The Cabinet Member (Highways, Transportation and Waste) presented the report.  He highlighted the following points:

·         the reduction in funding to local government and the loss of specific grants allied to contract price inflation in 2010/11 meant an overall budgetary pressure of £264k for 2011/12, a savings requirement of 15% compared with expenditure in 2010/11.

·         the proposed reduction was lower than that being made in neighbouring authorities.  It represented a reduction of 3.2% of bus journeys.

·         the extent of the consultation that had been undertaken and the responses, as described in the report.

·         the proposed changes to services to generate the required savings as set out in Table 1 to the report.

The Cabinet Member (Corporate Services and Education) commented on the importance of bus services to local communities and proposed that the proposals should be subject to further consultation with relevant Ward Members regarding the detail of implementation.

It was noted that discussions were continuing on the potential to increase community transport provision.  The possibility of financial contributions from Parish Councils towards service provision was also being discussed but this was a complex issue.

RESOLVED:

That: (a)    the outcome of the public consultation on the bus network review be noted;

                (b) the recommendations for achieving the required savings for supported bus services set out at table 1 in the Report be agreed subject to further consultation with relevant Ward Members regarding the detail of implementation; and

                (c)  the ongoing review of community transport services and proposals to commence a strategic review of all commissioned passenger transport services in the autumn be noted.