Soon-to-be scrapped Sheffield transport body blames cuts on failings
The public body responsible for overseeing South Yorkshire's buses has blamed Government cuts and legislation in ‘limiting their ability’ to protect and improve services following a damning report.
Findings of the Independent Bus Review, chaired by Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts, revealed South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) was found to have not been ‘allowing councils to make decisions about bus services’.
The body also came in for criticism around a ‘lack of consultation’ from service cuts.
Following the review, Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis has said SYPTE will be scrapped and merged into the authority’s executive team.
The review highlighted concerns about SYPTE’s leadership of bus partnerships, as well as their 'poor approach' to handling and resolving customer complaints about service changes.
Evidence shows the relationship between the Sheffield Bus Partnership, Sheffield City Council and bus operators has 'almost completely broken down'.
SYPTE bosses welcomed the review’s findings and recognised that ‘fundamental change’ is needed.
The writing was already on the wall for the under-fire body as Mayor Jarvis publicly called them out back in February after he said their role had been ‘more about the executive than the passenger’.
Bus patronage has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the last 10 years but SYPTE bosses stressed they have had £245 million less funding than they did in 2010.
SYPTE executive director, Stephen Edwards, said: “The Bus Review highlights how vital a strong, reliable, interconnected bus network is for the people of South Yorkshire, and the challenges there have been in delivering this in recent years.
“We welcome the report’s recognition that more investment, robust leadership, greater accountability and firm commitment is needed, to secure a sustainable and thriving bus network that is responsive to customer needs.
“It is no secret that successive years of public transport funding cuts has had a negative impact on the bus network and its customers. We recognise that we have not always been able to get things right. The tough financial environment, and legislative framework, in which we have had to operate, has limited SYPTE’s ability to protect or improve services.