motion, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED. It was noted that the Conservative group abstained from the vote.

RESOLVED - Council notes with concern the announcement by the Rail Delivery Group that train companies are pressing ahead with plans to close up to 1000 rail ticket offices across England over the next 3 years, including those in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford North, Hertford East, Sawbridgeworth, Ware, Stanstead St Margarets and Watton-at-Stone.

Council believes that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents in East Herts Districtand support passenger safety, security and accessibility. Having a clearly sign-posted place in the station for people with ticket enquiries provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff and also acts as a point of safety for passengers. At many stations, access to facilities such as toilets and waiting rooms is reliant on ticket office staff.

Not all residents are able to use station ticket machines or online ticketing platforms. Many journeys require human assistance to ensure customers purchase the most appropriate and cheapest tickets, and do not incur penalties or pay more than necessary for their journey.

Council is concerned the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately effect elderly and disabled residents in East Herts District – as well as those with poor literacy and IT skills or on lower incomes.

Council notes the statistics from Age UK that 3 million elderly people in the UK do not have access to the internet, and statistics from the Royal National Institute for Blind People that only 3% of those with partial or full sight loss feel able to use ticket machines.

Council is also concerned about the possible implications for current station staff and the risk of staff redundancies – given that there will be no regulations for minimum staffing levels at stations and on platforms. Council therefore resolves to:

·         Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to Mark Harper MP Secretary of State for Transport, and the Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, expressing Council’s opposition to the possible closure of staffed rail ticket offices – and in particular the offices at Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford East, Hertford North, Sawbridgeworth, Ware, Stanstead St Margarets and Watton-at-Stone: and also expressing opposition to the closure of ticket offices at Tottenham Hale as these would have impact on East Herts Residents when travelling.

·         Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, and Southern rail expressing the Council’s opposition to any plans to close the staffed ticket offices at Hertford East, Hertford North, Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Ware, Stanstead St Margarets, Watton-at-Stone and Tottenham Hale. 

·         Instruct the Leader of the Council to send copies of the letters mentioned above to our local MPs, Ms Julie Marson and Mr Oliver Heald, asking that they should write similar letters, expressing their own opposition to the proposed closures.

·         Invite the Leaders of all the Political groups on the Council to also sign the letters which the Leader of the Council sends if they so wish.  

·         Request that all councillors respond to the consultations to confirm their support for ticket offices remaining open and for properly staffed rail stations.