Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided details on the current position regarding bus services for the Kingswells area and identified options for ensuring continued public transport provision in the area.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the amendment of the Crematorium Bus Service 94 to provide a shuttle service connecting Kingswells Village with Kingswells Park and Ride; and

(b)       approve the allocation of remaining supported bus service budget of £44,390, with the remaining required budget being absorbed within the existing 2017/18 Communities, Housing and Infrastructure budget to provide the amended service 94 shuttle bus service for one financial year; and

(c)        request officers to further investigate options for providing bus services in Kingswells and report to the appropriate committee to provide an update and/or to seek approval for service provision.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report subject to adding ‘and on to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary hub’ at recommendation (a).

Councillor Delaney, seconded by Councillor Yuill moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       approve the amendment of the Crematorium Bus Service 94 to provide a shuttle service connecting Kingswells Village with Kingswells Park and Ride on a rolling monthly contract on contractual terms to be approved by the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services following consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services;

(2)       approve the funding of this interim service from within the remaining supported bus service of £44,390 during 2017/18 to provide the amended service 94 shuttle bus service until such time as a permanent solution can be put in place with any shortfall to be met as proposed in the report by officers;

(3)       instruct the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure, following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to immediately embark upon a tendering exercise in order to provide a bus service to Kingswells which includes evening and weekend services, and approve an estimated expenditure of £170,000 in this regard from contingencies, all subject to compliance with any legal requirements and approval of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services;

(4)       instruct the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure, following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to accept the tender which offers best value and to implement such a service at the earliest possible date, subject to compliance with any legal requirements and approval of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services; and

(5)       instruct the Director Communities, Housing and Infrastructure to report back to the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee on 29 August 2017, on creating a system to deal with similar situations which may arise in future.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (15) the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Cameron, Corall, Crockett, Dickson, Finlayson, Flynn, Laing Milne, Jean Morrison CBE, Nicoll, Reynolds, Taylor and Townson; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Delaney and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.