Decision details

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the report of the Director (Policy and Governance). 

This report provides a summary of the current financial position regarding the provision of Council-funded bus services within Chorley. It also outlines the proposals to move to a tendered solution, to provide a more sustainable suite of subsidised bus provision, funded by the Council, and LCC within the borough.

The overall subsidy contribution funds four current routes. The current cost arrangements are expensive, and are not sustainable.  Over recent months, a significant amount of work has taken place between both Chorley Council and Lancashire County Council to seek a more sustainable approach to the provision of these routes within Chorley.

In order to deliver more sustainable bus services, and increase LCC funding into the subsidised routes, the existing routes have been re-designed into three routes combining the majority of the current 7C and 6/6Aprovision into a new 357 service. Details of these routes are outlined within the report.

As the initial 12 month tender will span both the 18/19 and 19/20 financial year, approval is sought to support the current subsidy, and new tendered arrangements until 30 September 2019.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the Decision

1.    To increase the 2018/19 LCC Transformation Fund budget by £58,000, to a total of £158,000 to subsidised bus services in the borough.

2.    That the awarding of the Tender for the proposed 357 service, be awarded by the Executive Member for Economic Development and Public Service Reform via an EMD once a cost tender exercise has been undertaken by LCC.