Meeting documents

The Chair will allow members of the public to ask a question or make a statement about any matter on the agenda for this meeting. These questions may be taken during the meeting, when the relevant agenda item is considered, at the Chair’s discretion.  

There were two questions, statements or petitions received.

Mr Peter Travis – Chair Somerset Bus User and Stakeholder Group:

·       "Our original Bus Manifesto issued in May 2022 called for Somerset’s spend on supporting buses to be increased during the term of the new councils up to the average of that of our neighbouring councils. This was endorsed by two thirds of newly elected Unitary Councillors. We believe Councillors across the political spectrum now recognise buses are a vital service on which many Somerset residents depend. Buses are integral part of how the Council addresses the challenges of its climate emergency agenda and the cost-of-living crisis. Important strides on buses have been made in Somerset during 2022/23. However, most of the initiatives introduced in Somerset this past year have been funded by central Government. Most notably, the £12m BSIP award made to SCC has funded the £1 fare in Taunton, the new evening services radiating out from Taunton and the bus priority schemes in our County town.  The Government’s Bus Recovery Grant has been used to fund the continuation of bus services in Wells, Frome and elsewhere. But there have been cuts in bus services, particularly in the Yeovil area. Despite the pressure on next year’s council budget, we need to stabilise Somerset’s bus network and prevent any further decline in our bus services. That is likely to require increased funding from the new Somerset Council. That was a view supported of the majority of councillors elected to the Unitary Council."

Mr David Redgewell – South West Transport Network

·       "We would like to ask the following questions on budget and public transport services provided by Somerset County Council. Will the council bus service support budget be increased to cover the on-going support for bus services

-       Frome Town service 30 ,68 Yeovil bus and coach station to Yeovil pen mill and Yeovil junction railway service,

-       81 South Petherton to Yeovil bus and coach station,

-       D2 Bath spa bus and coach station to Midford Norton St Phillips  Rode, Beckington and Frome,

-       Evening service, Sunday service is support by the Department for transport covid 19 bus service recovery grant,

-       126 Wells bus and coach station to Draycott, Cheddar, Axbridge, Winscombe, Banwell, Locking, Weston bus and coach station. This bus service need to extend to Weston super mare bus and coach in partnership with North Somerset Council

-       The 173/172  is still at risk of being cut back between Wells Bus and Coach Station to Chilcompton or Paulton, Midsomer Norton, Westfield Radstock, Peasdown St John and Bath spa bus and coach station, 172 evening service is being withdrawn on 1st April 2023. This s discussion with West of England Mayoral Combined Transport Authority metro mayor Dan Norris. 

With bus service inflation costs on 47% on tender prices provision needs to be made to support county council support bus services. There are concerns from passenger group that theses bus service will be support by the local transport authority Somerset Council if government funding is reduced by the Department for Transport. With the county council being now Somerset Council, taking in provision of taking over Somerset bus and coach stations at Wells, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Wincanton bus and coach station, Frome Cork Street, coach stations in Glastonbury, Street and Wellington. What is the maintenance budget for such facilities including the new Taunton transport hub formerly Taunton bus and coach station? Along with bus stops and shelters, public transport information outside Taunton Bus Service Improvement Plan improvement area, the public transport support service grant needs to be increased to allow for the county having less commercial bus companies. 

We would ask the Scrutiny Committee to look at funding of public transport network services:

-     money for further Development work at Wellington station, and

-     financial support that required to keep the Somerset Council own West Somerset railway safe, or

-     development design work at Somerton and Langport station if it goes ahead

-     money to improve public footways and cycle way provision especially in Somerset urban centres of Frome, Yeovil Bridgwater Taunton and Wellington. 

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A written answer will be provided to both submissions.