Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth which updated Cabinet on the region’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme. The report also provided detail on the required statutory consultation and sought approval from Cabinet to formally sign the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

In Moving the report Councillor E Scott, Portfolio Holder for Economy and Partnerships informed Cabinet that bus services were a lifeline to many of residents in County Durham, helping them get to and from their places of work schools or colleges and enabling them to access other essential services.  This was why Durham played a key role in ensuring the inclusion of many work streams in the aspirational bus service improvement plan for the region.  Councillor Scott was delighted that the region had received over £163m of indicative funding which was the largest indicative funding amount for any bus service improvement plan area.

While this did not cover the costs of full delivery of all of the north east proposals it would enable delivery of key work streams such as better value fares and improvements to bus services within County Durham which would provide significant benefits to both residents and visitors.

In Seconding the report Councillor J Shuttleworth, Portfolio Holder Rural Communities and Highways informed Cabinet that local bus service had been impacted by the pandemic and recent rising costs.  It was therefore essential to see transformational bus services as the key part in achieving so many of the Council’s corporate objectives which in turn supported the economy, the environment and communities.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.