Issue - meetings

That:

1)        Option 3, presented within the report, be taken forward to allow the tender process to commence;

2)        the associated Budget growth required for Option 3 be agreed in principle.

(Councillor Keith Baker declared a personal interest in this item)

The Executive considered a report which examined the options for the retendering of the 19/c bus services which operated between Woodley, Earley and Central Reading.

The Executive Member for Highways and Transport introduced the item and reminded the Committee of the background to the current report with the ending of the 19a/c services and the introduction of the interim service 12. Following a consultation exercise the consensus was that the current service did not meet the needs of the community.

The report set out five options for the future delivery of the service and recommended Option 3 as the most cost effective option that would meet community requirements identified through the consultation exercise.

In response to a question from Councillor Norman Jorgensen, Councillor Baker confirmed that engagement and joint working with Earley and Woodley Town Councils had been very positive and provided a template for future co-operation between the Borough, Town and Parish Councils.

RESOLVED That:

1)           Option 3, presented within the report, be taken forward to allow the tender process to commence;

2)           the associated Budget growth required for Option 3 be agreed in principle.