Agenda item

NOTE: Councillor Paul Alexander left the room for this item.

8.47pm – Councillor Ben Coleman moved, seconded by Councillor Lisa Homan, the special motion in their names:

“This Council deeply regrets that Conservative ministers have told Transport for London to cut services after it lost money during Covid. Essential bus routes across Hammersmith & Fulham are now threatened with closure or severe reductions in service.

·       The C3, 11, 14, 72 and 74 will be scrapped.

·       Night buses N27 and N74 will be scrapped, and the N72 will no longer serve Hammersmith.

·       The 23, 27, 211, 272, 283, 328 and 430 will operate a reduced timetable or be rerouted.

Other governments from New York to Paris are funding public transport after the pandemic to maintain services and keep fares low. This is even more important in the cost-of-living crisis. Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, however, are requiring TfL to reduce services in return for a partial bailout.

This Council urges TfL to maintain the essential routes on which Hammersmith and Fulham residents depend.

This Council regrets that Fulham’s Greg Hands, a Conservative minister, is seeking to divert people’s attention from the real reason for the proposed bus cuts by attacking Transport for London. It calls on Mr Hands not to let his constituents pay for the pandemic but instead to campaign for his government to provide the investment that London’s transport needs.”

A speech on the motion was made by Councillor Coleman (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew Dinsmore, an amendment in their names:

“Delete all after ‘This council’ and replace with:

The opposition is deeply shocked by the bus service cuts proposed by Sadiq Khan and TfL. These would affect the residents in our borough to an unacceptable degree.

The C3, 11, 14, 72 and 74 would be cancelled.

The 23, 27, 211, 272, 283, 328, 414 and 430 would have a less regular or altered service.

The N27, N11 and N74 would be cancelled and the N72 diverted from Hammersmith.

This council calls for TFL to stop these proposed changes and stop the strikes on the London Underground and for the mayor to run the transport system efficiently, especially given the vast financial support coming from the government.

Londoners deserve a better service on public transport.”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Brocklebank-Fowler, Dinsmore (who made his maiden speech) and Afzal-Khan (for the Opposition) – and Councillor Homan (for the Administration).

The amendment was then put to the vote.

FOR                        10

AGAINST                31

NOT VOTING         1

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillors Homan, Souslous (who made his maiden speech), and Antoniades (for the Administration).

Councillor Coleman then made a speech winding up the debate before the substantive motion was put to the vote.

FOR                        31

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.26pm – RESOLVED

This Council deeply regrets that Conservative ministers have told Transport for London to cut services after it lost money during Covid. Essential bus routes across Hammersmith & Fulham are now threatened with closure or severe reductions in service.

·       The C3, 11, 14, 72 and 74 will be scrapped.

·       Night buses N27 and N74 will be scrapped, and the N72 will no longer serve Hammersmith.

·       The 23, 27, 211, 272, 283, 328 and 430 will operate a reduced timetable or be rerouted.

Other governments from New York to Paris are funding public transport after the pandemic to maintain services and keep fares low. This is even more important in the cost-of-living crisis. Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, however, are requiring TfL to reduce services in return for a partial bailout.

This Council urges TfL to maintain the essential routes on which Hammersmith and Fulham residents depend.

This Council regrets that Fulham’s Greg Hands, a Conservative minister, is seeking to divert people’s attention from the real reason for the proposed bus cuts by attacking Transport for London. It calls on Mr Hands not to let his constituents pay for the pandemic but instead to campaign for his government to provide the investment that London’s transport needs.