Decision details

The Director of Frontline Services presented the report, which sought Cabinet approval to provide free bus travel for the period of 1st – 31st March 2023 for all journeys that start and terminate within the Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) county boundary. The Director explained that the Council had been successful in bidding for money through the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund to introduce initiatives that will help reduce the cost of living for residents, through measures that improve energy efficiency and combat fuel poverty and climate change. As such, £500k had been awarded for the 2022/23 financial year, with further awards of £1.1M for 2023/24 and £1.2M for 2024/25.

The Director clarified that, if approved, free bus travel would apply to all operators currently operating a scheduled service, for journeys within the County Borough. If a journey ends outside of RCT, that part would remain payable.

The Leader advised that the average fayre for bus journeys across RCT was £2.30 and explained that the initial model considered by officers was a £2 flat rate across the whole year, totalling over £2M, which was unaffordable. The Leader continued and explained that, had they opted for the £2 flat rate model for a month, much of the funding would have been returned to the Government.

The Leader spoke of another Local Authority, which had trialled a period of free bus travel and informed Members that bus travel had increased by around 30% and although there was no long-term evidence of a substantial uplift, the key was to increase the number of passengers going forward. The Leader stated that an increase in bus travel would not only support the Council with its climate commitments but would save residents in RCT approximately £500K on travel for the month.

The Leader informed Members that following the month of March, a review would be undertaken of the pilot to gain an understanding of how best to use the additional funding of £1.2M in the new financial year.

With the agreement of the Leader, County Borough Councillor K Johnson addressed the Cabinet on this item.

The Leader thanked the Member for his contribution and explained that in terms of Bus Emergency Scheme, the Welsh Government had set out a three-month extension that could be extended further. The Leader added that subject to the budget announcement on 14^th March 2023, Local Government would be pressing UK Government for continued funding for the bus emergency scheme and acknowledged that with price increases in fuel etc, there had been an impact on bus travel.

The Deputy Leader and the Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure voiced their support of the proposal. The Deputy Leader spoke on behalf of residents who were reliant on public transport and feeling the repercussions of the cost-of-living crisis; and stated that free bus travel throughout RCT for March would be of great financial benefit.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the content of the report and approve the proposal to introduce free bus travel for the period of 1st – 31st March 2023 for all journeys that start and terminate within the county boundary; and

2.    That Officers review the outcomes of the free bus scheme, and seek to develop further free bus travel initiatives during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years e.g., during December 2023; subject to funding.