Agenda item

Bus livery

A citizen asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Planning:  Can we have a public vote of Nottingham City residents regarding the return of traditional green and cream Nottingham City buses?

Councillor Angela Kandola replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor.  While I appreciate and respect the issue as much as the questioner I do not think that this is something that we will be prioritising any time soon.  For background, Nottingham City Transport moved away from the green and cream liveries on their vehicles in 2001, and adopted a coloured route branding instead, along the lines of the London tube map, to make it easier for customers to identify bus services which would be convenient for them to use. Decisions on marketing and branding of bus routes are taken on a commercial basis by Nottingham City Transport Ltd. who are operated as an arm’s length company independently from Nottingham City Council.  I think what is more important to people is having an affordable and reliable service.  Over the past two decades, there has been growth in bus use as a part of our successful public transport network. Currently, Nottingham has the second highest level of bus use in the UK outside of London with the ease of use of the network with different coloured lines serving distinct areas of the city a key part of this success story.  Public ownership has enabled us to go above and beyond on the concessionary passes for people in our city and that is particularly important as we go through a cost of living crisis.  We also continue to invest in our bus fleet through more electric and biogas buses, with useful features such as USB charging ports, supporting our Carbon Neutral 2028 ambition.  I am also pleased with the recent development of the Bulwell Bus Station, with the area much improved as a result.  Nottingham City Transport’s quality is recognised nationally – in 2022 Top National Driver, in 2021 Environmental Improvement Award, in 2019 UK Bus Operator of the Year, City Operator of the Year and Top National Driver, Unsung Hero Award and Services to the Bus Industry.  With a record such as this, is it any wonder that Labour Metro Mayors around the country are using their own new-found powers to bring an end to failed Conservative bus privatisation.

Victoria Market

A citizen asked the following questionof the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture: The market traders at Victoria Market have been waiting 18 months for a decision on the future of their livelihoods.  During this period no new traders have been allowed in, strangling the market and £25,000 has been spent on consultants.  When is a decision being made?

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and can I thank the member of public for the question.  The Council has been heavily subsidising the operation of the Victoria Market for many years and, as it seeks to ensure best value for the residents of Nottingham, it has been exploring the option of exiting its lease with the owners of Victoria Shopping Centre early, with another 50 years of the lease left to run.  The Council estimated that continuing the operation of the market for this 50 year period would cost about £39m, including investment in the market to ensure its ongoing viability. This is in the context of falling Government funding for councils, rising demand for other council services and a renewed focus on placing the Council on a sustainable financial footing.  Like many markets, Victoria Market has seen a fall in trade in recent years, exacerbated by the pandemic. This, along with increased service charges for the market, has deepened the financial pressure on the Council to support the operation of the market.  To achieve an early exit from the lease, a negotiated agreement has to be reached with current shopping centre asset manager, Global Mutual, as well as with traders over compensation.  At the start of these negotiations, to protect and minimise new traders’ risk of short term investment without longer term certainty, as we were seeking an early lease surrender, it was discussed, agreed and communicated to existing traders that there would be a pause in accepting new traders during this time.  As the Council has unfortunately been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with both Global Mutual and the traders, we have confirmed at a recent trader meeting that if new traders are interested in entering the market we will engage with them constructively to see what flexible arrangements can be made.

Victoria Market

A citizen asked the following questionof the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture: In relation to Victoria Market, the Leader of the Council has stated negotiations are ongoing with Global Asset Management.  Global Asset Management state that negotiations have ceased.  Can documentation be provided to prove the truth?

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and thank you to the member of public for the question.  The Council has been seeking to achieve an early exit and surrender from its current lease and to do so a negotiated agreement has to be reached with current shopping centre asset manager, Global Mutual, as well as with traders over compensation.  Following confidential negotiations over recent months, the Council has unfortunately been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with both Global Mutual and all the traders.  An in-principle surrender agreement had been reached with Global Mutual to enable negotiations to take place with traders. Unfortunately, Global Mutual have now written to the Council to terminate this particular agreement to surrender.  As a result, the indoor market will remain operational and senior council officers met traders on 15 June to confirm this.  Meetings with Global Mutual and traders will continue to take place as we seek a resolution within the Council’s financial parameters as quickly as we possibly can.

Use of Council Tax

A citizen asked the following questionof the Portfolio Holder for Finance and HR: We have the highest rate of Council Tax in Britain.  Why are our roads so poor and when our bins are not collected do we get a rebate on our Council Tax?

Councillor Audra Wynter replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and can I thank the citizen for their question.  How Councils are funded is complex and there is no direct correlation between the level of council tax and service delivery as often services are funded from a variety of sources and prioritised through a number of robust decision making processes.  The Council provides hundreds of services like looking after vulnerable people, keeping the streets clean, waste collection and running leisure centres. However, due to the Conservative’s austerity the Council has had £100m less every year since 2010.  This is the equivalent of £694 lost for every household in Nottingham, and £945 in real terms.  At the same time demand for social care has been rising.  Rather than properly funding social care, the Government’s answer to close the gap is to add a Social Care Precept onto our Council Tax, which benefits wealthier areas where demand is less and the council tax base is higher while leaving less well-off areas, like Nottingham, paying more for less.  Nottingham has a particularly low council tax base, with 80.0% of its properties being in Band A and B compared to a national average of 43.5%. When you take into account all exemptions, discounts and premiums the average Council Tax actually paid means that Nottingham is 43rd lowest nationally for councils.

So what are some of the things that Nottingham residents get for their money?  15 neighbourhood libraries with a new library in Sherwood and a new Central Library still to come; 6 leisure centres; a programme of council house building; the best public transport outside of London; quality parks with 74 green flags; support for local people into work, training and education; 75 Community Protection Officers who work with the Police to keep Nottingham safe; welfare advice services; support for local businesses; and much more.  However, I am never the one to be satisfied – Nottingham deserves nothing but the best.  We need to continue to ensure a programme that is properly repairing and improving roads and pavements.  We are currently half way through an investment programme for Streets for People, where spend has been prioritised at a local ward level based on need and feedback from residents.  Likewise, there have been too many missed bins recently. A shortfall in staff alongside the volume of side waste has contributed to the recent service disruption.  This is being addressed and regular benchmarks show that our service is cost effective compared to other areas at a cost 54p per household collection. 

Disabled Access at Newstead Abbey

A citizen asked the following questionof the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture:  In recent TV coverage of the welcome re-opening of Nottingham Castle that there was a green Robin Hood themed electric shuttle bus in operation, presumably to transfer visitors with mobility problems up and down the hill, to the main attractions from the castle entrance. I presume this was a permanent arrangement rather than a one-off promotion associated with the re-opening.  Can I ask the Portfolio Holder whether similar arrangements can be put in place at Newstead Abbey? I recently visited this fantastic historical attraction via a Pronto Bus, but unfortunately once dropped outside the main entrance there was still a two-mile round walk to actually get to the Abbey itself, and this can be an arduous (and dangerous) trek for those like me, with mobility problems. The livery of the electric shuttle bus fleet (the site would need at least two vehicles) could be emblazoned with illustrations from the Abbey and/or quotes from Lord Byron. I also noticed from a recent report that the toilets at Newstead Abbey are to receive a makeover, making them more accessible for disabled visitors, which I heartily support but making it easier for visitors to access the entire facility in the first place would be even more welcome.

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and thank you to the citizen for their question.  As part of the redevelopment of Nottingham Castle, the project was able to acquire and purchase a land train to help assist people moving around the site and from Brewhouse Yard Cottages at the bottom of Nottingham Rock up to Nottingham Castle at the top.  The purchase was possible thanks to external funding secured and is a very new asset that the Museum Service is now starting to bring into safe operation within the confines of the Castle site.  To date we do not have plans or funding to purchase similar vehicles for Newstead Abbey or Wollaton Hall and Deer Park.  This is all subject to funding I am afraid.  As we look to review the operation of the land train at the Castle and better understand its usage and limitations, this might be something in the future we may want to expand to other sites, where a good business case might be able to be made for its practical and cost effective operation.  This is something that we are definitely looking at.  Whilst it is a very pretty walk down to Newstead Abbey, I do appreciate that for some the walk from the bus stop to the Abbey is a long one and I will ask for options in the short term might be able to be used to enable people with mobility issues in particular to have better transport in this location.  Where we do secure additional funding, such as in the case of the toilet improvements, we are always trying to improve the site’s offer and look very carefully at what interventions we can make to help improve access and accessibility for all. I do thank the citizen for the quuestion because issues of access and accessibility are incredibly important.