Decision details

At its meeting on 26 November 2015, Full Council agreed to adopt a policy that all bus stations operated or supported by the county council are self-financing.  Following consultation with bus operators, they have indicated that the planned raising of charges will have a very serious effect on their ability to sustain bus services operating through bus stations. In particular, operators pointed to the undefined nature of the charges and gave a view that they may be paying for activities not directly related to bus operations. They also referenced substantial increased costs for the bus operators at Preston bus station coinciding with disruption, over the next two years, brought about by the refurbishment works at the bus station. In order to address the concerns of bus operators it is proposed to phase and revise the implementation of charges, as set out in this report whilst a fair funding mechanism is investigated and implemented.

County Councillor John Fillis, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport:

(i)  Approved the maintaining of the departure fee level at £0.75 for local bus services until 31 March 2018;

(ii)  Authorised the use of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to offset any shortfall in funding by retaining the departure fee at the current level of £0.75 until 31 March 2018;

(iii)  Approved that a bay rental model for operators using Preston Bus Station until the refurbishment project is complete in October 2018 be retained.

(iv)  Authorised discussions with bus operators to establish a fair funding mechanism across all of the County Council's bus stations for implementation from April 2018.

(v)  Approved the introduction of a separate charge of £2.50 for non-local, coach and excursion trip operators at Nelson and Chorley and, once the refurbishment works are complete, at Preston.