Issue - decisions

Matter for Discussion

This is a regular report to the Scrutiny Committee each cycle providing an update on the activities of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Board since the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 3 July.

Informal Debate

The Council’s representative on the Combined Authority Board Councillor A. Smith provided a verbal report:

      i.          Would go to audit on bus reform business case.

     ii.          Phases one and two of the CPCA bus network review would go ahead. Would investigate current subsidised routes.

   iii.          Introduced new Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Chief Executive Rob Bridge who was present and who introduced himself to Members.

The Council’s representative on the Combined Authority Board A. Smith and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Chief Executive Rob Bridge said the following in response to Members’ questions.

      i.          The special measures put in place for the CPCA were put in place by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUC) for 12 months. Would meet with DLUC in January to ascertain if special measures would continue. Was hopeful these measures would be ended in January.

     ii.          The current Local Transport Connectivity Plan (LTCP) was still in effect. Had hoped the new local transport plan was passed by the CPCA Board at the last meeting however it was not.

   iii.          Would need to explore next steps regarding the LTCP. Expected a government announcement regarding that and would review next steps then.

   iv.          Had a finite set of funds to subsidise bus routes.

    v.          Did not just want to keep the bus routes that were profitable, would look at routes that the public needed and if were not subsidised would not run.

   vi.          It was not a franchise network.

 vii.          There would be a community led investigation regarding bus routes.

viii.          The CPCA did need to step in and save routes that had been cut.

   ix.          Had been looking at routes that were not currently running to see if any that were needed could be added.

    x.          A statement had been put out by the CPCA regarding the number 18 bus route.

   xi.          Franchising may be a good solution to bus routes as franchising could cross subsidise from successful to struggling routes.

 xii.          Audit of franchising was the first step.

xiii.          The number 18 bus route was currently subsidised.

xiv.          The DLUC auditor recognised that progress had been made at the CPCA.

xv.          There were political differences in the Chamber of the CPCA. However felt that there had been improvements.

xvi.          Was aware of issues with the A-bus route and that local people were having issues. This was not a subsidised route. Stagecoach were able to do what they like however were in conversation with Stagecoach.

xvii.          There were opportunities in the future for Cambridge City Council to be more involved in the CPCA in the future.

xviii.          Recognised there were challenges around water scarcity. There would be a new Fenland reservoir which would have an effect on the area. The CPCA was heavily involved.