Decision

(A) Car Parking
Concessions will boost Local Economy   It was moved by Councillor Leigh MBE, Seconded by Councillor Blagbrough,   After being put to the vote, the Motion was
not carried.   (B) Save
Calderdale’s Bus Routes   It was moved by Councillor Patient, Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,   After being put to the vote, the Motion was
carried.   RESOLVED that:   This
council notes that:   ·       Bus services are a critical element of an
effective and interconnected public transport system. As a
universal, accessible, and affordable means of transport they are
vital to supporting economic growth and tackling the climate
emergency.   ·       The privatisation of bus services has been a
failure. The Conservative Government introduced legislation in 2017
banning local authority ownership of bus services. Since then,
services have been run into the ground by private companies who
prioritise making maximum profit.   ·      
Routes which are important for communities but deliver lower levels
of revenue are frequently cut. Since 2010 1,969 bus routes have
been lost in the North East of England (including West Yorkshire),
a loss of 50%. This reflects the national picture, with 8,613 or
50% of bus routes lost in the same
period.   ·       Bus companies receive government subsidies to help
maintain services including the Bus Service Operators Grant.
Following the Covid pandemic the Bus Recovery Grant was also
available as passenger numbers gradually recovered. That funding
was withdrawn by the Government at the end of June 2023, and a
lower level of support is now offered through the Bus Services
Operators Grant Plus.   ·      
In the last 12 months bus operators in Calderdale have cut or
reduced vital routes to Northowram, Shelf, Rishworth and North
Halifax, in addition to earlier cuts to services to West Vale. Some
of these areas now have a bus service just once an hour; no evening
service; only two buses a day on weekdays; or no service at
all.   ·      
Deprived areas in North Halifax are being worst hit by bus cuts.
Essential public services such as
the NHS and social care are needed 24/7, and it will now be more
difficult to recruit and retain staff in these areas. It will also
reduce employment and leisure opportunities for some of the poorest
residents of the borough.   This
Council believes that:   ·      
Decent and reliable buses are a cornerstone of any public transport
network. In Calderdale they act as a lifeline to communities where
they are the only form of public transport. The loss of bus services makes life more isolated
for residents who do not have access to private cars, particularly
in rural areas.   ·       Reliable buses are needed to connect our villages
and hill-top communities with rail services, as well as giving
access to health services and local businesses.   ·       Buses allow people a means to access work
and vital public services. They also support leisure and the
night-time economy, providing a safe way for all to get home. Cuts
to early and late-night bus services have a negative impact on care
workers and those in the hospitality industry.   ·       Bus services are being cut at a time when we are
encouraging people to reduce their reliance on the car. It is
critical we do this for the sake of our physical health, the
quality of the air we breathe, and to reduce the impact on climate
change locally and globally.   ·       The
government needs to start viewing public transport as a service
rather than a business, with services that we can all rely upon.
Under the current model infrequent and unreliable services
negatively impact passenger numbers, leading to a loss of fares and
routes eventually being lost. This profit-driven vicious spiral of
decline will not stop without a bold change in approach.   This
Council resolves:   ·       To build on work by the Mayor of West
Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and West Yorkshire Combined Authority
(WYCA) to secure long-term improvements to bus services in
Calderdale.   ·       To ensure that in the forthcoming mass
transit planning process in West Yorkshire the importance of buses
to Calderdale is highlighted at every
opportunity.   ·       To ask the Chief Executive of the Council to
write to the Mayor of West Yorkshire urging her to press bus
operators to collate and share route-specific reliability data
under the current ‘enhanced partnership’ arrangement.
This data should include not just punctuality but also cancellation
of scheduled services. These insights will allow more effective
analysis around the potential causes of declining passenger
numbers.   ·       To fight for a decent bus network in
Calderdale at every opportunity.   (C) Unadopted
Streets   It was moved by Councillor T Swift MBE, Seconded by Councillor Lynn   After being put to the vote, the Amended Motion was carried   RESOLVED that:   This
council notes that:   ·       Unadopted streets are private roads which are not
maintained at public expense. The maintenance of these roads is
usually the legal responsibility of the landowner, or owners of
adjacent land.   ·       In Calderdale the council maintains over 600 miles
of adopted highways. In addition, there are approximately 2,000
unadopted streets.   ·       Most unadopted streets in Calderdale are hundreds of
years old. They are often cobbled, dirt or rubble tracks. Many do
not have basic services such as drainage or street lighting, and
due to lack of maintenance can be in a poor state of
repair.   ·       It is possible for unadopted streets to be adopted
by the council, but they must meet national standards in areas such
as surfacing, lighting and drainage. There would usually be
significant costs and other legal issues for residents to navigate
to achieve this.   ·       When new housing is built developers can pay a fee
to the Council for the adoption of completed roads. However, some
choose not to, or roads are not completed to a
‘finished’ standard and therefore do not meet required
standards for adoption.   ·       There are significant legal complexities concerning
unadopted streets, and residents may not fully understand the
extent and nature of their responsibilities for maintenance. In
addition, not all residents wish their street to be adopted by the
Council.   ·       Local government budgets have been squeezed by 13
years of Tory austerity and cuts. Since 2010 Calderdale has had to
find savings of over £120 million, whilst continuing to fund
statutory services such as maintaining the existing network of
adopted highways, making it difficult to take on substantial new
financial responsibilities.   This
Council believes that:   ·       Unadopted streets are a national issue, particularly
affecting the North of England, and require a national
approach.   ·       In a cost-of-living crisis it is mostly beyond the
means of many residents to bring unadopted streets they are
responsible for maintaining to an adoptable standard.   ·       It would not be fiscally prudent for the Council to
take on new responsibilities at this particular time, without
external financial support from central government.   This
Council resolves:   ·       To ask officers to report to the relevant portfolio
holder, outlining potential legal enforcement options open to the
Council regarding the maintenance of unadopted streets.   ·       To be robust in discussions with developers about
this issue as new developments are built in order to avoid problems
in the future.   ·       To ask officers to enhance information available to
the public regarding unadopted streets on the Council website. This
could include general information on the standard of repair
required for adoption by the council.