Agenda item

Notice of Motion - 2

PROPOSED BY:     Councillor Emma Reid-Jones

 

SECONDED BY:     Councillor Oliver Owen

 

 

The Council notes:

 

  1. The Welsh Government Bus Emergency Scheme, introduced to bridge the gap between bus operators income and expenditure, is due to expire on 24th July 2023. 
  1. Cardiff’s share of the £46m of funding to help bus services for the rest of this financial year is insufficient to maintain existing services across the city, in particular those much needed services in the suburbs. 
  1. Bus services across Cardiff are already being cut with many others currently under review.
  2. Cardiff Bus, which is owned by Cardiff Council received £5.6m from the Bus Emergency Scheme and £1.6m Bus Service Support Grant in 2021/22 (the latest published accounts)

 

The council believes:

 

  1. Frequent and reliable bus services are a key characteristic of a capital city and are essential to reducing car use, carbon emissions and road congestion and will help the City centre to thrive. 
  1. Bus services should be prioritised over other modes of active travel.  Other than trains which are outside of our control, buses are the only accessible, affordable, and safe, mode of transport available to ALL Cardiff residents.
  2. The potential removal of bus services in the suburbs will lead to communities, especially the elderly, being isolated from essential services.

 

We call on the Cabinet to:

 

  1. Given resource constraints, ensure priority is given to bus services as the only low-cost, accessible mode of transport around our City. 
  1. Review the role of cycle lanes in increased road congestion and consult with bus companies in Cardiff about the impact of proposed new cycle lanes on bus services. 
  1. Lobby the Welsh Government to maintain and improve existing levels of bus funding until it’s to-be-legislated franchising model is in place.
  2. To stop all work on proposals for congestion/road user charging and to focus efforts on creating viable, inclusive, efficient and effective transport services for the people of Cardiff and to save the struggling City Centre. It must be accessible, affordable and safe for all its citizens, in support of the Councils own 15 minute City strategy.
  3. Include Cardiff Bus’s finances and operational ability in its policy impact assessments.

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: