Mayoral Share of Council Tax Bill to Remain Frozen for Another Year

Cambridgeshire: The mayoral share of the council tax bill is staying frozen for another year. This means households in Band D will still pay £36 annually to the Combined Authority. But folks are worried. They’ve been paying for better bus services, yet many promised routes are still missing.

The mayoral precept started in 2023 to help fund bus services that were at risk of being cut. Last year, the tax jumped from £12 to £36 for Band D homes. The idea was to support new and improved bus routes.

However, it turns out that seven of those routes aren’t running yet. The authority needs to restart the tendering process. Some board members expressed frustration at a recent meeting. They feel residents aren’t seeing the benefits of the tax they’re paying.

Councillor Chris Boden, leader of Fenland District Council, shared that people are asking why they’re being charged when bus services have gotten worse. He wants answers about why the authority is taking their money without delivering.

Councillor Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, is glad the precept is frozen. But she thinks it would be better if it were reduced, given the lack of promised services.

Mayor Dr. Nik Johnson disagrees that services have worsened. He acknowledges issues but points out there have been improvements too. He says most buses are run by private companies and that the network needs reform.

He argues that without the subsidies, many areas would have no bus services at all. He believes removing the precept would mean losing existing routes. Improving public transport is a long journey, and he asks for patience as they work through the challenges.

Councillor Lucy Nethinsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, wishes they didn’t have to ask residents to help fund bus services. Still, she believes the subsidies and reduced fares are making a difference. Councillor Anna Smith from Cambridge City Council emphasizes that just because they can’t do everything at once doesn’t mean they should do nothing.

At the meeting, concerns were raised about the high costs of some subsidized bus services. Cllr Boden noted some services cost over £200 per passenger for a return trip. He thinks they need to reassess where the money is going and focus on areas with higher demand.

Cllr Bailey acknowledged some progress in reducing costs but pointed out that some services are still too expensive. She suggested cutting the bus subsidy by £313,000 to lessen the financial burden on the councils.

While not everyone agreed with Cllr Bailey and Cllr Boden, most supported reducing the amount taken from the councils. Cllr Nethinsingha expressed some reservations but welcomed any funds for road maintenance, noting the poor state of Cambridgeshire roads after years of funding cuts.

Cllr Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, reminded everyone to consider the value of bus services beyond just their cost. Rural services may not be profitable, but they’re vital for many people. She stressed that decisions shouldn’t be made solely on financial grounds.

The approved budget keeps the £2 fare cap for bus rides until June, after which it will rise to £2.50 until December. The authority had planned to keep fares capped at £2 until March 2025, despite the government raising the cap to £3. Initially, they thought the subsidy would cost £1 million, but it’s now at £1.6 million.

Cllr Bailey raised concerns about the costs of maintaining the lower fare cap. She believes that money could be better spent on improving services for everyone, especially since some areas lack bus access. She feels subsidizing the fare cap isn’t sustainable.

The Mayor stated that if the goal is to reform the bus network, they need to encourage people to use it. Lower fares can help get more people out of cars and onto buses, which is crucial for building a better system.