LIB DEM COUNCIL TAKES ON FIRSTBUS CUTS

12.00.00am GMT Fri 27th Mar 2009

Reacting to news that FirstBus in Sheffield intend to withdraw from the bus agreement with the Council and make cuts to local services, Liberal Democrats on Sheffield City Council have vowed to oppose on behalf of local people. Lib Dems have also slammed Labour for signing up the Council to a flimsy bus agreement in the first place.

FirstBus have sent a letter to the Council indicating that they intend to terminate the agreement with the Council due to alleged breaches by the Council. However, Lib Dems will refuse to accept the termination and challenge FirstBus on all the points they have raised.

The Lib Dem leadership on the Council believe that the move is motivated by FirstBus desire to make cuts to local services whilst avoiding providing financial compensation, which they would have had to do under the terms of the agreement.

Councillor Ian Auckland, Liberal Democrat Cabinet member for Sustainable Transport and Planning, said:-

"I believe that this move by FirstBus is purely motivated by trying get out of paying compensation to the local taxpayer. Just as we predicted FirstBus have announced cuts, but they should be aware that on behalf of local people we will be opposing them all the way."

"We will also be asking officers to challenge them on the points they have raised so that they have to pay the compensation due to local people. However, what has become clear is that the agreement signed by Labour should have been much stronger."

FirstBus are making the move despite making a massive £122m profit in the last full financial year. Local Lib Dems believe it is time that the Labour Government gave local authorities the tools to re-regulate the buses.

Cllr Auckland added "It's about time the Labour Government gave us the powers to re-regulate the buses. Despite being in Government for eleven years, Labour are still dragging their feet on this issue. It's about time they started listening to local people."