Council notes that:
(i) the Department of Transport financial settlement confirmed an increase of the cap on regulated rail fares to an average annual increase of RPI +3% for three years from January 2012;
(ii) on government figures this means fares will increase in real terms by 10% over the next four years;
(iii) the Campaign for Better Transport has calculated that a 2015 season ticket from Gillingham to London Cannon Street will cost £4,995, an increase of £1,200;
(iv) Kent Conservatives, Medway Fare's Fair and Kent Conservative MPs opposed a RPI + 3% increase in train fares prior to May 2010;
(v) centralised setting of train fares was not a manifesto commitment of either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat parties in the General Election.
Council believes:
(i) the Government has imposed upon South Eastern Trains a condition to run a subsidy-free network by 2014, resulting in an average increase in fares of 3% above the rate of inflation;
(ii) this Government’s imposition of year-on-year rail fare increases for Kent’s commuters threatens to damage the Kent economy, deterring visitors, commuters and businesses from coming here;
(iii) the increase in fares will discourage people from using public transport, impacting negatively both on its potential revenues, and on environmental targets;
(iv) That Conservatives have targeted the squeezed middle class commuter and have undertaken a u-turn on promises made regarding fare increases set for an entire Parliamentary term.
Council resolves:
(i) to urge all group leaders to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to highlight the major concerns of residents that the train fare increases are excessive and urging him to limit the increase to RPI;
(ii) to write to each of the three Medway MPs and urge them to vote against any legislation that will seek to impose this fares increase.
Minutes:
“Council notes that:
(i) the Department of Transport financial settlement confirmed an increase of the cap on regulated rail fares to an average annual increase of RPI +3% for three years from January 2012;
(ii) on government figures this means fares will increase in real terms by 10% over the next four years;
(iii) the Campaign for Better Transport has calculated that a 2015 season ticket from Gillingham to London Cannon Street will cost £4,995, an increase of £1,200;
(iv) Kent Conservatives, Medway Fare's Fair and Kent Conservative MPs opposed a RPI + 3% increase in train fares prior to May 2010;
(v) centralised setting of train fares was not a manifesto commitment of either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat parties in the General Election.
Council believes:
(i) the Government has imposed upon South Eastern Trains a condition to run a subsidy-free network by 2014, resulting in an average increase in fares of 3% above the rate of inflation;
(ii) this Government’s imposition of year-on-year rail fare increases for Kent’s commuters threatens to damage the Kent economy, deterring visitors, commuters and businesses from coming here;
(iii) the increase in fares will discourage people from using public transport, impacting negatively both on its potential revenues, and on environmental targets;
(iv) that Conservatives have targeted the squeezed middle class commuter and have undertaken a u-turn on promises made regarding fare increases set for an entire Parliamentary term.
Council resolves:
(i) to urge all group leaders to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to highlight the major concerns of residents that the train fare increases are excessive and urging him to limit the increase to RPI;
(ii) to write to each of the three Medway MPs and urge them to vote against any legislation that will seek to impose this fares increase.”
Councillor O’Brien, supported by Councillor Filmer, proposed an amendment that the following part of the motion should be removed: “That Conservatives have targeted the squeezed middleclass commuter and have undertaken a u-turn on promises made regarding fare increases set for an entire Parliamentary term.”
With the agreement of the Council, under Council rule 10.4, Councillor Godwin agreed to alter his motion to remove the second paragraph (iv).
Decision:
The Council agreed to note that:
(i) the Department of Transport financial settlement confirmed an increase of the cap on regulated rail fares to an average annual increase of RPI +3% for three years from January 2012;
(ii) on government figures this means fares will increase in real terms by 10% over the next four years;
(iii) the Campaign for Better Transport has calculated that a 2015 season ticket from Gillingham to London Cannon Street will cost £4,995, an increase of £1,200;
(iv) Kent Conservatives, Medway Fare's Fair and Kent Conservative MPs opposed a RPI + 3% increase in train fares prior to May 2010;
(v) centralised setting of train fares was not a manifesto commitment of either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat parties in the General Election.
The Council agreed to believe:
(i) the Government has imposed upon South Eastern Trains a condition to run a subsidy-free network by 2014, resulting in an average increase in fares of 3% above the rate of inflation;
(ii) this Government’s imposition of year-on-year rail fare increases for Kent’s commuters threatens to damage the Kent economy, deterring visitors, commuters and businesses from coming here;
(iii) the increase in fares will discourage people from using public transport, impacting negatively both on its potential revenues, and on environmental targets;
The Council agreed to resolve:
(i) to urge all group leaders to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to highlight the major concerns of residents that the train fare increases are excessive and urging him to limit the increase to RPI;
(ii) to write to each of the three Medway MPs and urge them to vote against any legislation that will seek to impose this fares increase.