Consultation on plans to cut transport budget

Devon County Council has today (26 January) launched a consultation on proposals to cut £1.7 million from its annual public transport budget over the next two financial years.

Councillors agreed this month to reduce its expenditure on bus services that require council funding to operate. People across the county are now being asked for their views on the proposed reductions to services which are being put forward.

It’s the first time in four years that the authority has proposed cutting bus services to meet a reduced budget, but the reductions are needed as part of the County’s efforts to save £110 million by 2017 – £50 million in the coming financial year – due to its reduced settlement from central Government. That is despite the local authority having already saved £100 million over the past four years.

The County Council has set up a three year fund of £100,000 per year, to help Community Transport providers broaden their services to include more general access for local communities. It is hoped this will mitigate some of the impact of proposed cuts to around 100 public transport services across the county.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We have pledged that no communities which are currently served by a bus will be entirely cut off, and these proposals intend to protect weekly links. Even when these savings are introduced, we will still be spending over £4 million on public transport. On top of that, we’ll be paying the bus companies in Devon a further £2.5 million over and above what the Government gives us to fund pensioners’ free bus passes, which costs the county more than £9 million a year to run.

“We have made significant efficiencies in transport in previous years to provide the required savings, which has meant that bus services have not been reduced for the past four years, but unfortunately service reductions are no longer avoidable. We’re facing a 14% reduction in spending in the next financial year, despite the Secretary of State claiming we’re receiving a 0.5% increase.

“We’re asking for comments on our proposals for thinning services, which will reduce choice in terms of travel time and destination, but the package of reductions minimises the impact – compared to achieving the savings by alternative approaches on public transport – while reducing spending. The starting point for the services proposed for withdrawal or reduction has been those services with low usage or the high cost of subsidy, some costing more than £20 per passenger trip.

"Clearly we can’t afford to continue providing that level of funding. The County Council will be providing additional funding for community transport to enable them to widen their service and help reduce the impact of these cuts, although we recognise the added benefit this will provide will be localised and limited.”