Notice of Motion by Councillor M. Dowd
To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor M. Dowd:
“This Council:
1. acknowledges the success and popularity of the Merseyside Concessionary Travel scheme as administered by Merseytravel. The scheme is a lifeline to many in Merseyside and has done much to enable the social inclusion of older and disabled people within our communities;
2. also acknowledges the success of the English National Concessionary Travel scheme that provides free travel on buses, and calls on the Government to continue funding this by direct grant to Integrated Transport Authorities such as Merseytravel;
3. calls upon local Conservative Councillors to commit to the continued operation of the current scheme and its funding, especially in the light of the proposed swingeing cuts proposed by the Conservative Party nationally to public expenditure;
4. asks the Government to trial a scheme that would provide free Concessionary travel for Young People 18 years and under. This scheme would provide for free travel during term time and during school hours. The Council supports Merseytravel’s intention to request the Government to permit it to undertake a pilot of the scheme.”
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor M. Dowd, seconded by Councillor P. Dowd:
"This Council:
1. acknowledges the success and popularity of the Merseyside Concessionary Travel scheme as administered by Merseytravel. The scheme is a lifeline to many in Merseyside and has done much to enable the social inclusion of older and disabled people within our communities;
2. asks the Government to trial a scheme that would provide free concessionary travel for Young People 18 years and under. This scheme would provide for free travel during term time and during school hours. The Council supports Merseytravel's intention to request the Government to permit it to undertake a pilot of the scheme;
3. calls upon local Conservative Councillors to commit to the continued operation of the current scheme and its funding, especially in the light of the proposed swingeing cuts proposed by the Conservative Party nationally to public expenditure;
4. also acknowledges the success of the English National Concessionary Travel scheme that provides free travel on buses, and calls on the Government to continue funding this by direct grant to Integrated Transport Authorities such as Merseytravel."
An amendment was then moved by Councillor Sir Ron Watson and seconded by Councillor Papworth that the motion be amended by the deletion of the text in part 3 of the motion and the substitution of the following text:
“(a) recognises the significant contribution made in particular by the then Conservative Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee to the introduction of the Concessionary Travel Scheme and to acknowledge that without their actions it would have been very difficult to progress the scheme on a pan Merseyside basis;
(b) considers that a joint approach to address the need for Sefton Council to constructively play its part in reducing the unprecedented levels of National debt will be a priority for the Council and confirms that this will be done in a pragmatic and practical manner requiring mature behaviour by all Political Parties on the Council.”
On a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 36 votes to 14 with 2 abstentions.
The requisite number of Members having signified their wish that the voting on the Substantive Motion should be recorded in accordance with Rule 18.4 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the voting was duly recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:
FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION:
Councillors Blackburn, Booth, Brady, Brennan, Brodie-Browne, Byrne, Byrom, Cluskey, Colbert, Connell, Cummins, Dodd, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Fairclough, M. Fearn, Lord Fearn, Friel, Gustafson, Hands, P. Hardy, Hough, Howe, McGuire, Maher, Moncur, B. Rimmer, D. Rimmer, Robertson, Shaw, Sumner, Tattersall, Tonkiss, Tweed, Veidman, Weavers and Webster.
AGAINST THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION:
None.
ABSTENTIONS:
Councillors Barber, Bigley, Cuthbertson, Doran, Glover, Griffiths, Ibbs, D. Jones, T. Jones, Papworth, Parry, Pearson, Roberts, Storey and Sir Ron Watson.
The Substantive Motion was carried by 37 votes to none with 15 abstentions and it was
RESOLVED: ... view the full minutes text for item 103