Appendix B to this item includes exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If Council wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendix B to the report, it will be necessary for the Council to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting (as set out at agenda item 21).

The Executive Director (Development) submitted a report to Cabinet on 13 September 2023 seeking approval for permanent changes to the combined parking-and-bus ticket charges at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites after the completion of a twelve-month trial period.

The Cabinet minutes are available at Item 16b.

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities and Councillor Ed Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management will present the report and present Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendation: Cabinet recommends that Council resolves to:

1.     Approve the continued use of combined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites at the current prices until April 2024, as per Option 1 in this report.

Council considered the report from the Executive Director (Development) seeking approval for permanent changes to the combined parking-and-bus ticket charges at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites after the completion of a twelve-month trial period.

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, introduced the report, proposed the recommendation and answered questions.

The recommendation was agreed on being seconded by Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy and Partnerships, and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1.     Approve the continued use of combined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites at the current prices until April 2024, as per Option 1 in the report.

Cllrs L Smith and Rehman joined the meeting.

The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to seek approval for permanent changes to the combined parking-and-bus ticket charges at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites after the completion of a twelve-month trial period.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Recommend to Council the continued use of combined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites at the current prices until April 2024, as per Option 1 in the report.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to seek approval for permanent changes to the combined parking-and-bus ticket charges at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites after the completion of a twelve-month trial period.

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities reported that combining parking and bus fare into one ticket had been agreed by Cabinet at its meeting on 13 July 2022, and the evidence since the implementation started in October 2022 indicated no reason to revert from that, so long as the approach to pricing could be agreed.  The options presented therefore only related to the pricing level.  The recommendation was to extend the current prices until the end of the current financial year, in part to ensure alignment with the County Council’s fares.

Officers drew attention to the final paragraph of the report which outlined the need for an urgent Chief Executive’s decision to ensure that the parking and bus combined ticket charges are valid between 30 September 2023 (the end of the trial charge period) and 3 October 2023 (the day after the full Council meeting which is required in order to establish the combined ticket as a permanent option).

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Recommend to Council the continued use of combined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites at the current prices until April 2024, as per Option 1 in the report.