Agenda item
Bus Fares (proposed by Cllr Hollingsworth)
Labour member motion
This Council recognises the vital importance of affordable, reliable and high quality public transport to the functioning of our city. We therefore strongly welcome the recent IPPR research on public transport, published on 6th October 2022 under the title “To support low-income households, it's time to reduce the cost of daily bus travel”.
This Council agrees with the IPPR report when it makes clear that reducing fares is not the ONLY thing needed to increase bus patronage – interventions to improve speed, reliability and the experience of passengers are all required as well.
However this Council agrees strongly that reductions in the costs of public transport for passengers are essential for a fair transport system.
Low income households are the most likely to use buses, while research by the RAC Foundation shows that since 2013 the cost of bus travel has risen by a greater extent than all other forms of transport. It is the poorest households, without access to other forms of travel, that have borne the brunt of these increases driven by de-regulation and lack of long-term funding.
Any reduction in bus fares would therefore be of the greatest benefit to those least well off. Capping bus fares at no more than £1 per day would save the poorest 20% of households in England £0.8bn a year. Making all bus fares in England free would save the poorest 40% of households £1.5bn a year.
This Council notes that a policy of making bus fares in England entirely free would cost £2.3bn a year, with the greatest benefits going to the least well off. For comparison, the recent ‘fiscal event’ proposed £40bn worth of tax cuts, mostly to the most well off. The current proposed Government funding for new roads is £27bn, for schemes that are likely to increase pollution and make the climate and biodiversity crises worse. For the same money, bus travel could be made free for at least ten years, helping to reduce car journeys and making progress towards a net zero transport system.
This Council therefore asks that:
· The Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Shadow Secretary State for Transport, Oxford’s two MPs and to the Leader of the County Council expressing this Council’s support for making public transport in Oxford free of charge
· The Council’s Cabinet Members and officers, through their existing partnerships and relationships with the County Council and bus operators, work to promote and deliver this objective.
References/links
https://www.ippr.org/blog/time-to-reduce-the-cost-of-daily-bus-travel
Minutes:
Cllrs Gant and Lygo left the meeting, having declared an interest in this item.
Cllr Hollingsworth, seconded by Cllr Upton, proposed the submitted motion as set out in the agenda and briefing note.
Cllr Smowton, seconded by Cllr Fouweather, proposed the amendment as set out in the briefing note.
Council debated the motion and amendment. Following debate, Cllr Hollingsworth accepted the amendment put forward by Cllr Smowton. On being put to the vote, the amendment was agreed.
Council resolved to adopt the following motion:
This Council recognises the vital importance of affordable, reliable and high quality public transport to the functioning of our city. We therefore strongly welcome the recent IPPR research on public transport, published on 6th October 2022 under the title “To support low-income households, it's time to reduce the cost of daily bus travel”.
This Council agrees with the IPPR report when it makes clear that reducing fares is not the ONLY thing needed to increase bus patronage – interventions to improve speed, reliability and the experience of passengers are all required as well.
However this Council agrees strongly that reductions in the costs of public transport for passengers are essential for a fair transport system.
Low income households are the most likely to use buses, while research by the RAC Foundation shows that since 2013 the cost of bus travel has risen by a greater extent than all other forms of transport. It is the poorest households, without access to other forms of travel, that have borne the brunt of these increases driven by de-regulation and lack of long-term funding.
Any reduction in bus fares would therefore be of the greatest benefit to those least well off. Capping bus fares at no more than £1 per day would save the poorest 20% of households in England £0.8bn a year. Making all bus fares in England free would save the poorest 40% of households £1.5bn a year.
This Council notes that a policy of making bus fares in England entirely free would cost £2.3bn a year, with the greatest benefits going to the least well off. For comparison, the recent ‘fiscal event’ proposed £40bn worth of tax cuts, mostly to the most well off. The current proposed Government funding for new roads is £27bn, for schemes that are likely to increase pollution and make the climate and biodiversity crises worse. For the same money, bus travel could be made free for at least ten years, helping to reduce car journeys and making progress towards a net zero transport system.
This Council further notes the Fair Deal Alliance’s progress in improving bus travel in the County, including delivering reduced Park and Ride fares, £1 fares for 18s and under, and decarbonising our bus fleet via the ZEBRA programme.
· The Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Shadow Secretary State for Transport, Oxford’s two MPs and to the Leader of the County Council expressing this Council’s support for making public transport in Oxford free of charge
· The Council’s Cabinet Members and officers, through their existing partnerships and relationships with the County Council and bus operators, work to promote and deliver this objective.
References/links
https://www.ippr.org/blog/time-to-reduce-the-cost-of-daily-bus-travel