Purpose

Due to the delays in the project to fit the Rotherham Transport Interchange Pantograph infrastructure supplied via the DfT Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding, the local bus operator has had additional costs generated by the allocated buses having to return to the depot for a top up charge during the duty cycles. This compensation agreement covers the additional costs incurred by the operator between April 2025-July 2026 totalling £123,500.

The final work will conclude in July 2026 with a go live date of August 2026

Decision

Previous delays have already generated agreed compensation to allow services to continue to run and mitigate any impact on customers. With the project ending in August 2026 it is highly likely that this will be the last compensation payment made. SYMCA will pay the operator £123,500 in compensation to cover additional running costs incurred because of the delay in fitting the Pantograph infrastructure.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 do nothing brings reputational damage between SYMCA and the Bus Operator, DfT, partners and the public resulting in the Operator reverting to using diesel buses or reduce services.

Option 2 do something pay the compensation payment.

Option 3 Do most approve a dedicated revenue funding stream to mitigate the impact of delays on capital project delivery, this could be a learning point for future projects.