Minutes:
(1) The Leader updated the Council on events since the previous meeting.
(2) Mr Carter stated that his report would focus on East Kent Hospital and subsidised bus services.
(3) Mr Carter referred to the proposed options for reconfiguration of Accident and Emergency (A&E) services in East Kent and expressed the view that there should be a third option for a new hospital for Canterbury alongside the proposals for hospitals in Margate and Ashford. He disputed the claim that Canterbury did not fulfil the Keogh criteria for A&E or consultant A&E services as Canterbury’s current population was 240,000 and by 2030 it would be 280,000. This third option was also supported by the Leader of Canterbury City Council.
(4) Mr Carter highlighted the points publicised in the letter from Kent MPs concerning potential diminution in the budget and delivery of subsidised bus routes in Kent. He stated that KCC had not removed any subsidises for bus routes in the last 12 months, however, the bus operators had chosen to change scheduled services. He stated that KCC’s budget had remained constant for 2017/18 at £7.5 million.
(5) Mr Carter confirmed that he planned to meet Arriva and Stagecoach in advance of the public consultation. He would attempt to persuade them to keep a significant number of the unsubsidised routes. He would also be meeting other smaller bus operators to discuss the routes at risk to establish how they might be able to potentially reduce the impact if the bigger companies chose to remove some of their services. There would also be meetings with a number of taxi operators across the County on the development of the click and ride taxi share scheme to support rural communities alongside expanding community bus services and the Kent Carrier bus services. He confirmed that an indicative budget had been set for this purpose.
(6) Mr Carter stated that these actions demonstrated a commitment to passengers on some very marginal routes, but he also referred to the commitment and duty to tax payers who may question if a subsidy of £18.50 per bus ride was the best way to use public money.
(7) Mr Carter emphasised that in addition to the pressure from Government in reducing KCC’s budget, there was the additional pressure of an above inflation price increase in the coming financial year of 3.5% proposed by both Arriva and Stagecoach. He expressed the hope that it would be possible to negotiate a lower settlement with the bus companies.
(8) Mr Carter stated that other Local Authorities had already, or were proposing to, significantly reduce or end bus subsidies for socially necessary routes. This was due to the financial pressures that many County areas were under to maintain vital statutory services.
(9) Mr Bird, the Leader of the Opposition, welcomed the Leader’s comment in support of a vibrant and viable hospital in Canterbury and emphasised that this hospital had to be backed up by the delivery of trained medical staff.
(10) Mr Bird supported the more proactive way of dealing with the bus companies, recognising that bus services were socially necessary and vital for the community. He acknowledged the unjustified expense of these services to the Council and the difficult decisions to be made. He expressed regret that this had not been done sooner and referred to the unfortunate legislative framework covering County Councils as opposed to areas with elected mayors.
(11) Mr Farrell, the Leader of the Labour group, agreed with Mr Carter’s response to East Kent Hospitals and stated that there was the need for a third option due to the growing population of that area.
(12) Mr Farrell referred to the consultation on subsidised bus services and the way that the public would perceive the validity of this if the budget was set before the public consultation closed. He acknowledged that Uber like technology could be operating public transport of the future, but it needed to be remembered that this would be serving some of the most financially and technologically deprived people in the County.
(13) Mr Farrell stated that County Council had undermined its own argument in relation to the pressures on local government finance by agreeing a 15% increase in Members allowances. He thanked to all KCC staff for their efforts over the last year.
(14) Mr Whybrow, Leader of the Independents Group, agreed with the Opposition Leader’s comments on Mr Carter’s update on East Kent Hospitals. Mr Whybrow referred to the increasing number of children and pensioners who were in poverty compared to four years ago.
(15) Mr Whybrow expressed concern at the apparent lack of understanding that some MPs had of local government funding and referred to the Autumn Budget statement not providing additional funding for children’s services and adult social care.
(16) In relation to subsidised bus services, Mr Whybrow welcomed the Leaders personal involvement in protecting bus services. He suggested considering the funding pilots for rural bus services being carried out by Essex and Suffolk County Councils.
(17) In replying to the other Leader’s comments, Mr Carter referred to the awaited Local Government settlement. He was hopeful that KCC might get some relief on the expansion of the transitional grant and possibly be the recipient of 100% business growth pilots. He expressed his gratitude to the other Leaders for their support for an option 3 to provide a medical school in Canterbury next to the hospital.
(18) In conclusion Mr Carter thanked all the staff for their efforts this year and drew attention to the good rating for the Ofsted inspection of children’s services. He thanked the other Leaders and new opposition Members for the responsible way in which they had carried out their roles since the election and he looked forward to working with them in the New Year to make sure that the best outcomes and services were delivered for the people of Kent.