SAVE THE BUSES CAMPAIGN: SAVE 292 and 107 BUS ROUTES - Partial success
Hertfordshire County Council have decied to slash £390,000 of bus funding this year, on top of the £1.5m cuts made in 2015.
Routes which could be affected
107 Edgware Station - New Barnet Station (via Borehamwood)
142 Watford Junction - Brent Cross Shopping Centre
258 Watford Junction - South Harrow Station
292 Borehamwood Rossington Avenue - Colindale Asda Store
298 Potters Bar Cranborne Road - Arnos Grove Station
Response to the petition
TUESDAY, 8 MARCH 2016 AT 10.00 AM CROSS-BOUNDARY BUS SERVICE SUPPORT AGREEMENT WITH TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Environment
Author: Adrian Hardy, Passenger Transport Hub Manager
(01992 588800)
Executive Member: Derrick Ashley (Environment, Planning & Transport)
Local Members: N Bell, M Bright, C Clapper, S B A F H Giles-Medhurst, K M Hastrick, A Joynes, P F J Knell, A Plancey, S Quilty, L F Reefe,
D T F Scudder and M A Watkin
1 Purpose of report
1.1 The purpose of this report is to present a summary of the agreement between the County Council and Transport for London (TfL) for cross-boundary supportof five of the TfL bus services operating in the County.
2 Summary
2.1 The County Council has been providing financial contributions to cross boundary bus services between Transport for London (TfL) and Hertfordshire since 1993. Such agreements are regularly reviewed with the latest arrangement due to end on 31 March 2016.
2.2 The value of the current agreement is £390,000 per year and supports five of the 16 TfL services that serve the southern areas of the County.
2.3 In discussion with representatives from TfL, the County Council has informed TfL that it intends not to continue the current arrangement beyond March2016.
2.4 TfL have confirmed that there would be no immediate impact on services serving Hertfordshire and that, if and when services are to be reviewed in the future, this would only be after a full consultation process, to which the County Council would be invited to contribute.
3. Recommendations
3.1 That the Panel notes:
a) The current agreement between the County Council and Transport for London for support of 5 TfL bus services operating in the county is due to expire on 31 March 2016.
b) The County Council proposes to withdraw this support when the current agreement expires, which would result in a saving of £390,000 per year.
c) Transport for London have confirmed that withdrawal of this support, while regrettable, would not result in any immediate service changes and that should the services be reviewed in the future, this would only be after a full consultation process, to which the County Council would be welcome to contribute.
4 Background
4.1 Hertfordshire County Council has provided financial support for TfL bus services serving the County since 1993. There have been a number of agreements during this period: the current agreement was reached in July
2013 covering the financial years 2013/14, 2014/15 & 2015/16.
4.2 In this agreement the County Council is committed to a contribution of £390,000 in each of these three years to support the following services:
107: New Barnet – Edgware
142: Watford Junction – Brent Cross
258: Watford Junction - South Harrow
292: Borehamwood – Colindale
298: Potters Bar – Arnos Grove
4.3. In total there are sixteen TfL services that operate within the County but only the services mentioned above are included in the agreement. The total value of the five services is £11.3m, with the County Council contributing less than 4% of the total value
4.4 Total numbers of passengers using these 5 services during 2014/15 were as follows:
107: 940,590
142: 1,250,287
258: 810,053
292: 924,056
298: 204,016
These services operate mostly within the Greater London area; data for journeys starting and finishing in Hertfordshire is not available.
4.5 The remaining eleven TfL routes only serve Hertfordshire at Waltham Cross Bus Station or Dame Alice Owen’s School, Potters Bar for the benefit of residents of the Greater London area, and so are excluded from the agreement.
4.6 Officers have been in regular contact with representatives from TfL and last met them in November 2015, where it was indicated that due to current budget pressures the County Council would not be able to continue to support TfL bus services operating within the County beyond the end of the current agreement.
4.7 This meeting was followed up with a letter to TfL dated 18 December 2015 to confirm the County Council’s position (Appendix 1)
4.8 TfL have acknowledged the difficulties faced by neighbouring shire counties and have stated that should the County Council withdraw funding there will be no immediate effect on services or service frequencies. They have further stated that should TfL decide to review these services in the future, this would be subject to a full consultation process, to which the County Council would be invited to contribute.
4.9 A press release from Peter Bradley, Head of Consultation, TfL in January 2016 states “We have no plans at this stage to make any changes to any of the routes that run between London and Hertfordshire. If we were to make any changes in the future, we would undertake full consultation with stakeholders and customers in the normal way, as we do for any changes proposed to the London bus network”.
4.10 A formal response to the County Council’s letter of 18 December was received on 2 February (Appendix 2). The letter confirms that TfL have no immediate intention of reviewing the services that cross into Hertfordshire. It does however highlight that the loss of Hertfordshire funding is significant for TfL and asks that the County Council re-consider continuing to make a contribution to services in 2016/17 and beyond.
4.11 Section 63 of the Transport Act 1985 places a duty on the County Council to secure such public passenger transport services as it considers appropriate, to meet requirements within the County which would not in its view otherwise be met.
4.12 Section 141 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 requires the Mayor to develop and implement policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Greater London, which are required to meet the needs of people living or working in, or visiting, Greater London.
4.13 If in the future TfL were to reduce or withdraw routes serving Hertfordshire, the County Council may need to identify any requirements within the County which would not otherwise be met and secure any services considered appropriate.
5. Legal Issues
5.1 There are no legal implications or restrictions preventing the County Council from withdrawing its financial support for TfL services.
6. Financial Implications
6.1 Removing the subsidy would save the County Council £390,000 per year from 2016-17.
7. Public Petition Presented to County Council on 23 February 2016
7.1 A petition presented to County Council on 23rd February 2016 which asked for financial support to TfL to be continued. The following motion was agreed:-
“The County Council:-
(a) notes that its contract with Transport for London (TfL) relating to these cross-border bus routes terminates on 31 March 2016;
(b) notes that the £390,000 annual subsidy paid by the County Council under the contract represents less than 4% of the total contract value;
(c) recognises the substantial reduction in the costs of bus operations resulting from the reduction in fuel costs;
(d) welcomes the statement by TfL that, notwithstanding the cessation of the contract, it has “no plans at this stage to make any changes to any of the routes that run between London and Hertfordshire
e) should there be any subsequent plans by TfL affecting these routes requests the Administration to work with TfL to ensure that appropriate levels of service are maintained on these routes as part of TfL’s statutory cross-border responsibility.”
Defibrillators within Borehamwood & Elstree - Success
Campaign is being done by Lawrence Stack (EBRA), Pat Strack (Town Councillor), Borehamwood Fire Brigade
News Articles:
Launch of defibrillator campaign hailed a successBorehamwood Library defibrillator unveiledTrain station defibrillator installationLife saving defibrillator installed at Elstree & Borehamwood station
Hertfordshire County Council have decied to slash £390,000 of bus funding this year, on top of the £1.5m cuts made in 2015.
Routes which could be affected
107 Edgware Station - New Barnet Station (via Borehamwood)
142 Watford Junction - Brent Cross Shopping Centre
258 Watford Junction - South Harrow Station
292 Borehamwood Rossington Avenue - Colindale Asda Store
298 Potters Bar Cranborne Road - Arnos Grove Station
Response to the petition
TUESDAY, 8 MARCH 2016 AT 10.00 AM CROSS-BOUNDARY BUS SERVICE SUPPORT AGREEMENT WITH TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Environment
Author: Adrian Hardy, Passenger Transport Hub Manager
(01992 588800)
Executive Member: Derrick Ashley (Environment, Planning & Transport)
Local Members: N Bell, M Bright, C Clapper, S B A F H Giles-Medhurst, K M Hastrick, A Joynes, P F J Knell, A Plancey, S Quilty, L F Reefe,
D T F Scudder and M A Watkin
1 Purpose of report
1.1 The purpose of this report is to present a summary of the agreement between the County Council and Transport for London (TfL) for cross-boundary supportof five of the TfL bus services operating in the County.
2 Summary
2.1 The County Council has been providing financial contributions to cross boundary bus services between Transport for London (TfL) and Hertfordshire since 1993. Such agreements are regularly reviewed with the latest arrangement due to end on 31 March 2016.
2.2 The value of the current agreement is £390,000 per year and supports five of the 16 TfL services that serve the southern areas of the County.
2.3 In discussion with representatives from TfL, the County Council has informed TfL that it intends not to continue the current arrangement beyond March2016.
2.4 TfL have confirmed that there would be no immediate impact on services serving Hertfordshire and that, if and when services are to be reviewed in the future, this would only be after a full consultation process, to which the County Council would be invited to contribute.
3. Recommendations
3.1 That the Panel notes:
a) The current agreement between the County Council and Transport for London for support of 5 TfL bus services operating in the county is due to expire on 31 March 2016.
b) The County Council proposes to withdraw this support when the current agreement expires, which would result in a saving of £390,000 per year.
c) Transport for London have confirmed that withdrawal of this support, while regrettable, would not result in any immediate service changes and that should the services be reviewed in the future, this would only be after a full consultation process, to which the County Council would be welcome to contribute.
4 Background
4.1 Hertfordshire County Council has provided financial support for TfL bus services serving the County since 1993. There have been a number of agreements during this period: the current agreement was reached in July
2013 covering the financial years 2013/14, 2014/15 & 2015/16.
4.2 In this agreement the County Council is committed to a contribution of £390,000 in each of these three years to support the following services:
107: New Barnet – Edgware
142: Watford Junction – Brent Cross
258: Watford Junction - South Harrow
292: Borehamwood – Colindale
298: Potters Bar – Arnos Grove
4.3. In total there are sixteen TfL services that operate within the County but only the services mentioned above are included in the agreement. The total value of the five services is £11.3m, with the County Council contributing less than 4% of the total value
4.4 Total numbers of passengers using these 5 services during 2014/15 were as follows:
107: 940,590
142: 1,250,287
258: 810,053
292: 924,056
298: 204,016
These services operate mostly within the Greater London area; data for journeys starting and finishing in Hertfordshire is not available.
4.5 The remaining eleven TfL routes only serve Hertfordshire at Waltham Cross Bus Station or Dame Alice Owen’s School, Potters Bar for the benefit of residents of the Greater London area, and so are excluded from the agreement.
4.6 Officers have been in regular contact with representatives from TfL and last met them in November 2015, where it was indicated that due to current budget pressures the County Council would not be able to continue to support TfL bus services operating within the County beyond the end of the current agreement.
4.7 This meeting was followed up with a letter to TfL dated 18 December 2015 to confirm the County Council’s position (Appendix 1)
4.8 TfL have acknowledged the difficulties faced by neighbouring shire counties and have stated that should the County Council withdraw funding there will be no immediate effect on services or service frequencies. They have further stated that should TfL decide to review these services in the future, this would be subject to a full consultation process, to which the County Council would be invited to contribute.
4.9 A press release from Peter Bradley, Head of Consultation, TfL in January 2016 states “We have no plans at this stage to make any changes to any of the routes that run between London and Hertfordshire. If we were to make any changes in the future, we would undertake full consultation with stakeholders and customers in the normal way, as we do for any changes proposed to the London bus network”.
4.10 A formal response to the County Council’s letter of 18 December was received on 2 February (Appendix 2). The letter confirms that TfL have no immediate intention of reviewing the services that cross into Hertfordshire. It does however highlight that the loss of Hertfordshire funding is significant for TfL and asks that the County Council re-consider continuing to make a contribution to services in 2016/17 and beyond.
4.11 Section 63 of the Transport Act 1985 places a duty on the County Council to secure such public passenger transport services as it considers appropriate, to meet requirements within the County which would not in its view otherwise be met.
4.12 Section 141 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 requires the Mayor to develop and implement policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Greater London, which are required to meet the needs of people living or working in, or visiting, Greater London.
4.13 If in the future TfL were to reduce or withdraw routes serving Hertfordshire, the County Council may need to identify any requirements within the County which would not otherwise be met and secure any services considered appropriate.
5. Legal Issues
5.1 There are no legal implications or restrictions preventing the County Council from withdrawing its financial support for TfL services.
6. Financial Implications
6.1 Removing the subsidy would save the County Council £390,000 per year from 2016-17.
7. Public Petition Presented to County Council on 23 February 2016
7.1 A petition presented to County Council on 23rd February 2016 which asked for financial support to TfL to be continued. The following motion was agreed:-
“The County Council:-
(a) notes that its contract with Transport for London (TfL) relating to these cross-border bus routes terminates on 31 March 2016;
(b) notes that the £390,000 annual subsidy paid by the County Council under the contract represents less than 4% of the total contract value;
(c) recognises the substantial reduction in the costs of bus operations resulting from the reduction in fuel costs;
(d) welcomes the statement by TfL that, notwithstanding the cessation of the contract, it has “no plans at this stage to make any changes to any of the routes that run between London and Hertfordshire
e) should there be any subsequent plans by TfL affecting these routes requests the Administration to work with TfL to ensure that appropriate levels of service are maintained on these routes as part of TfL’s statutory cross-border responsibility.”
Defibrillators within Borehamwood & Elstree - Success
Campaign is being done by Lawrence Stack (EBRA), Pat Strack (Town Councillor), Borehamwood Fire Brigade
News Articles:
Launch of defibrillator campaign hailed a successBorehamwood Library defibrillator unveiledTrain station defibrillator installationLife saving defibrillator installed at Elstree & Borehamwood station
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Stop the closure of Allum Lane Recycling Centre - Has successfully been Save from Closure (September 2014)
A consultation was launched earlier this year recommending the closure of the Elstree recycling centre in Allum Lane.
More than 5,000 recyclers across the county signed the consultation, with 33 per cent of those responding from Elstree and the surrounding areas.
A total of 2,036 also signed a petition launched by councillors Morris Bright and Harvey Cohen to keep the recycling centre open.
Opening hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday 8am - 4pm, Saturday/Sunday 9am - 5pm.CLOSED Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
A consultation was launched earlier this year recommending the closure of the Elstree recycling centre in Allum Lane.
More than 5,000 recyclers across the county signed the consultation, with 33 per cent of those responding from Elstree and the surrounding areas.
A total of 2,036 also signed a petition launched by councillors Morris Bright and Harvey Cohen to keep the recycling centre open.
Opening hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday 8am - 4pm, Saturday/Sunday 9am - 5pm.CLOSED Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Turned to traffic lights are Stirling corner from part time to full time
Bus Services for the 306 in Hertfordshire:
Bus Services for the 306 in Hertfordshire:
