1. MOTION 579 (COUNCILLOR MRS N WOOLLATT – 8 AUGUST 2022)
The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
Motion for council:
That this council writes to Stagecoach, Devon County Council, the Traffic Commissioner and our MPs to:
a) express its concern at the recent cuts to bus services in the District and changes to routes which appear to have been put in place without having had due regard to equality considerations. Further asks for a review of the changes to take into account equalities impacts and seek reinstatement of route sections which have been removed where the removal is found to have had a detrimental effect on some protected groups of people. For example, many residents in Cullompton no longer have nearby access to the bus service to and from Exeter and can only access this route from the town centre, making this service particularly difficult to access for elderly and disabled residents and young people travelling to schools and colleges.
b) further expresses its disappointment that since the reduced timetable has been implemented, despite the reductions supposedly having been made to improve the reliability of Stagecoach services, services have continued to be cancelled at an unacceptable level leaving our residents unable to rely on travelling by bus. Residents have been left unable to get to and from work and health appointments on time and even on occasion left stranded. There is concern if this pattern of cancellations continues that young people who rely on the bus service to travel to and from school and college will also have their journeys disrupted.
c) states that the current service being provided is not fit for purpose and asks what can be done to improve this and when our residents can expect to see a bus service that serves their needs and is reliable.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council has decided that this Motion (if moved and seconded) be dealt with at this meeting.
Minutes:
1. MOTION 579 (COUNCILLOR MRS N WOOLLATT – 8 AUGUST 2022)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
Motion for council:
That this council writes to Stagecoach, Devon County Council, the Traffic Commissioner and our MPs to:
a) express its concern at the recent cuts to bus services in the District and changes to routes which appear to have been put in place without having had due regard to equality considerations. Further asks for a review of the changes to take into account equalities impacts and seek reinstatement of route sections which have been removed where the removal is found to have had a detrimental effect on some protected groups of people. For example, many residents in Cullompton no longer have nearby access to the bus service to and from Exeter and can only access this route from the town centre, making this service particularly difficult to access for elderly and disabled residents and young people travelling to schools and colleges.
b) further expresses its disappointment that since the reduced timetable has been implemented, despite the reductions supposedly having been made to improve the reliability of Stagecoach services, services have continued to be cancelled at an unacceptable level leaving our residents unable to rely on travelling by bus. Residents have been left unable to get to and from work and health appointments on time and even on occasion left stranded. There is concern if this pattern of cancellations continues that young people who rely on the bus service to travel to and from school and college will also have their journeys disrupted.
c) states that the current service being provided is not fit for purpose and asks what can be done to improve this and when our residents can expect to see a bus service that serves their needs and is reliable.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council had decided that this Motion (if moved and seconded) be dealt with at this meeting.
The MOTION was MOVED by Cllr Mrs N Woollatt and seconded by Cllr A Wilce.
Consideration was given to:
· Daily cancellations of bus services across the district.
· Timetable issues, meaning connections were missed, or long waiting times.
· The effects of a poor service on students trying to get to school or college and on the elderly.
· As a result of issues raised by Devon County Council’s Exeter Highways and Transport Orders Committee, Cabinet and full Council, Stagecoach Devon had been called by the Traffic Commissioner to a Public Inquiry on 27th October 2022. The Traffic Commissioner had requested that a body of evidence be brought forward to inform their decision. As such the public were encouraged to submit comments and complaints to devonbus@devon.gov.uk by 6th October 2022.
· A shortage of bus drivers.
Having listened to the debate Cllr Woollatt wished to amend her Motion by including an additional request that her Motion also include the following:
“There be some public communication to let the residents of Mid Devon know that they can send in complaints to Devon County Council via devonbus@devon.gov.uk which can be fed into the Public Inquiry.”
The amended MOTION was MOVED by Cllr Mrs N Woollatt and seconded by Cllr A Wilce.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION, as amended, was declared to have been CARRIED.