Minutes

2023/24: Public Transport/Climate Change, Formal Council Questions and Responses - Tuesday, 26th September, 2023

Items
No. Item

1.

Question to the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Assets : 2023/24 - Public Transport/Climate Change

Minutes:

Councillor M Howells asked:

 

The cabinet member will be aware that Newport City Council have declared a climate emergency. We need to urgently reduce our carbon footprint and move towards zero carbon. One of those quick wins in achieving this is to reduce the vehicles using our roads and increase and improve public transport. However, the performance and timetable of Newport Transport significantly hinders the chances of reducing our carbon footprint. 

 

The last bus to our ward in Lliswerry from the central station (Newport Transport Bus Service 42/43) at 18.55. This cannot be true. A resident who, for example finishes a shift at 9pm cannot use a public transport service to get them home safely at this time. A taxi home to Lliswerry now costs in the region of £6.50 and I am sure that the cabinet member will agree that during a cost-of-living crisis this just isn’t good enough in a modern city.

 

The Burns Commission work does not deal with local transport network in and around Newport but rather focusses on travel across the south Wales region more generally. What does the cabinet member propose to do and what policies or strategies will the cabinet seek to introduce locally to Newport to inspire an improvement in Newport transport services to Lliswerry and beyond?

 

 

Councillor Lacey responded:

 

The Council understands the importance of bus services within our City and have maintained its level of financial subsidy for routes this year, despite significant financial pressure. However, we recognise that that reducing patronage post covid has placed increasing pressures on the viability of bus routes.

 

Any further increase in council subsidy would need to come from reduction on budget in other areas or increase in council tax.

 

The Burns commission does in fact include a number of specific recommendations that target local transport networks and specifically measures to enhance bus services. Officers are actively engaged in their development.