To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 193(f)) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Brennan and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely:
This Council condemns the decision by Stagecoach Southwest to remove the £1 child add-on fares, replacing them with child single or dayrider tickets.
In Exeter, this decision has resulted in a 200% increase in fares for children aged 5-15 who are travelling with an adult. Before 29th April 2018, a parent and child could travel together all day for £4.90, but this has now increased to £7 (£4 for an adult dayrider plus £3 for a child dayrider) – a total increase of £2.10, or 43%. Similarly, an adult travelling with two children could previously travel all day for £5.90, but this now requires a group dayrider of £8 – again, an increase of £2.10. Similar significant increases have also taken place across Devon.
This action by Stagecoach hits the poorest families hardest, including single parent families and those unable to afford a car. As the majority of single parents are women, and most adults travelling alone with children are likely to be women, the action disproportionately impacts women more than men.
This action also undermines Stagecoach’s supposed commitment to working with Devon County Council to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, pushing higher numbers of families into cars for city journeys as it may be cheaper, and therefore also increasing Devon’s contribution to climate change. Furthermore, Devon County Council’s work to increase the take up of sustainable methods of transport to school, and to increase safety around schools by reducing vehicle numbers, is also largely undermined and threatened by this move.
Additionally, there is a negative economic impact towards businesses in central areas, as more people choose to take their cars to out-of-town shopping areas, further depleting our high streets and lessening the viability of independent businesses.
This change took place without informing or consulting with councillors or passengers. A petition has been handed to Stagecoach Southwest regarding the increase in Exeter. It contains over 1700 signatures from concerned families and other residents, and calls upon Stagecoach Southwest ‘to consider their social and environmental responsibilities, to reverse this decision, and to retain the £1 child add-on tickets’.
In accordance with what thousands of concerned families are telling us, this Council resolves to put pressure on Stagecoach Southwest to reverse their recent decision, and to bring back the £1 child add-on fares with immediate effect.’
Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report CSO/18/21 and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:
that Council be advised Cabinet recognises the pressure Stagecoach is under in running commercial services, however, it is concerned regarding the change in provision for child fares within Exeter and will continue to work with Stagecoach to achieve the best possible service for all passengers.
Minutes:
Pursuant to County Council Minute 109 of 24 May 2018 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Brennan that:
This Council condemns the decision by Stagecoach Southwest to remove the £1 child add-on fares, replacing them with child single or dayrider tickets.
In Exeter, this decision has resulted in a 200% increase in fares for children aged 5-15 who are travelling with an adult. Before 29th April 2018, a parent and child could travel together all day for £4.90, but this has now increased to £7 (£4 for an adult dayrider plus £3 for a child dayrider) – a total increase of £2.10, or 43%. Similarly, an adult travelling with two children could previously travel all day for £5.90, but this now requires a group dayrider of £8 – again, an increase of £2.10. Similar significant increases have also taken place across Devon.
This action by Stagecoach hits the poorest families hardest, including single parent families and those unable to afford a car. As the majority of single parents are women, and most adults travelling alone with children are likely to be women, the action disproportionately impacts women more than men.
This action also undermines Stagecoach’s supposed commitment to working with Devon County Council to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, pushing higher numbers of families into cars for city journeys as it may be cheaper, and therefore also increasing Devon’s contribution to climate change. Furthermore, Devon County Council’s work to increase the take up of sustainable methods of transport to school, and to increase safety around schools by reducing vehicle numbers, is also largely undermined and threatened by this move.
Additionally, there is a negative economic impact towards businesses in central areas, as more people choose to take their cars to out-of-town shopping areas, further depleting our high streets and lessening the viability of independent businesses.
This change took place without informing or consulting with councillors or passengers. A petition has been handed to Stagecoach Southwest regarding the increase in Exeter. It contains over 1700 signatures from concerned families and other residents, and calls upon Stagecoach Southwest ‘to consider their social and environmental responsibilities, to reverse this decision, and to retain the £1 child add-on tickets’.
In accordance with what thousands of concerned families are telling us, this Council resolves to put pressure on Stagecoach Southwest to reverse their recent decision, and to bring back the £1 child add-on fares with immediate effect.’
and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 193(f) of 13 June 2018:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that spirit of the Notice of Motion be approved in the Council be advised that Cabinet recognises the pressure Stagecoach is under in running commercial services, however, it is concerned regarding the change in provision for child fares within Exeter and will continue to work with Stagecoach to achieve the best possible service for all passengers.
The Leader also placed on record his thanks to Councillor Brennan for her work with stagecoach that had resulted in a much improved offer in terms of child fares.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.